The Internet of Things at Risk

Internet-enabled devices improve productivity and help us achieve greater innovation, but there are three major risks that could unravel it all.

by Gilles Hilary, Dec. 09, 2015 – 

It is estimated that 90 per cent of the world's data has been generated over the past 2 years. Every second, the data equivalent of 150 million books is created. A large part of this expansion is attributable to the Internet of Things (IoT), the network of "smart" physical devices that collect and exchange data.

When most people think of internet-enabled devices, examples such as Fitbit and Apple watches naturally come to mind. But these products are quickly being outnumbered by others that are less familiar. These new devices capture data from industrial plants, machines and even the human body, then transmit it elsewhere over the internet or another network where it can be stored and analysed to enable better decision making.

There are countless applications for virtually every industry related to construction and real estate, from telecom to energy. Many of these applications are designed not just for convenience, but also for safety. For example, electrical systems can be equipped with sensors that detect wiring failures, warning technicians of fire hazards before the fire can occur.

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