We all use the Internet – and can no longer imagine everyday life without it. Whether we use the Internet as an information medium via search engines or to communicate via social networks: we use the Internet every day.
It has also changed a lot: In the past, it was only possible to reach many people via television and radio. With social media today, a reach is possible that exceeds previous TV reach.
However, the Internet as we know it is being revolutionized. This is where the term „Internet of Things“ (IoT) comes into play. It is also often referred to as Internet 4.0 because it is the basis of the 4th industrial revolution. „Internet of Things“ – a term that Kevin Ashton, co-founder and then director of the Auto-ID Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), established in 1999. Driven by the vision that computers should be able to obtain information and understand the real world without human interaction. According to Ashton, many things would run more efficiently and costs would be saved where human capacity is simply too limited.
Years ago, Bill Gates also had the vision of programming computers so intelligently that they could, for example, do everyday tasks independently. Or of networking devices in such a way that communication/interaction could take place without people.
And it is precisely these visions that have been implemented: the Internet now not only conveys information between people, but also connects things with each other.
Objects are networked to make the consumer’s life easier. We already know about the global networking of computers and smartphones. But now all kinds of devices – from coffee machines to clothing, thermostats and cars to garage doors – are to be networked. The refrigerator orders groceries when it is empty. The wastepaper basket reports automatically when it is full. The car radios the workshop when it needs repairs: in the future, a wide variety of objects will be equipped with sensors and chips, networked and able to communicate.
Machines become more productive when they are equipped with sensors. The sensors measure key figures in operating mode: parameters such as temperature, speed, wear, etc. This data is stored via the Internet and sent back to the machine for use. The machine now notices whether and when damage occurs and can repair itself or, if that is not possible, report the fault.
This is already commonplace in logistics today, as packages and containers are equipped with chips that store not only product information but also the transport destination. Every shipment that passes a sorting machine transmits its destination, is sorted accordingly and transported on to the right destination. These processes are fast, autonomous and local. Such processes are made possible in many other fields of application by the Internet of Things.
We can now also hand over complete assembly instructions to 3D printers, which produce the objects without any significant human work. Doctors will also have it easier in the future: health bands that measure and store our state of health via heart and circulatory information, type and location of stress, blood values, etc. can transmit this information directly to our doctor.
Another possible application is the intelligent use of electricity: Lichtblick and Tesla are working on a swarm conductor that stores the distribution of electricity from green energy producers and makes it available via the power grid. In a few years, private electricity producers should also be able to be included. The vision: large, environmentally harmful power plants will then only be needed by industry.
The Internet of Things is revolutionizing the IT industry and paving the way for digitalization – the Internet of Things is expected to include 50 billion devices by 2020, market research provider Gartner has predicted.
Soon, everyday objects such as smoke detectors, temperature controls, lawn sprinklers, lighting systems, refrigerators, cars, garages, thermostats, toys and much more will be constantly online. Because it costs almost nothing to connect the devices to the network – and because the devices can then be controlled and operated via a smartphone app.
What do you have to pay attention to?
A major issue with all of these Internet of Things applications is data security and the fear of data misuse. This is particularly important for companies. To simplify security management and protect a company’s sensitive data, a few points should be considered:
- The right network solution to enable automation. Automation can address problems as they arise, enabling immediate remediation and reducing response time. This greatly reduces the potential for network outages or damage from an attack.
- A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) should be implemented. With the introduction of IoT, it is more important than ever that security measures are strengthened and adhered to and problems are resolved easily and efficiently. SIEM provides 24/7 monitoring services for IT. Security and operational incidents are detected by registering forensic and real-time data at network speed.
- New data protection regulations should be put in place. It is the responsibility of the IT department to ensure that the guidelines are followed and only approved devices and technologies are used.
