editorial
COLUMN
False start
Recent reports suggesting that several vulnerabilities have been detected in a range of Internet connected lightbulbs have reignited the debate surrounding security concerns linked to the Internet of Things ( IoT ). Somewhat understandably , companies in a range of different markets are racing to get involved in IoT in a bid to establish themselves as technological pioneers , pushing their technology to market before it has been thoroughly examined and tested .
Hacking a lightbulb may sound mildly ridiculous but such a breach of security may have serious consequences for the home or business owner . Controlling a single lightbulb is unlikely to result in more than minor inconvenience but controlling a whole host of bulbs across a wider geographical area could lead to power surges and black outs . Perhaps more concerning is the possibility that the attacker could potentially gain access to the entire Wi-Fi network , allowing them to infiltrate other electronic devices and view private information .
With heavyweight players such as Amazon , Apple and Google working day and night to develop platforms to support Internet connected devices in the home , the hype surrounding IoT will undoubtedly continue to grow and the technology looks set to evolve at a frightening pace . As with early cloud computing models , security is shaping up to be the number one concern for consumers and unless more regulation and guidance is introduced there is a real risk that market confidence will take a damaging hit . Companies developing IoT solutions would be well advised to place security at the very top of the agenda , ensuring that both the hardware and software is watertight and the product is truly fit for purpose – it ’ s no good being first to market if the solution quickly ends up as the worst on the market .
Michael Crane Editor
Cable management & labelling next issue ...
The September issue of Network Communications News will contain a major feature on cable management and labelling as well as its regular range of features and news items .
It will comprise a major article and a comprehensive product round up which will be used as a reference point by network cabling infrastructure installers , integrators and end users .
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