Enterprise Iot
Article | May 11, 2023
The year 2020 was supposed to be a breakthrough year for many technologies but, most businesses have now been forced back into building an infrastructure to transit their workforce to work remotely and ensure continuity of workflow. Nevertheless, an unprecedented set of events have pushed several industries to accelerate the adoption of technologies as they continue to work from home.
5G and Wi-Fi 6 are two tech advancements that have been turning eyes around the world since their introduction. The two wireless technologies are well on their way to revolutionize the Internet of Things as businesses move fast towards digitization and the world is excited.
Table of Contents:
- Wi-Fi 6: A Breakthrough in Wireless Technology
- 5G: For a Better Connected World
- How are Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Transforming the IoT?
- 5G and Wi-Fi 6: Rivals or Allies?
Wi-Fi 6: A Breakthrough in Wireless Technology
The next-generation Wi-Fi with boosted speed was introduced last year to meet the demand for faster internet amongst the rising internet users. But, Wi-Fi 6 is simply more than a tweak in the speed.
Technically called 802.11ax, Wi-Fi 6 is the advancement in the wireless standard doing the same basic things but with greater efficiency in the device-dense areas, and offering much greater bandwidth than its predecessor 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6 promises a speed up to 9.6 Gbps up four times than that of Wi-Fi 5 (3.5Gbps). In reality, this is just a theoretical maximum that one is not expected to reach. Even still, the 9.6Gbps is higher speed and doesn’t have to go to a single device but split up across a network of devices.
A new technology in Wi-Fi 6 called the Target Wake Time (TWT) lets routers set check-in times with devices, allowing communications between the router and the devices. The TWT also reduces the time required to keep the antennas powered to search for signals, which in turn also improves battery life.
Wi-Fi 6 also comes with a new security protocol called WPA3, making it difficult to hack the device passwords by simple guesswork.
In short, Wi-Fi 6 means better speeds with optimized battery lives, and improved security.
5G: For a Better Connected World
5G is the next in line to replace 4G LTE. While Wi-Fi covers small scale internet requirements, cellular networks like 5G are here to connect everyone and everything virtually on a larger scale.
The technology is based on the Orthogonal frequency-division Multiplexing (OFDM) that reduces interference by modulating a digital signal across several channels. Ability to operate in both lower bands (like sub-6 GHz) and mmWave (24 GHz and above), 5G promises increased network capacity, low latency and multi-Gbps throughput. 5G also uses the new 5G NR air interface to optimize OFDM to deliver not just better user experience but also a wider one extending to many industries, and mission-critical service areas.
The 5G technology, in a nutshell, has brought with it ultra-high speeds, increased and scalable network capacity, and very low latency.
How are Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Transforming the IoT?
5G and Wi-Fi 6 will fill up the speed gaps that our existing networks are not able to especially, in crowded homes or congested urban areas. It's not just about the speed. The two wireless technologies will increase network capacity and improve signal strengths.
On the business front, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are both living up to the hype they created since their introduction.
Wi-Fi 6 has emerged, as the enabler of converged IoT at the edge. It has put IT into OT applications, connected devices and processed data from devices such as IP security cameras, LED lighting, and digital signage with touch screen or voice command. Wi-Fi 6 can now be used in office buildings for intelligent building management systems, occupancy sensors, access control (smart locks), smart parking, and fire detection and evacuation.
It’s (Wi-Fi 6) built for IoT. It will connect many, many more people to mobile devices, household appliances, or public utilities, such as the power grid and traffic lights. The transfer rates with Wi-Fi 6 are expected to improve anywhere from four times to 10 times current speeds, with a lower power draw, i.e. while using less electricity.
- Tom Soderstrom, IT Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Similarly, 5G will open doors for more devices and data. It will increase the adoption of edge computing for faster data processing close to the point of action. The hype around 5G is because of the three key attributes it comes with: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency (uRLLC), and massive IoT device connectivity (mMTC). But there is the fourth attribute that sets it apart from its predecessor: use of a spectrum that operates at the low-end frequency range (typically 600 MHz). Called as ‘low-band 5G’, it delivers high speeds with signals that go for miles without propagation losses and ability to penetrate obstacles. The 5G operates in the new millimetre-wave bands (24 to 86 GHz) delivering more capacity to enable many low-power IoT connections.
