Security Questions about the Internet of Things

We often talk about how the Internet of Things can create security issues in businesses if not properly handled. While there are some very real threats that can be posed by the IoT in the workplace, there is no denying that it can also serve some very real utility there as well.

Today, we’ll review a few ways that the IoT can be leveraged to your workplace’s benefit.

Why the IoT?
Setting the current security concerns of the IoT aside for a moment, the technology promises clear benefits for the 30 million small businesses in the United States. Not only can it greatly simplify the workload that these businesses must contend with throughout the day, it enables so many other business-critical tasks to be completed without worry of human error or neglect.

Simply put, the IoT can directly benefit your business in three simple ways: reducing your operating costs, increasing your organizational productivity, and enabling you to embrace new opportunities.

Decreased Operating Costs
When it comes to the Internet of Things, automation is the name of the game. Locks that automatically engage after a certain time or lights that can be deactivated via a mobile application are two simple examples of how the IoT permits a greater level of control over the office environment. Furthermore, these technologies (along with many others) can help you to trim back your operating costs by enabling you to control the office environment based on predetermined conditions.

Increased Productivity
The IoT also provides numerous means to give your organization a boost to its productivity. For instance, the increasingly popular virtual assistants of today - like Amazon’s Alexa or the Google Assistant - offer functions that make many of the rote, time-consuming tasks that the business environment requires as simple as just saying what you want.

Your productivity can also be boosted through the consolidation of your work-essential data into one place through the Internet of Things. With this approach, the time you spend jumping from browser to application to a different tab in the browser can be significantly chopped down and consolidated.

Finally, the IoT can also be leveraged as a way to keep your team organized and informed. By combining IoT technologies with automation processes, you can ensure that your employees are receiving important messages in a timely manner. Whether you want to remind the team of an impending meeting or keep them abreast of business developments, automation with the IoT can enable you to do so.

Embracing Opportunity
Admittedly, the IoT initially seems to be the kind of tool that is reserved for large corporations. Despite this impression, there are plenty of connected devices that a small business can utilize to improve their processes as well.

Security features, like smart locks and Internet-connected cameras, can enable a business owner to keep their establishment safe and secured. Other IoT-related technologies, including chatbots and automation, can assist in advancing the business by taking some of the responsibility off of the human element and free them up to attend to other critical tasks.

However, Caution Is Needed
Of course, you can’t ignore the various shortcomings that plague the IoT, either. Many Internet-connected devices feature substandard security measures, and the novelty of these devices make them appealing for many business owners who seek to be on the cutting edge. As a result, it is easy to make your business vulnerable, especially if extraneous and unnecessary IoT technologies are providing additional points of entrance.

SMART Services can assist you in establishing which IoT devices will prove to be a benefit for your business, as well as helping you to remain secure as you leverage them. Call 586 258-0650 for more information.