The world is being transformed by the Internet of Things. As Internet-enabled smart devices proliferate, sensors embedded in everything from industrial machinery to household items and cars are connecting to each other and sharing data with little to no human assistance.
The potential benefits of IoT technology are extensive. These networks of devices could dramatically boost productivity and provide businesses with new insights into how they can improve their operations and meet objectives. People are already experiencing the impact of smart devices, and experts predict that the Internet of Things will impact businesses and the economy to the tune of $3.9 trillion to $11.1 trillion annually in 2025.
With more precise feedback from devices — including those their customers use — companies will be able to refine their strategies and become more efficient. Major industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare, have already started adapting to these technological innovations.
IT Management Challenges Ahead
The vision for what the Internet of Things can do is enticing. However, IoT technologies will present special challenges for IT management:
- Interoperability — Network-enabled devices need to communicate with each other despite using different types of hardware and software. Even if the device is capable of performing its specific tasks, you still need to combine its data with data from the rest of the network for it to contribute anything meaningful.
- Security — Many Internet-enabled devices remain vulnerable to unauthorized intrusions and cyber attacks. As reported in a recent article from Network World, IoT device manufacturers often release products that contain critical security weaknesses. If you work with these devices, they can lead cyber criminals to various parts of your network. Cyber criminals may spread malware through your system, uncover sensitive information belonging to customers and employees, and could find a way to control devices on your network remotely. The wide-scale disruption of U.S. internet traffic in October was partly as a result of malware that built botnets out of IoT devices.
- Devices — To enjoy the benefits of the IoT, your organization must make consistently wise decisions about the right devices and optimizing them specifically for your enterprise. Any network of devices needs to remain adaptable and scalable, so it can readily accommodate future changes, whether it’s an expansion of the network or the removal of various devices from it. Furthermore, IoT devices and networks will require regular maintenance, appropriate updates, and equipment replacement.
- Data — Companies will need to figure out the best ways to manage the data that’s collected and shared. How will you keep it secure, accommodate larger volumes of it, and understand what you should analyze to obtain valuable insights?
IoT technologies clearly raise the stakes for IT management, both in terms of its potential benefits and weaknesses. Without proper management, a network of Internet-enabled devices will provide few benefits and expose your organization to much greater risks.
6 Ways IT Needs to Prepare for IoT
How can IT management help you handle the Internet of Things?
- Comprehensive network design and security — With IoT, continuous monitoring on your network for any unusual activities becomes critical, allowing you to detect and respond quickly to a security breach. Organizations also need effective ways to perform verification, confirming that only authorized devices are connected to their network and that only employees can log on to company applications. Strong passwords, firewalls, network separation and encryption are additional methods to better safeguard your network.
- Device configuration and software updates — Organization need to rapidly address any weaknesses in code and device configuration that could allow hackers to break into your system. For example, Internet-enabled security cameras that aren’t configured properly can display their images publicly, showing people the inside of your business. Without proper configuration and network security, your devices can be exposed on the Internet, giving people images of anything, including screenshots of your computer desktop.
- Quick response and continuity — If there’s a problem with your system, you need an immediate response. Strong IT management will ensure that knowledgeable personnel will be available to address it quickly. With all of the complex connections between devices, a failure in one device can affect significant portions of your system. The IT professionals you work with should also come up with solutions for preserving continuity of business operations, so that even if a problem crops up with IoT devices, it doesn’t bring down your entire system.
- Thorough data backups — With the growing variety of devices storing and processing data, it’s important to find effective ways to perform data backups. Without an optimized approach to data backup, IoT can increase the risk of data loss and data restoration delays. An IT management strategy will help identify the right solution based on the nature of your critical data and how frequently you need to perform backups.
- Adequate data storage — Where are you going to keep all your data? As discussed in a recent article from Information Week, the scale of data has changed enormously. Companies need solutions that are cost-effective and preserve the integrity of their data.
- Productivity — With advice from IT experts and business consultants, you can determine how to best use Internet-enabled devices to improve efficiency and productivity. This will help your employees cut down on small, time-consuming tasks.
Businesses already depend on a growing number of Internet-enabled devices, and the Internet of Things will only accelerate that trend. Strong IT management will help you embrace the opportunity while protecting your system and preserving your data.
Want to explore what IoT could mean for your business’s IT strategy? Contact us to start the conversation.