If we were to point down the benefits, these two wireless technologies are bringing to the Internet of Things those would be:
Increased Human-Device Interactions
Increased Data and Devices
More IoT investments
Advancing to the Edge
Acceleration towards Industrial IoT
Enhanced use of IoT devices
Better VUI
5G and Wi-Fi 6: Rivals or Allies?
In February, Cisco estimated that by 2023 M2M communications will contribute to 50% or about 14.7 billion of all networked connections. Cisco’s Annual Internet Report reveals that 5G will enable new IoT applications with greater bandwidth and lower latencies and will accelerate innovations at scale. The same report estimates that 10.6% of global mobile connections in 2023 will be 5G, while Wi-Fi 6 hotspots will be 11.6% of all public Wi-Fi hotspots growing 13 times from 2020 through 2023.
Wi-Fi6 will serve as a necessary complement to 5G. A significant portion of cellular traffic is offloaded to Wi-Fi networks to prevent congestion and degraded performance of cellular networks (due to demand).
- Thomas Barnett, Director of Thought Leadership, Cisco Systems
The two technologies are here to feed different data-hungry areas with gigabit speeds.
With lower deployment costs, Wi-Fi 6 will be dominating the home and business environments where access points need to serve more users covering devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs, printers, TV sets, and streaming devices. With an unlicensed spectrum, the performance of Wi-Fi 6 depends on the number of users, that are using the network at the same time.
5G, with its longer range, will deliver mobile connections and accelerate smart city deployments and manufacturing operations. Like LTE, 5G speeds will depend upon users’ proximity to base stations and the number of people using that network.
The performance of the two depends largely on the area where they are being deployed. For instance, Wi-Fi can very well handle machine-to-machine communications in a managed manufacturing unit, whereas 5G can enhance campus-wide manufacturing operations efficiently. Businesses will have a decision to make which among the two wireless networks fulfils their data appetite.
In conclusion, the two wireless technologies continue to develop in parallel and causing the next big wave in the Internet of Things.
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IoT Security
Article | July 17, 2023
Find out the upcoming and established companies providing IoT security for businesses. These allow adopting best practices & make informed technology investment decisions, for secure performance.
IoT security helps implement strong authentication, encryption, and access controls for IoT devices, while regularly updating firmware and monitoring for threats, to ensure the security of interconnected systems and protect sensitive data in a business environment.
Here is a carefully curated list of 15 Top IoT security companies, providing security to IoT devices, thereby ensuring their privacy and integration.
1. Ordr Inc.
Ordr is a leading provider of connected device security solutions deployed in numerous organizations worldwide across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and government. Its platform addresses vital use cases such as healthcare and medical device security, real-time asset visibility, compliance, threat detection and response, IoT and OT security, Zero Trust segmentation, and NAC acceleration. Ordr has earned industry recognition as the KLAS Healthcare IoT Leader for three consecutive years and is featured in Gartner Market Guides for OT Security and Medical Device Security Solutions. Prominent investors, including Battery Ventures, Mayo Clinic Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, back Ordr. The SOC2-certified platform demonstrates its commitment to customer privacy and data security. Its comprehensive approach ensures organizations can protect patient care, maintain real-time asset inventory, detect threats, implement zero trust segmentation, accelerate NAC, and secure IT/OT environments.
2. Medigate by Claroty
Medigate is a solution that comprehensively addresses healthcare organizations' unique challenges. The need for a coordinated security strategy becomes paramount as the convergence of IT, OT, IoT, and physical systems continues in the clinical environment. Medigate provides the confidence to secure, manage, and gain insights from all devices connected to the network, including a wide range of medical devices with proprietary protocols and operational parameters. Protecting the network can be overwhelming, with thousands of devices from different manufacturers. Medigate's specialized approach ensures that security measures do not compromise device usability, eliminating the need for compromise between security and functionality. In terms of investors, Medigate has received backing from prominent organizations such as Siemens, BMWiVentures, and SoftBank. These partnerships reinforce Medigate's commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance cybersecurity and enable organizations to connect confidently.
