For the past few years, the internet of things (IoT) has become a very important part of our lives and is proving to be very valuable for several industrial sectors. It is nothing but a network of connected physical devices that are furnished with software, electronics, sensors, and chips, which exchanges data through the internet. According to some experts, there would be 22 billion connected devices all over the world by the end of 2025. And when we speak of IoT technologies, the telecom sector is one of the most important players and is playing a key role to boost the technology.
Secure and top-notch IoT solutions are playing a pivotal role in offering the industry leaders with low-cost, safe, and seamless ways to capitalize on the evolution of the IoT and craft flexibility for the coming years, according to a report of the Financial Express. As stated above, the telecom sector is very important because the network infrastructure offers the groundwork, which is further aiding in developing innovative services and solutions based on the IoT technologies.
Now, the unleashing of 5G will further boost IoT, claims director- professional services , India at Giesecke & Devrient MS India Pvt. Ltd in an interaction with the Financial Express. The connectivity sector will be transformed like emergency services to connected cars, and utilities and smart cities. The rapid adoption of IoT and 5G will spearhead several factors like escalated demand from the enterprises and consumers and the availability of more devices will further help in uplifting the adoption of IoT technology. The point to be noted is that, increasing investments in 5G infrastructure, technology, and spectrum coupled with the implementation of international standards will also increase the market interest and growth.
As 5G is going to play an important role in the 5G network, the question crops up: is IoT vulnerable to cyber attacks? There is a saying; every development comes at some cost, and therefore, the security aspects of IoT must not be kept aside. There could be a lost of concerns and the challenges, but the important ones are listed below:
- Insecure networks (even 5G). Every network has vulnerability towards attack
- Insecure data transfer & storage
- Weak password management by users
- Lack of software updates/patches
- Unsecured and untested devices
Now, another question appears, what are the ways to solve the challenges. It cannot be solved instantly, and hence, this responsibility needs to be shared by various stakeholders.
- Device manufacturers: Thorough testing, effective product design and penetration test are the basis considerations that needs to be undertaken at the manufacturing or designing phase itself.
- Enterprise network: While using a public network, ensuring proper cybersecurity planning and prioritization of security topic will be imperative.
- Users end: Its quintessential at the users end to have a strong password management, regular firmware upgrades etc., to keep the security issues at bay.
In the era of 5G, a sophisticated IoT environment is required to be constructed where cybersecurity and data privacy are major imperative areas. There is also a requirement of regulatory and standardized bodies that can work closely with the industry and the government throughout the globe. The reality is that with the massive deployment of IoT all over the world, 5G will be able to provide a lot of transformation opportunities and advantages to the consumers. But, amidst all these positive vibes, security must be looked at carefully.
