Three Challenges That are to be Resolved Before Adopting Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the complex network of objects linked through the internet that can identify themselves to other devices and use embedded technology to interact with internal states or external conditions. Moreover, it creates an ecosystem where all the devices are interconnected within the network, thereby, building a grand infrastructure capable of achieving things unimaginable before.

With IoT, the “small” things when weaved together in a binding network can perform in a smart mode. This sophisticated infrastructure develops intelligence to provide insights that simply wouldn’t have been possible earlier. However, like all things connected, it brings the inherent data breach risks that could compel to ask the sustainability of data privacy in the future. All that personal and business data that exist on the cloud could be passed back and forth through thousands devices increasing the security risks. A single weak link is enough to hijack the entire network. So, what are those challenges faced by the IoT infrastructure?

Data Privacy

The growth of internet has already raised the data privacy concerns. But, IoT is only going to aggravate our concerns. According to a Cisco infographic, 50 billion devices are expected to connect to the IoT network by 2020. This grand scale of connectivity will encourage hackers to devise sophisticated methods of cracking the system and gain control over public and private data alike--such as cars, smartphones, home automation systems etc. Therefore, the industry should learn from its past mistakes. It should leverage effective security practices like hardening the systems, using secure protocols for communication or installing the latest updates, fixes and patches. In addition, the future will secure the network with systems and not with humans, thus, a whole different approach is required to develop secure technology.

Integrity

When we talk about integrity, they are of two kinds: System Integrity and Message Integrity. System integrity is a “State of a system where it is performing its intended functions without being degraded or impaired by changes or disruptions in its internal or external environments.” To maintain system integrity, the performance of components of the system needs to be monitored and corrected when failed. However, addressing message integrity is to ensure the intended message was delivered without any manipulation.

Authentication

The challenge of ascertaining the message, user, or file originated from a genuine source is also grievous. Security checks like passwords, PINs, biometric, and security tokens are used to determine authenticity of the user. However, weaker single-factor authentication system has proved to be a failure in several cases. Therefore, multi-factor authentication systems are increasingly being adopted by systems. This could be a combination of two security passes like fingerprint and iris scan, password and draw pattern along with a security token--a smart card.

Likewise, the challenges are to be provided with effective solutions for IoT to remain less vulnerable in the future, failing which, the increased vulnerability will remark the downfall of a futuristic technology.