Did you watch the big game this year? Chances are that if you did, you got to witness all of the spectacles that the event had to offer, including a lot of technology that enriched the experience, whether you realize it or not. The National Football League has implemented emerging technologies that have helped solve persistent challenges over the years. Let’s explore some of these technologies.

Technology can be a huge benefit or an annoying hindrance for a business. It really depends on how it is maintained or used. Just like the PC in the 1980s, Internet access in the 1990s, and the advent of social media over the past decade or so, there are a couple interesting technologies that, if properly used for business, can bring substantial value for workers, customers, and the organization as a whole. Let’s take a look at three of them.

Technology has touched nearly everyone over the past decade or so. More is done using technology than ever before. In this week’s blog, we go beyond individual uses of technology and discuss how technology is going to be used to improve infrastructure and the delivery of services that we take for granted. 

By now you’ve heard of the Internet of Things. It consists of all of the Internet-connected devices found on a given network. Different types of businesses have different ways that they can use the IoT. This month, we thought we would discuss the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and the ways modern manufacturers use it to make big changes to their businesses.

The Internet of Things is everywhere and that means that it’s important to understand how much of a potential security risk these devices can be. From smart speakers to smartphones, it's important that you understand how these devices can create problematic situations. In this week’s blog we will discuss how you can protect yourself against IoT vulnerabilities at home.

Business technology has grown so much over time that it’s practically unrecognizable compared to some of the original solutions. The Internet of Things has given businesses more opportunities to automate processes and build efficiency into their IT infrastructure, and in more ways than one. Let’s look at how businesses use the Internet of Things and what you might accomplish with it.

There has been a lot made about the Internet of Things (IoT) recently. The IoT is basically technology that connects to the Internet or your network and offers some sort of specialized task. Think smart light bulbs, mobile devices, monitoring tools, and other appliances that traditionally aren’t connected to the Internet. For today’s businesses this can bring several pros and cons to the table. This month, we thought we would take a brief look at some of the pros and cons of deploying IoT technology in the workplace. 

The Internet of Things, or IoT, has grown to over 14 billion connected devices as of this year, and this number is expected to exceed 20 billion devices by the end of 2026. With such a shocking number of devices, you might wonder what types of devices are out there and what they mean for your business. Let’s look at the IoT and what you need to know to keep it at the top of your mind this upcoming year.

We often talk about how the Internet of Things can create security issues in businesses if not properly handled. While there are some very real threats that can be posed by the IoT in the workplace, there is no denying that it can also serve some very real utility there as well.

The IoT

The Internet of Things has been growing incredibly fast over the past five years, but many small business owners don’t know where it fits. That’s because there are tens of millions of devices that could actually serve some purpose for their businesses and basically have buyer’s paralysis or are skeptical that integrating these tools is going to save them money. Here are some ways that the IoT could be used to do just that.

With global spending on IoT research and integration reaching $745 billion in 2019, the IoT is primed to be one of the largest single industries in the world in the future. Individuals, businesses, and governments are looking at the IoT for solutions to their problems. After all, the more information people have, the better decisions can be made. From the outset, it was said that this technology will transform the way we interact with machines and the way they will interact with each other, and only a few short years into a worldwide implementation, that mantra has proven to be true. Let’s look at where the IoT is growing most.

Industry

The huge annual jumps in IoT spending is largely driven by manufacturers, transportation, and utilities. Industrial IoT solutions provide companies and municipalities, alike, the link between their cloud-based software systems and their analysts, salesmen, and decision makers. This relationship is tenuous, however, and is closely monitored as a result. If a huge IoT strategy breaks even once, confidence in the platform is destroyed, leaving it an unreliable solution, regardless of the strengths of the technology. 

Manufacturers and process managers that utilize IoT solutions absolutely need their systems to be as reliable as possible. That means security, which is the number one improvement that the next phase of IoT has to make. For years, IoT was only somewhat trustworthy because of the lack of integrated security many IoT devices were manufactured with. Today, with security an absolute must for the major undertakings it is being used for, security has improved, but only slightly. A dedication to creating IoT devices that have hardware and software systems that are secure and reliable will dictate just the ceiling of IoT effectiveness.

