Tips for managing your business IoT risk

The “Internet of Things” (IoT) is a revolution with the potential to improve industrial and business efficiency, customer satisfaction, and company profitability. However with new technologies come unfamiliar business risks — risks that must be managed and mitigated.

The IoT consists of a wide variety of data collecting and control sensors that are connected to the internet. These include thermometers, cameras, GPS devices, security devices, sensors and a host of other “smart” devices. The applications for IoT in business are rapidly expanding.

IoT risks

As valuable as IoT systems are, they are also vulnerable. When a device is hacked or fails, there’s usually a business — and sometimes a human — cost to pay. Just a few examples are:
 

• Cyber security breach —  IoT systems may use sensitive data or control important functions — such as a computer network, an electrical grid or online retail shopping system. Hackers target and breach these with the intention of stealing data — often disrupting business for days and opening the company up for legal action.
• Product loss —  Incorrect temperature data might mean that perishable goods are spoiled, which creates financial harm and possible injury to customer relationships.
• Manufacturing defects — An IoT error could lead to production glitches which often take some time to detect. If substandard products or parts end up in the marketplace, it can subject both the parts and the product manufacturers to financial and legal exposure.
• Property damages — An alarm or sprinkler system malfunction can result in damage to business facilities and content losses.
• Human cost — Bad data in the medical sector can have disastrous patient privacy or even mortality consequences. An IoT failure or hack can open a healthcare system to onerous liabilities as well as to long-lasting reputational damage.