IoT Buzzword Inspiration Or Trouble?

Phillip Dana, Director Of IT, Netafim USA

IoT along with AI and ML are all buzz words in any organization large or small, they are words that capture the attention of corporate executives but they have no meaning without a plan and process to determine what and how you want to use them.

The Idea of connected devices has been around since the 70’s and in recent years over the past 5-8 years it has gained traction from all areas of business with the need for more data to make better faster and smarter decisions that allow business to compete in highly competitive markets and to stay a step ahead of competitors. As IoT has evolved along with the wireless technologies it has paved the way for MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS), micro services and the internet. With the explosion of IoT it has torn down the barriers between Operation technology and Information technology and has created an environment where 2 siloed parts of the businesses now need to work with each other for efficiency and security purposes.

IoT has also increased the Attack surface of every organization and has challenged IT to work with OT to come to a common ground and develop new ways to secure the never ending landscape of the Network. Security is now not just on the edge with IoT, security has created a new landscape for IT Managements to think differently and deploy new architectures to combat threats from within and driving adoption for new security automation such as port based authentication using new methods known as intent based networking.

IoT has given It and OT to work together to not only define a new way to secure the network within but to collect and aggregate data that allow for organization and to explore the possibility of AI and ML in order to quickly and accurately catch problems be for they happen and bring new possibilities to increased production and stability of products.

IoT is not just a Business intuitive for internal efficiencies and data collection it is also used in consumer markets with the word “smart device” connected TV’s, connected Refrigerates, connected ovens and even “robots” that vacuum and mop for you, all these Connected Devices are IoT devices and in many cases unsecured and dangerous gateways for any malicious actively to take place due to their nature with most consumers being unaware of the dangerous they can potentially cause. IoT can also be used for the purpose of creating more sustainable and creative ways to do business. One such boom is IoT in Agriculture and the Smart Farming solutions that continue to grow in popularity. Precision irrigation or precision Agriculture is a growing trend in many areas around the world that helps in the depletion of water tables and the need to automate growing activates. Precision Agriculture uses IoT sensors for fertigation monitoring soil moisture tracking, weather monitoring and even controlling machinery remotely. IoT has made a big impact in Farming and will continue to drive future innovations in crop management to deliver more food with less resources through Data collection, crop modeling and automation.

IoT has increased the need for more complex security and has paved the way for network terms such as deperimeterization where IT Infrastructure and network security teams need to take a new approach to secure the network from the inside as well as the edge. IoT has also created more data collection points to analyze and build algorithms around fro thing like ML and AI. There are many articles estimating the amount of connected devise to be around 32 billion to 80 billion in the next 10 years and the challenge will be how to manage secure and control them so they don’t disrupt the business but market the business disruptive in any given market.

See also: Top IoT Consulting Companies