The Smart City

One of the most intriguing places the IoT has been utilized thus far is in the integration of automated utility systems inside what has been termed, “the smart city”. The smart city uses what are known as low power IoT connections. These devices deliver low bandwidth and power saving features that are perfectly suited to asset monitoring. They can be implemented for a variety of uses, including: 

• Sensors built into city roadways to sense things like the subsistence of traffic congestion and wear and tear of roadways.
• Sensors built into bridges to sense degradation and the effect of seismic forces caused by geographical and traffic-based events.
• Sensors built into buildings to measure wind force, foundation subsistence, or seismic activity.
• Sensors in the interior of buildings to control foot-traffic, lighting, heating and air, and other systems humans rely on. 
• Sensors on the street or on entryways that will provide facial recognition and reporting.

Unlike IoT-connected consumer goods, every IoT device deployed in a smart city would have a purpose that is beyond convenience. Every device would be placed to achieve a goal, improve the usability, longevity, and management of infrastructure, boosting resident safety and improving their access to services, cutting costs and limiting energy use, improving communications, and more.

One thing is for sure, the next phase of IoT implementation is going to challenge conventional thinking and deliver solutions that only a short time ago, were only imaginary. At Coleman Technologies we find technology fascinating. For more great technology information about innovative new tech, return to our blog regularly. 

The IoT is growing rapidly. So rapidly in fact, it is becoming difficult to get a read on the accepted number of Internet-connected devices. In fact, companies more frequently print forecasts rather than reality, because there is no way to know how many actual devices there are connected to the Internet, but by most tallies the number is in the ballpark of 20 billion and growing rapidly. What does this mean for us? So much. Today, we’re going to take a look at the IoT and try and forecast how it will change the way we do things by 2025.

First Considerations

The first thing you should know is that this massive IoT rollout is not going to make the Internet any less important. Despite its renouncement as a utility (in merely a political move), the Internet can be thought of very much like electricity was toward the beginning of the 20th century when the technology had been established and its use was just beginning to fuel a market of goods designed to use electricity. The Internet today is still coming online in places all around the world, but there remain large chunks of land where it is not yet available (in some of these places electricity isn’t). As the ubiquity of high-speed Internet comes to fruition, the world will be confronted with a new reality, where technology is altering humanity in ways you wouldn’t even imagine. 

Of course, this won’t happen in six years, but it needs to be said that the exponential growth of IoT from a few million devices in 2006 to more than 20 billion two decades later is going to affect the way people live. It’s not just a matter of the technology being there, it is the function of that tech that changes things. In this case, many of the products that people have been using for decades (and in some cases centuries) are being manufactured with the capability of connecting to wireless networks. Most of them have corresponding software that provides a new cache of functions. As time goes on, and devices get smarter, whole parts of a person’s routine will be automated. Like I said, IoT is altering humanity.

Explaining “Things”

When people think of the Internet of Things, they inevitably think about the gadgets that have limited functions or their wearable technology (smartwatches). They may not consider that “things” include almost anything. There are literally Internet-connected things that help humans control their gardens, their car, their livestock, and even their health. It’s getting to the point where anything that could be connected to the Internet, is. There are those calling this a “mega trend”, but don’t be surprised if it’s simply just the new normal. 

With so many things connected to networks, the networks need to be bigger, stronger, and more resilient. As a result, more consideration needs to be taken to the makeup of the networks and the underlying hardware. This can become a major issue for the rapidly expanding business, so taking heed about the growth of IoT devices that are currently and potentially going to be on your business’ network going forward is a good strategy. 

By the Numbers

With this seemingly inevitable IoT boom happening as we speak, there are some seriously impressive statistical growth being projected. Some of the most staggering projections of the IoT market in the next few years include:

• There will be over 21 billion IoT devices connected to the Internet
• IoT devices will generate nearly 80 zettabytes of data
• IoT will become an even bigger draw for cybercriminals
• Driverless transportation of people and goods will increase rapidly
• Whole cities will be “smart”
• Router technology will improve to feature new tools to boost network security
• 5G Networks will exponentially increase IoT growth
• IoT ubiquity will create new privacy/security concerns
• Governments will build and pass more regulations concerning privacy/security of data
• Industrial IoT market will grow to a whopping $920 billion per year
• Total IoT markets to grow past $1.5 trillion per year

If these numbers are any indication, the IoT looks to be one of the biggest vertical markets in the world before long. This will have major effects on business in the coming years. Some of the most marked ways this shift will be seen are in:

Productivity

With increased knowledge provided by IoT tracking every part of the business, making processes more efficient is much simpler. In fact, some estimates say that businesses stand to gain upwards of 20 percent from the integration of IoT into their processes. What may be surprising is that most of this number is found on the consumer end of things. Better understanding of the people that purchase goods and services from a company, can help that organization market themselves more effectively, potentially saving a load of capital.