3. Aryballe
One of the top IoT security companies, Aryballe combines biochemical sensors, advanced optics, and machine learning to create a unique digital olfaction solution. By mimicking the human sense of smell, Aryballe's objective is to collect, display, and analyze odor data, empowering companies to make more informed decisions. Aryballe's software suite complements this hardware, which offers user-friendly protocol and analysis tools. These tools enable R&D, quality, and manufacturing professionals to integrate digital odor data into their decision-making processes seamlessly. Aryballe's software and data solutions are particularly valuable to the automotive, food & beverage, consumer appliances, and flavor & fragrance industries. The odor displays and analysis provided by Aryballe's technology empower leaders in these sectors to make smarter business decisions. Additionally, Aryballe's digital olfaction solutions have applications for enhancing user experiences within the automotive and consumer appliance markets.
4. Timesys Corporation
Timesys is a leader and pioneer in the embedded software market, offering open-source software security, development tools, and engineering services. With a comprehensive end-to-end device security solution, it enables developers to implement strong security measures early in the design phase. It has extensive embedded development experience and serves a diverse customer base, including Global 500 companies in the medical, industrial, networking, aerospace, and consumer sectors. The company's global partner ecosystem comprises leading semiconductor manufacturers, board vendors, and distributors. Its security services include VigiShield Secure by Design, which focuses on integrating core security features into device designs, and Vigiles, a tool for monitoring and remediating vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it offers an embedded board farm for test automation and remote access infrastructure, facilitating collaborative software development and debugging processes.
5. QA Mentor
QA mentor is a one-stop solution for application and mobile app testing. It is an award-winning software by QA company headquartered in New York. With multiple certifications and a CMMI Level 3 SVC + SSD v1.3 appraisals, the company offers comprehensive software testing services to clients globally. QA Mentor serves various industries, including startups and Fortune 500 companies. Their unique selling points include customizable testing processes, flexible on-demand services, and economical pricing. They specialize in various QA services, such as test design and execution, mobile/browser compatibility testing, QA audit and process improvement, automation testing, performance testing, security testing, regression testing, crowdsourcing testing, and QA e-learning. With a state-of-the-art test lab, unique methodologies, and expertise in automation tools, QA Mentor stands out in the industry.
6. Mocana
Mocana is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for IoT, operational technology, and critical infrastructure. Their on-device cybersecurity software and lifecycle management platform enable manufacturers and industrial companies to build tamper-resistant self-defending systems. Mocana's integrated solutions help minimize the risk of cyber breaches, ensure compliance with industry standards, and protect intellectual property throughout the device lifecycle. Unlike traditional IT network security approaches, Mocana empowers devices to protect themselves and prevent malware installation. Their platform facilitates application development and updates, ensures device protection and hardening in the field, supports interoperability between legacy and new devices, and offers automated operations with centralized control.
7. Verimatrix
Verimatrix, one of the many IoT security companies, is a leading provider of people-centered security solutions that power the modern connected world. Their intuitive and frictionless security offerings protect digital content, applications, and devices across various industries. Major brands rely on Verimatrix to secure premium movies, live-streaming sports, sensitive financial and healthcare data, and mission-critical mobile applications. Verimatrix helps its customers deliver compelling content and experiences to millions of consumers worldwide by enabling trusted connections. Their solutions provide robust security and help partners accelerate market time, quickly scale their operations, safeguard valuable revenue streams, and attract new business opportunities. With a focus on plugging security holes, thwarting pirate and cyberattacks, and preserving revenue, Verimatrix plays a crucial role in protecting the digital ecosystem and ensuring the delivery of exceptional experiences in an unprotected digital world.
8. Keyfactor
Keyfactor is a trusted provider of identity-first security solutions that bring digital trust to the hyper-connected world. With a focus on machine and human identities, Keyfactor simplifies PKI, automates certificate lifecycle management, and secures every device, workload, and thing. By enabling organizations to establish and maintain digital trust at scale, Keyfactor helps them move quickly in a zero-trust environment. In the face of increasing cyber threats, Keyfactor addresses the challenges of securing 5G networks and communications, meeting evolving standards and scalability, and adapting to changing architectures. Keyfactor's flexible solutions can be deployed in various environments, including data centers, cloud, SaaS, or hybrid architectures. With a comprehensive PKI management platform, Keyfactor enables organizations to protect their networks and manage certificates efficiently.
