Picture this. You wake up in the morning, grab your smart phone and turn on your lights. You go to your bathroom, brush your teeth, while at the same time turning on your coffee maker – all from your smartphone. You hop into your smart shower, and while washing off you catch up on the day’s news. You jump out of the shower, get dressed, go downstairs, and click a button on your fridge to find out the forecast. You grab your coffee, run out the door, and realize you forgot to turn off your lights and air conditioner. No problem! You pull out your smartphone, turn off your lights, and power down the air-conditioner. Oh shoot – you also forgot to lock your door. Luckily, there’s an app for that! You jump into your car, connect to your cell phone and start your smart navigation, which recommends the fastest route to work. You arrive at work 5 minutes early, ready to start your day!
Ok – maybe that’s a far-fetched example right now, but in the next few years that will change. These devices are already so common that our lives might quickly look like the example above. From fridges, washing machines, showers, light switches, door locks, thermostats, heart monitors, and more, these Internet of Things (IoT) devices are everywhere. They provide several benefits including convenience, energy efficiency, cost-saving, and integration between devices.
But, like all good things, there are also drawbacks. The biggest concern around IoT devices are security and privacy. One wrong move, and your confidential information can be exposed to the world. While these devices might offer your business improved efficiencies, they also make you and your business more vulnerable to security breaches. Now, that doesn’t mean you should avoid using them. No matter how hard you try it’s nearly impossible to avoid them - internet connected devices are everywhere. That’s why we feel it’s so important that you are aware of the security risks associated with these devices. Watch our video to learn the 5 things you should be cautious of when using IoT devices. These 5 things will go a long way towards protecting your business.