https://www.gitexafrica.com/

80% of businesses in the META region already use IoT platforms despite security risks

A new Kaspersky report—With superpower comes super responsibility: benefits and
challenges of IoT in business— has revealed that the use of Internet of Things (IoT)
business platforms is growing year-on-year in almost all industries. In 2019, nearly two-
thirds (80%) of companiesin the META region implemented IoT applications.The
technology isbenefiting businessesin the META region with savings, new income streams
and increased production efficiency,but the fact that 51% of all organizations experience
cybersecurity incidents targeting connected devices also reveals the need to carefully
protect IoT.
The internet of things is actively developing technology, with Gartner predicting there will
be approximately 25 billionIoT connections by 2025. IoT increases the level of comfort we
experience at home and in our cities, helpsto solve resourcing issues andallows
organizations to measure production performance,introduce automation and increase
efficiencies. All this makes IoT systems critical, therefore it is important to not let a failure
in such systems ruin the positive impact on businesses and people.
Kaspersky’s report shows that the use of IoT platforms has increased in almost all
industries globally, with the most significant growth in hospitality (from 53% in 2018 to
63% in 2019), healthcare (from 56% to 66%), and finance (from 60% to 68%). As of
2019, the IT and telecom (71%) and finance (68%) industries have embracedIoTmore
than all other verticals.IoT platforms are used in many different use cases including smart
cities, grids, metering, transportation and logistics, as well as automated manufacturing
and connected heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC).
The growth of IoT use has not been discouraged despite potential cybersecurity risks and
incidents. As Kaspersky’s survey shows, 51% of companies in the META region stated that
they experienced incidents involving non-computing connected devices last year. These
incidents can be critical as sensors and smart devices collect terabytes of data, including sensitive information such as business data or customers’ personal information. Also, IoT
platforms can be connected with critical systems, like traffic, power or transportation processes, so it is vital to ensure their continuity and integrity.
“IIoT has clearly passed the “hype” stage – not to say there still isn’t hype, but there are
serious technical and business process results to apply today. The IIC has already started
publishing results from our testbeds. The biggest challenge the industry faces is resistance
to change – or to be radical – more efficient change. Industrial IoT means big changes in every vertical, and they must come to terms with that,” — commented Dr. Richard Soley,
Executive Director, Industrial Internet Consortium.
“IoT is a powerful business enabler but to reap its benefits organizations need to put in a
considerable amount of effort. It demands dedicated business processes, as well as expertise, to ensure it is effectivelyimplemented. As the survey shows, cybersecurity is also
a question that needs resolving in the IoT space— in terms of security of equipment, technical and organizational protectionmeasures and data privacy, as well as other
factors.It is important to consider security at an early stage of IoT implementation and we want to help our customers address this taskby developingIoT security solutions and
expertise within Kaspersky,” said GrigorySizov, Head of KasperskyOS Business Unit, Kaspersky.
To securely take advantage of IoT features and benefits, Kaspersky suggests organizations
follow these steps:
• Assess the status of a device’s security before its implementation. Preferences should be
given to devices that have cybersecurity certificates and products from those manufacturers that pay more attention to information security.
• Conduct regular security audits and provide the security team responsible for protecting
IoT systems with up-to-date threat intelligence.
• Establish procedures for obtaining information on relevant vulnerabilities in software and
applications and available updates to ensure proper and timely responses to any incidents.
• Implement cybersecurity solutions designed to analyze network traffic and detect and
prevent network attacks in IoT, then integrate the analysis into the enterprise network security system.
• Use IoT devices that are secured by design. The Kaspersky IoT Secure Gateway with
secure KasperskyOS at its core ensures the secure behavior of the gateway itself, as well as
all connected devices and the entire IoT system

شاهد أيضاً

MNT-Halan

MNT-Halan Lands in the UAE: Driving Expansion of Its Financial Super App Across the Region

MNT-Halan, Egypt’s leading fintech company and first unicorn, has entered the UAE market, marking a …

اترك تعليقاً

لن يتم نشر عنوان بريدك الإلكتروني. الحقول الإلزامية مشار إليها بـ *