9. Vdoo
Vdoo is a global leader in the product security space, offering a comprehensive platform for identifying and mitigating security issues. It is the only automated platform that provides end-to-end product security, helping organizations streamline their development and security processes while ensuring optimal product security. With Vdoo, development and security teams can efficiently address a wide range of security risks, including supply chain threats, configuration risks, standard compliance, and zero-day vulnerabilities. Vdoo's platform enables organizations to integrate security seamlessly into their DevOps workflows, automate compliance assurance, and fortify security across the software supply chain. By offering intelligent and automated security solutions from code to container to device, Vdoo empowers organizations to safeguard their software's integrity and protect against malicious activity.
10. CyberMDX
CyberMDX, a Forescout company is a leading provider of IoT security solutions focused on safeguarding healthcare delivery worldwide. Its cloud-based cybersecurity solutions support the advancement of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) by protecting connected medical devices. The CyberMDX solution offers comprehensive endpoint identification, vulnerability assessment, incident detection, response, and prevention capabilities. Deployed globally, CyberMDX seamlessly integrates with customers' existing environments through its scalable and agentless solution. It provides continuous, real-time discovery and visibility of all medical devices connected to clinical networks. Recognized as a representative vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Medical Device Security Solutions, Forescout delivers robust cybersecurity capabilities for healthcare organizations. With its automated and customizable approach, Forescout ensures the security and integrity of medical devices and IoMT ecosystems.
11. Sepio
Among the many best IoT security companies, Sepio is a leading asset risk management platform that prioritizes asset existence over activity. Through its physical layer asset DNA profiling, Sepio offers customers actionable visibility, policy enforcement, and mitigation capabilities, empowering them to gain better control over all assets at scale. Regardless of whether the infrastructure is connected to IT, OT, or IoT, Sepio's trafficless monitoring ensures an asset-agnostic solution. Sepio's platform caters to various industries, including financial institutions, healthcare institutions, and critical infrastructures globally. The platform allows the discovery of both known and shadow assets, mitigates risks associated with uncontrolled assets, reduces hardware clutter, enforces asset policies, meets regulatory compliance, and seamlessly integrates with existing security tools. Sepio's asset risk management benefits extend to uncovering hidden asset risks, providing organizations with the necessary insights and tools to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
12. Nexusguard
Nexusguard, a provider of simplified DDoS protection solutions for both service providers and enterprises, provides a range of offerings, including cloud services, managed DDoS protection platforms, and professional training courses. It empowers organizations to effectively safeguard their networks and applications against DDoS attacks. For communications service providers (CSPs), Nexusguard offers managed cloud-based DDoS protection solutions that cover various aspects such as application protection, origin protection, edge protection, and DNS protection. These solutions ensure the secure operation of internet-facing websites, shield networks and systems from threats, scale up protection for internet uplinks and infrastructure, and keep DNS services up and running. Nexusguard's offerings also include the Nexusguard Bastions server, a purpose-built on premise solution for CSPs that seamlessly integrates the company's proprietary technologies and global cloud scrubbing capabilities into the CSP's environment.
13. IoTium
IoTium is a provider of secure, managed software-defined network infrastructure for industrial IoT applications. Its solution enables the secure connection of both legacy and greenfield mission-critical on-site machinery and automation systems to applications residing in data centers or the cloud. By offering zero-touch provisioning and eliminating complexities in scalable mass deployments, IoTium ensures seamless and secure connectivity at scale. IoTium's View Smart Building Cloud addresses these security risks by implementing a Zero-trust Network Architecture (ZTNA). This includes secure tunnels with end-to-end encryption, certificate-based device authentication, and secure remote access with multi-factor authentication. It offers centralized management and visibility of building networks and OT devices, along with the ability to deploy edge applications for real-time processing and optimizations.
14. SCADAfence
SCADAfence, one of the top IoT security solution companies is a global technology leader specializing in OT and IoT cybersecurity. It offers a comprehensive suite of industrial cybersecurity products designed to provide robust protection for large-scale networks. Its portfolio includes top-notch network monitoring, asset discovery, governance, remote access, and IoT device security solutions. By leveraging SCADAfence's solutions, organizations operating in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and building management industries can ensure secure, reliable, and efficient operations. SCADAfence's solutions cater to various industries, such as manufacturing, critical infrastructure, and building management. With a commitment to providing valuable resources and insights, it maintains an informative blog and offers opportunities for customers to request a live demonstration of its solutions
15. Xage Security
Xage is a global leader in real-world security, offering zero-trust solutions for industrial cybersecurity. Its flagship product, the Xage Fabric, simplifies and accelerates digital operations across OT, IT, and cloud environments. By adopting a unified approach based on zero-trust principles, Xage enables secure remote access and identity-driven access management for operational assets. Its solution eliminates the vulnerabilities associated with traditional remote access methods and provides granular access control down to individual assets, reducing the attack surface area. With Xage, organizations benefit from simplified and friction-free remote access, strengthened cybersecurity with advanced controls like multi-factor authentication, and full visibility and control of remote sessions. Its solutions also enable secure session collaboration, protect file transfers, and mitigate malware and anomalous behaviors. With Xage, organizations can fortify their cybersecurity infrastructure, enhance productivity, and meet evolving security challenges.