Remote Workforce

The growth in IoT will have a massive amount of value for businesses that want to expand their workforces outside the confines of a brick and mortar building. Since the IoT allows employees to connect to work remotely, workers are more apt to be happier and more productive.

Data Sharing

The exchange of data has been a growing part of doing business for some time, but with more IoT your business’ data sharing capabilities get smarter over time. Smarter devices mean that customers, employees, vendors, and management are able to access relevant information quickly without having to sort through other data, improving most of the business’ ability to provide value.

Significant Improvement to a Supply Chain;

For manufacturers and distributors who largely can’t support a remote workforce, it creates efficiency by improving the supply chain management. As every part of the process is reported by IoT devices, the central software will give employees a view of a business they’ve never seen before, making production and distribution more efficient, and ultimately, more effective.

It’s not an overstatement to say that the IoT will change the world over the next six years. Is your business implementing any IoT devices or systems to help you be more efficient, control costs, or simply be more effective? Reach out to our IT professionals to talk about IoT fits into your business today at (604) 513-9428.

The Internet of Things is essentially a massive network of connected devices. Some of them have not traditionally taken advantage of network connectivity, but now depend on it. The more obscure examples of Internet of Things devices include kitchen appliances and other oddities, whereas the more usable devices include watches, wearables, connected vehicles, smart homes, and more. Some Internet of Things devices can even communicate with others, sending data and using it for a certain functionality. It all coalesces into a security disaster waiting to happen.

To prepare for this, you need to implement what’s called an Internet of Things policy within your workplace. Here are some ways you can keep the Internet of Things from devastating your business.

It’s Impossible to Stop Them All

One of the most valuable lessons of dealing with Internet of Things devices is that it’s impossible to keep tabs on every single device that enters your office. If you assume that each employee has a smartphone, a laptop, and at least one or two other minor devices, it all adds up. Therefore, you need to prepare for the worst by expecting it.

You Need to Do Your Best

The best way to protect against the Internet of Things is to be prepared for them. Implementing security measures is key, and the best ones for this situation include a Unified Threat Management system (UTM) and a Bring Your Own Device policy (BYOD). What this enables is the ability to eliminate threats and keep them from entering your network in the first place, including from your employees’ personal devices. It also helps to have a password-protected network so that passing devices don’t automatically connect to your wireless network.

Working with a managed IT provider like Coleman Technologies can make it easier to manage all of the devices that make their way to your business’ network. To learn more about what we can do for your organization, reach out to us at (604) 513-9428.

With the shift in the manner in which humans interact with machines - and increased number of available machines, it is important to look at how these devices could have an effect on your data security. Today, we look at a few security issues that have popped up with the IoT and how responsible IT administrators can help their organizations ward off these negative situations.

The Things
The things you find in your workplace are honestly not that different than the things you will find in your home, your gym, or any other place you come into contact with smart equipment. There are the ones that the business utilizes, and the ones brought there by their employees. Wearables, like smartwatches, if directly attached to a network, can bring in nefarious code, but for the most part, these devices come with integrated security software (through their OS), and are less of a threat than devices that are left unprotected by their developer support.

The problem businesses have is that it’s against a consumer’s nature to disregard the cool, new devices because they may present a problem for them down the road. So now there are literally billions of smart devices connected to the Internet each day that don’t get any attention. This is largely because the idea of the “smart” life, the one where people are clamoring to be the first in their neighborhood to be using these smart technologies, simply hasn’t materialized, leaving support for older products at a minimum or non-existent. Turns out a small business doesn’t have the available capital to invest in replacing all their technology with smarter technology. So companies (and consumers) are doing it piecemeal. If IoT devices are to become the standard, manufacturers are going to have to find a way to provide IoT devices affordably. There is little doubt that a world where typical products are connected, monitored, and managed is still an inevitability, but that reality hasn’t developed as fast as some people projected.

