Internet of Things Security Challenges: What Companies Need to Know

Thanks @Chris and so very true. Technology changes so rapidly that it really is hard for companies to keep up. Companies do the best they can to maintain security and protect against data theft.

I have faith that as technology moves forward companies will find better ways to improve security. Unfortunately, that progress will come with a price tag: data theft. Trial and error is the only way forward and it will be a painful learning experience for many companies and their customers. The list of interconnected devices will only continue to grow and will one day reach areas of business and products no one has even thought of yet.

Thanks for the comments. @Ryan you are so right. IoT is not going away anytime soon and they certainly will need qualified cyber crime technicians. So if you are thinking of a new career, maybe this might be it. @Sylvia companies do their due diligence when an employee is terminated. Their information is removed including their access to the network or anything else they may have accessed. Companies do a pretty good job at protecting their information.

While security is a concern in any organization, I wonder how things like employees leaving impacts security with the loT devices. What measures must be taken to ensure that past employees (especially disgruntled ones) don't access company information once they leave? Has this system been around long enough to catch--and fix-- errors?

New technology always has potential drawbacks, but that doesn't make it any less useful or exciting. The author already highlighted an extremely important point in the comments section, which is that the concerns from this technology will ultimately result in the creation of new jobs for those in the cyber crime sector. Sure, the risk of hacking is there, but those who are not using the technology maliciously will benefit from added convenience, and there are always going to be trained professionals ready to step in and stop those who are looking to exploit others. I see this as a win-win, as is always the case with advancing technology.

Thanks everyone for your great comments. It is so very true that this technology is not going away - at least not in our lifetimes. For companies who want to continue growing and earning revenue, investing in their IT departments is the best way to go. Security risks abound with the use of all IoT devices and it's not going to go away. Countries outside of the US spend inordinate amounts of money to hire those techies who have the ability and knowledge to hack into companies' websites and clouds. For anyone who is looking at a possible career in IT, being in cybercrime or forensic science type fields is a great way to go. These devices will become more common and more readily available as times goes on. Remember back just about 10 years ago, when you would buy a computer, you would have to leave it with the store's tech department for them to "build" it. Today, you pick up a computer on the floor, take it to the register and then out the door you go. No tech person looks anymore since computers are more along the lines of plug and play. But how do we know that our computer is secure? Should we have to hire our own hacker as @Lorri suggests? Security issues are only going to increase and we, as consumers, have to be knowledgeable about the risks. And, if you are looking for a job maybe cyber security is your path for secure, stable work.

Companies that sell IoT devices need to set up their own security departments that work solely on protecting consumer’s data, if they haven’t done so already. The existence of these departments needs to be publicized and consumers should be able to easily access any recommendations these departments make. It’s all very well publicizing what the latest gadget can do, but it’s time companies and consumers focused on how secure the data on these devices are.

Having everything connected has its advantages. Data can be transferred from one device to another, and this makes working across platforms convenient. IoT does, however, have disadvantages. Hacking has become a full-time job and they can get into anything, if they work long enough at it. These aren't fatal flaws, however. Companies' IT departments will find solutions as problems arise. The problem is, the solution only comes after the damage is done. Being proactive is the key to keeping your networks secure. Address the security problems before they arise. Anticipate. Hire your own hacker, to test your system and find any security risks.

As we consider the security of connected things, I cannot help but wonder if these large companies, such as Nike, that do no specialize in technology, are agile enough to adapt to evolving threats. Data breaches and cybercrime happens at a speed that was unfathomable even two decades ago, requiring new methods of securing assets.

Since I don't see IoT devices leaving the scene any time soon, and, in fact, it seems very likely that more and more such devices will become common, the question of security really is an important one. Yes, companies need to be aware of potential security threats, and yes, I think there's a whole potential market for security services related to IoT devices, but--certainly at this point--the percentage of users compared to the percentage of people whose security is compromised strongly favors continued use of devices.

The security aspect of IoT devices represents an entire industry waiting to explode onto the scene. Any tech-savvy entrepreneurs looking for a great startup should think about going for cybersecurity and encryption businesses that can make these devices more secure. It's not necessarily about physically hacking into a device, but breaking through the wireless connection and cloud-based databases. If companies that rely on IoT devices use some common sense and invest in security protocols, these firms stand to jump to the front of the pack in terms of delivering results to customers and investors alike.

Unfortunately, most of the time it seems like a big cyberattack has to happen before companies will improve the flaws in their Internet of Things products. I think we really take for granted how trusting we are with using our personal information with these devices. The only way for things to improve in terms of these security challenges is for consumers to become more knowledge about these topics and research the products with the best security features. Thank you for this very informative article.

As technology gets more advanced and more things are connected to the Internet, companies (and independent security experts) need to focus on keeping data secure. Maybe the need for research into more effective security measures will create a whole slew of new jobs? I can imagine that the number of connected objects will only increase, because it's a convenient feature, after all.

Thanks for the comments. Not sure what the best reassurance would be. We never really think that we could buy something in Target and use our credit card only to have our information hacked and sold to the highest bidder. I think that the only way to protect ourselves is with common sense. Make sure that you have virus protection on all of your devices. Only use sites that are secure and never purchase from unknown sites until you have really researched them.

I think that security has been and always be a primary concern for customers and businesses. When looking at the big breaches in the past few years (Sony especially), it makes many customers uneasy about creating online profiles, making payments online, etc. We need more reassurance that the technology we are using is safe and secure, even if it is much more convenient.

Is there anything consumers can do to protect themselves? It sounds like technologists are doing their best, but in the meantime are there any basic safety tips that consumers can adopt? Honestly this is something I haven't thought about much and it's kind of unnerving...we all have a million devices these days.