Conclusion
To stay ahead in IoT security market ,it is important to keep an eye on prominent companies leading the way in this field. These companies offer innovative solutions and expertise to address the evolving challenges of IoT security. By following their advancements and leveraging their technologies, businesses can enhance their defenses and mitigate risks in the ever-expanding IoT landscape.
Follow the list of top 15 companies,provided above to strengthen cybersecurity with advanced controls, end-to-end encryption, certificate-based device authentication, secure remote access with multi-factor authentication, among others.They empower organizations to safeguard their software's integrity and protect against malicious activity. The companies play a crucial role in protecting the digital ecosystem and ensuring the delivery of exceptional experiences,analysing the IoT statistics, in an unprotected digital world.
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Industrial IoT, IoT Security
Article | July 11, 2023
The evolution of internet-based market models has changed the way businesses operate. Present-day businesses know that data visualization in business intelligence is integral to competitive success. Therefore, businesses are now expanding their data and intelligence retrieval capacities. As a result, IoT (Internet of Things) data visualization is gaining popularity among industrialists and researchers across various disciplines.
In corporate finance, IoT-based efficient data visualization analyses data from multiple sources with the help of corporate analytics management tools and manages data quality for business intelligence to reduce the risk of leaks.
Impact of IoT Data Visualization on Corporate Finance BI
Data is everywhere— right from a customer's first visit to your company’s website until he signs out, all the behavioral patterns and data are tracked. All this data becomes useless unless it is utilized for a particular purpose.
Analyzing this data to predict future trends is one of the significant benefits of smart data visualization tools and technologies. It helps to slice and dice the data gained from different sources of different complexity levels to the minute granular level. Business intelligence utilizes these insights and the existing database to run risk analysis.
It gives an overview of your financial performance and the risks and exposures it faces. And if you switch the KPIs at the center of any dashboard, your entire team can instantly access the most important and relevant data.
IoT data visualization can measure big data on customers more efficiently, allowing organizations to add value to their customers. Customized tools will analyze your customers’ data and produce reports according to specific customer needs to help you get a deeper insight. Corporations can also utilize this data to better understand their competitors’ benchmarks.
Customizable IoT Data to Store Millions of Data Points in One Place
IoT collects millions of data from various complex sources. The data visualization dashboard contains multiple widgets that convert this data into various forms, such as line graphs, geographical maps, bar charts, pie charts, gauges, heat maps, etc.
This information, transmitted into multiple visualizations, helps organizations to unlock every piece of data into a valuable asset.
The Benefits of Using IoT Data Visualization
Businesses can collect, analyze and monitor a variety of data using IoT, such as internet usage data, video surveillance data, mobile app usage, and social media. It helps businesses to design products and provide personalized value-added services to drive better consumer engagement. Here are some key benefits IoT data visualization offers:
Unlock multiple insights across various verticals
Addressing important financial concerns proactively
Combination of multiple data sources into a single insightful dashboard
Multi-layered visual data.
Combines new data with the existing data to analyze new business opportunities.
Better performance on IoT data flow.
Analyze multiple data correlations in real-time
Improved Collaboration
Well-coordinated and efficient performance.
Cost reduction
Accurate data interpretation
Mitigate risk factor
Better decision making
Conclusion
Hands down, IoT data visualization intelligence in a company’s business operations will lead to better decision-making. But, before you choose an IoT data visualization tool for your business, you should know what kind of data you need to analyze and if you need any additional historical data. Because IoT services offer data visualization tools and techniques to analyze and monitor the data accordingly to predict future trends. So, it’s important to identify the goals before selecting a tool for your organization.
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