A Human Prescription to Internet of Things Security

While Internet of Things (IoT) technology is much talked about for its transformative business applications, especially in manufacturing, the ominous threat of cybersecurity causes some to skeptically view such a broad network of devices, sensors, software and connectivity. A stream of news reports detailing massive data breaches validates the danger inherent to IoT challenges. With estimates that connected devices could reach 20 billion to 30 billion by 2020, up from 10 billion to 15 billion devices in 2015, according to McKinsey and Co., the risk will surely grow. In my IoT conversations with enterprise IT leaders, the number one concern they express is security. But digitally-driven organizations can take valuable steps to maintain data integrity from a source through any point of analysis and decision support, both central and local, to enhance confidence that data assets are secure. Surprisingly, though, the most important steps in addressing Internet of Things security might have less to do with technology and more to do with corporate culture and employee behaviors.