IoT Uses for Business
The modern business typically tries to use innovative new tools in the most effective manner possible. The Internet of Things, however, may seem like one of those concepts that weren’t built for business use, as the tools that get the most press are smart appliances and energy-saving technology like smart thermostats and smart lights. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, industry experts surmise that nearly 70 percent of all IoT implementations through 2020 will happen in a business setting.

So, what are some of these smart tools that an SMB should consider deploying?

1. Real-Time Data Management - By attaching all of your resources to a network, administrators are able to track every part of your business, whether that be expenses, workflow, hardware, etc.
2. Streamline Supply Chain - For the growing manufacturer, the IoT can become a complete game-changer. By having an IoT system capable of integrating with the complete production, distribution, and procurement processes, it can be free from human error, making business run much more efficiently. This is made possible through the use of data loggers, barcode readers and RFID tags.
3. Remote Worker Management - The IoT is helping connect systems that aren’t typically connected. As a result, the feasibility of having a staff of remote workers has never been more realistic. Companies will be able to reduce turnover, reduce costs, and get higher degrees of productivity out of their resources with the use of IoT-based integrations.
4. Workplace Management - For those businesses that are forced to (or who choose to) employ onsite workers, the IoT can be a major time and money saver. By deploying smart locks, smart thermostats, smart lighting, etc., you can save money and have complete control over how your workplace is setup and managed.
5. Time Management - You know those smart speakers everyone is getting as gifts? They can do a lot. In fact, they can do as much or more that a human assistant. Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana (to name a few) will become important components of the modern workplace over the next few years; and, can function as a central hub of other IoT devices that you use for your business.

IoT and Data Security/Privacy
For the small or medium-sized business, the IoT is all about data; and, the questions that are presented when capturing it. Why, if it’s making things easier, is there this underlying fear about IoT? Whose data is it exactly? What data is helpful/hurtful to your organization?

To answer this, we have to know what exactly an IoT device is.

An Internet of Things device is any device that has integrated network functionality. That’s it. There doesn’t have to be much function to it, and as you’ll learn soon, security isn’t necessarily a priority either. Knowing that, you have to know that when each of these devices is accessed by people, it creates a veritable treasure trove of data. So, in order to properly use IoT devices for your business, you have to do two things:

1. Ensure data goes where it needs to go so it is protected or destroyed.
2. Secure the devices against threats.

That’s it. If you want to protect your network from the threats surrounding IoT devices, you’ll have to understand both the security of your network from the outside, and the integrated security of any device you allow to access your network.

The Threats
There are several threats the IoT can present, but two of them are extreme. The first one is the propensity for these devices to not be secure. Since new smart things are made every day, some of the older smart things will need to be upgraded to stay secure. The problem with this is that many devices don’t have strong support, and don’t necessarily even get updates. This can put your network in a very precarious position. When deciding which IoT devices to allow on your business’ network, you have to know that it comes with the security required.

The other threat is that, today, with so many devices providing access to a person’s sensitive information, lines are beginning to blur a bit as to what is good to use and what is too personal. For example, an employee wears a fitness band and connects it to your business’ network. Of course, all the data from that device is fully able to be captured, but should it be? The job of the IT administrator gets more difficult when they have to decide what data has to stay anonymous and what data is fair to use. This is why many cloud-based IoT platforms will present IT administrators with the ability to encrypt certain types of information. Since not all platforms do this, it is on the shoulders of the IT administrator to make sure they understand that (along with the security of the business’ network) users’ privacy needs to be made a priority.

As the IoT continues its immense growth, people will be utilizing it to improve their lives and their businesses. There is a lot that is misunderstood about the Internet of Things, and a lot that even experts don’t know yet. With its emergence, however, it will likely transform the way small and medium-sized businesses look at their data. For more information about the Internet of Things, visit our blog today.

