Every day there are new cyber attacks and thefts of data and information from users all over the world. Companies in particular become a prime target for information theft, often involving private information that is crucial to the continuity of their business.

Hyperconnectivity, that is, the fact that more and more users are constantly logged in to their online accounts, makes all this information available to hackers. Network and device security therefore becomes crucial to prevent data theft.

The Internet of Things Revolution

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming the way we interact with products and services. It is now possible, for example, to fit sensors to various objects or machines that monitor and share information, so that the sensors themselves can work out which optimisations to carry out to ensure the best machine performance, even without any human interaction.

It is now possible, with a click on a smartphone, to control a home's heating, security or entertainment systems, even from kilometres away. In the longer term, driverless cars are expected to become increasingly common, cities are expected to capture big data to carry out smarter and more agile urban planning, and the sensors and circuits currently required to run IoT in a factory, which are expensive today, are expected to become cheaper thanks to the growing availability of 3D printing.

For companies, the vast amount of information generated by IoT represents an opportunity to improve the customer experience and deepen the relationship between the brand and the customer.

Smart objects as smart weapons?

With the growth of the IoT technology trend, new security risks emerge that need to be prevented. If a smart object capable of communicating and sending data to other machines is stolen by someone with bad intentions, we face a situation that could harm many people or companies, an alarming prospect if we think about driverless cars, for example.

Privacy and data protection may also be put at risk, since IoT devices make it easier to monitor the data of companies and individuals if they are not used securely.

Cloud computing offers enormous potential for any company and makes it possible to use IoT devices. However, investing in security becomes even more important, as companies become more vulnerable to data theft.

Three questions to ask about security

Although IoT offers great scope for collecting data on machines and much more, it also means that companies have to step up security and include every internet-connected device in their risk and security management.

According to Ernst&Young, some of the questions to ask about your company's security are:

• What measures have been put in place to defend against a cyber attack or data theft, given the flow of information across the various IoT devices?
• Is there a contingency plan or an incident response team in place to ensure business continuity in the event of a cyber attack?
• Do the companies you regularly deal with, especially your suppliers, operate in a way that is compatible with your security and data protection policy?

In the age of the digital revolution, it is crucial to ensure data protection and the complete security of the company in every area. Companies should start to see digitalisation as a driver of business, but they must also be alert to its dangers and protect themselves before an incident occurs.

Written by:
Openlimits

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