Insights
The Changing face of Smart Devices
From fitness tracking devices to GPS and Automotive displays and even connected home security the Internet of Things aka IoT and smart devices are commanding serious column inches in the media these days. But the reality is, Can we expect this to change? Likely yes, as the reality set in that this abundance of Internet-connected smart devices has the potential to make our world effective.
But security and privacy concerns remain a struggle for IoT manufacturers. So how can manufacturers take steps to allay these concerns and drive adoption?
Adoption rising
What consumers do not recognize is that support of IoT is not as elevated as news reports claim. In combination with the Ponemon Institute, more than 600+ U.S. customer’s to put together a study called Privacy and Security in a Connected Life. The report commenced that around 95 percent of people had no plan to gain the future for use Google Glass, and more than 90 percent had no purpose to use smart security systems for their dwellings. The number was equivalently elevated when it came to smart home thermostats (92%), fitness trackers (92%), and connected kitchen appliances (84%).
All the same, it is believed that this is not likely to remain the case for long. There was a recent study of more than 1500 U.S. consumers by digital marketers Acquity Group found that support of IoT technology is “imminent” as fascinating, new B2B and B2C use cases surface. It pronounces that nearly two-thirds of customers plan to purchase a connected home device in the next 5-10 years and purchasing of wearable smart devices will double by next year, reaching an adoption rate of more than 25percent.
Now for the Obstacles
Major obstacles continue to thrive action for IoT approval. Involvement over privacy were expressed by more than (20%) of buyers when it came to IoT devices and less (20%) for wearable devices, according to groups like, Acquity Group. A majority of consumers feel Micro they were either unsure or didn’t believe that the benefits of IoT outweighed their security and privacy concerns.
Part of the lack of confidence comes from a lack of communication by the smart device merchants about how, where and for how long consumer info is used, which left people feeling confused and concerned. But there’s also a serious fear that security defects in the devices themselves and the ecological, built around them could cause them to have glitches or even allow hackers to gain access to systems. As “IoT” is an increasingly central role in our essence, such concerns will advance only.
Operation: Action
Acquity Group reported, incentivizing consumers with “coupons for helpful information” would make them more accessible to info sharing with third parties. But according to other surveys like IHS Inc. survey, consumers are more concerned about IoT security (75%) than privacy (44%).
So the question remains, what can IoT manufacturers do to reform security and ease privacy concerns?
Follow an essential principal of “security by design,” if consumers build their defences from the start as oppose to attacking them once a product has been designed and limit the amount of data you assembled and confine the duration it is kept to lower the risk of a damaging the product. Create a layered security approach to cyber defence, from endpoints to early detection of targeted threats on the network. Last but not least ensure all employees are well trained and understand the importance of cyber security.
In addition, vendors must also hold contractors and other third parties to equal high-security standards as internal employees and administer stiff access controls along the lines of “less privilege”. In regards to wearable devices, vendors should provide security as soon as serious issues are detected.