The Smartwatch
The smartwatch market as we know it today has existed for almost a decade, surprisingly enough, but the first smartwatch was developed in the late ‘90s. A smartwatch is seen today as more of a peripheral for a smartphone. They come in several different shapes, sizes, and styles, but they all tend to provide some kind of utility to the user. Here are some of the main benefits of using a smartwatch:

• Convenience: You can’t beat the convenience of checking your watch and getting access to all kinds of information, like notifications, calendar events, and so much more. Modern smartwatches also give users the ability to search for information, and the processing power of these devices gives smartwatch users the ability to perform several actions that a smartphone can accomplish.
• Functionality: The latest smartwatches have several features that give users lots of functionality. They can integrate with applications and take advantage of other practical functions, making them as useful as you want them to be. In this way, smartwatch manufacturers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with wearable technologies.
• Discretion: Discretion is probably the most important part of using a smartwatch, as it’s much easier and more discreet to use it than pulling out a smartphone. Most smartphones have the capability to push notifications to your smartwatch, including those from social networks, messages, weather, and so on. More than anything else, it at least keeps you from being rude and checking your smartphone in the middle of a conversation.

Security Issues
The primary issue that comes from wearable technology is that it connects to your mobile device through a Bluetooth connection. Since they also connection to Wi-Fi networks, they are being exposed to two potential ways of being breached. Businesses that prioritize security (read: all businesses should prioritize security) need to be particularly wary of wearables, especially in regard to a Bring Your Own Device policy.

The modern hacker will use any opportunity they can find to hack into a device, and since wearables are particularly vulnerable to this due to the modes of connection they contain, they provide additional access points that create issues for businesses. If a hacker can gain access through an application at the wearable level, it could potentially compromise even the connected device and any network it’s attached to.

Industry experts might agree that the lack of wearable security isn’t a major concern overall, but it’s still something that you should be addressing with your business’ mobile device policy. Here are some ideas to think about:

• If you are accidentally collecting electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI), you could be putting your organization at risk of breaching healthcare standards set by HIPAA. You should limit your employee’s fitness and wellness data collection on company-owned wearables and devices whenever possible.
• Be wary of what can happen if you fail to educate your employees about the importance of protecting wearables. Be sure to remind them that they aren’t just putting business data at risk, but also their own individual data. It’s imperative that your employees understand how to best protect these devices.
• Focus on the management of these devices, as there are no proper anti-malware solutions for IoT devices.

For assistance with planning out a wearable strategy for use with your Bring Your Own Device policy, be sure to reach out to us at (604) 513-9428.

Of course, it’s not entirely the fault of the user, even if they do represent part of the blame for this. Internet of Things devices are well-known security threats, but it’s largely because of the way they are designed and developed. Even if the user was aware of the security issues presented by these devices, the truth is that there isn’t anything they can do about it barring just not using them outright.

This is due to the fact that the security issues found in Internet of Things devices are built into them, particularly because the developers of the devices don’t build them with security in mind. If you think about it in terms of what they are used to building--devices that don’t have any kind of connectivity--it all begins to make sense. A manufacturer who produces a smart blender isn’t a software engineer or a security professional. Up until that point, they just made blenders, so they had no need for software development or security. Unfortunately, this creates a device that is made with functionality in mind over security, much to the detriment of businesses.

These devices are most vulnerable to threats that could be patched, if only the Internet of Things devices were easily patched by the developer and the user. This isn’t currently the case. It’s practically impossible to distribute patches to all Internet of Things devices manually, so if the developer hasn’t enabled automatic updates, you can forget about the user actually doing it, unless it gets in the way of the core functionality of the device. While this responsibility would fall on the developer, some have also suggested the implementation of unique default passwords, as users often see no need to change the default password on their new device before putting it to work.

To counteract these threats, businesses have to implement measures to keep their networks safe from the wave of additional devices entering the office. Whether you’re aware of it or not, it’s likely that employees are bringing new devices to work every day, whether it’s a tablet or a smart watch. A Bring Your Own Device policy with clear-cut rules on what’s allowed and what’s not will go a long way toward keeping unwanted devices in the workplace, and it can help to provide a general outline for how these devices should be used in the office as well. Remember, it’s about the future of your business, not about inconveniencing anyone.

If your business could use a hand with implementing a BYOD policy, Coleman Technologies can help. To learn more, reach out to us at (604) 513-9428.