The Internet of Things (iot security)is an emerging issue of technical, social and economic importance. Consumer products, durable goods, cars and trucks, industrial and utility components, sensors, and other everyday objects combine with internet connectivity and robust data analytics capabilities that promise to transform the way we work and live. And we play. The projections for the impact of IoT on the internet and the economy are impressive, with some anticipating up to 100 billion connected IoT devices and a global economic impact of more than $ 11 trillion by 2025.

Yet at the same time, the Internet of Things poses significant challenges that could hamper its potential profits. Headlines about internet piracy, surveillance concerns and privacy have already caught the public’s attention. Technical challenges remain and new political, legal and development challenges emerge.

This overview document is designed to help the Internet Society navigate the dialogue around the Internet of Things in light of conflicting predictions about its promises and dangers. The Internet of Things employs a wide range of ideas that are complex and intertwine from different perspectives. Key concepts that serve as the foundation for exploring IoT opportunities and challenges include:

Definitions of IoT: The term Internet of Things generally refers to scenarios where network connectivity and computing power are extended to everyday objects, sensors, and items that are not normally considered computers, allowing these devices to generate, to change and consume data with minimal human intervention. However, there is no single, universal definition.

Enabling Technologies: The concept of combining computers, sensors, and networks to monitor and control devices has been around for decades. However, the recent confluence of various trends in the technology market brings the Internet of Things closer to mainstream reality. These include ubiquitous connectivity of network, widespread adoption of IP based network operations, computational economics, miniaturization, advances in data analytics, and the rise of cloud computing.

Connectivity models: IoT implementations use different models of technical communication, each with its own characteristics. Four common communication models outlined by the Internet Architecture Board include: device-to-device, device-to-cloud, device-to-gateway, and back-end data sharing. These models emphasize the flexibility of how IoT devices can connect and provide value to the user.

Transformative potential: If the projections and trends towards IoT come true, it can force a change in thinking about the implications and problems of a world where the most common interaction with the Internet comes from passive participation with connected objects, rather than the active participation with the content. . The possible realization of this outcome – a “hyperconnected world” – is proof of the general-purpose nature of the Internet architecture itself, which does not impose inherent limitations on applications or services that can use technology.

Five key areas of the IoT problem are examined to explore some of the most pressing technology challenges and questions. These include privacy issue, security interoperability and standards legal regulatory issues and rights and emerging economies and development.

IoT Security

Security considerations are not new in the IT context, the attributes of many IoT implementations present new and unique security challenges. Addressing these challenges and ensuring security in IoT products and services must be a key priority. Users must be sure that IoT devices and related data services are protected from vulnerabilities, especially as this technology becomes widespread and integrated into our daily lives. Less protected IOT devices and services can lead to serve as potential entry points for cyber attacks & expose user data to danger of being theft, leaving data streams inadequately protected.

The interconnected nature of IoT devices means that every poorly protected device that is connected online potentially affects the security and resilience of the Internet globally. This challenge is amplified by other considerations, such as the massive deployment of homogeneous IoT devices, the ability of some devices to automatically connect to other devices.
and the likelihood of launching these devices in unsafe environments.

As a matter of principle, developers and users of IoT devices and systems have a collective obligation to ensure that they do not expose users or the Internet to potential harm. Consequently, a collaborative security approach will be needed to develop effective and appropriate solutions to IoT security challenges that are well adapted to the scale and complexity of the problems.

confidentiality

The full potential of the Internet of Things depends on strategies that respect individual privacy choices across a wide range of expectations. The data streams and user-specific characteristics provided by IoT devices can unlock incredible and unique value for IoT users, but privacy concerns and potential harm could prevent full adoption of the Internet of Things. . This means that privacy rights and compliance with user privacy expectations are essential to ensure user trust in the Internet, connected devices, and related services.

In fact, the Internet of Things redefines the debate on privacy issues, as many implementations can dramatically change the way personal data is collected, analyzed, used and protected. For example, IoT amplifies concerns about the potential for increased surveillance and monitoring, the difficulty of being able to delete certain data collections, and the power of aggregating IoT data streams to detailed digital portraits of users information.

While these are significant challenges, they are not insurmountable. Seizing opportunities will require developing strategies to meet individual privacy choices across a wide range of expectations, while fostering innovation in new technologies and services.

Interoperability / Standards

A fragmented environment of the IoT technical implementations themselves will inhibit value for users and the industry. Although full interoperability between products and services is not always feasible or necessary, buyers may be reluctant to buy IoT products and services if there is integration inflexibility, high ownership complexity, and vendor lock-in issues.

Furthermore, poorly designed and configured IoT devices can have negative consequences for the network resources to which they connect and for the Internet in general. The right standards, reference models, and best practices will also help reduce the proliferation of devices that can act in a disruptive manner on the Internet. The use of generic, open and widely available standards as technical elements for IoT devices and services (such as the Internet Protocol) will support user benefits, innovation and economic opportunities.

Legal, regulatory and rights

The use of IoT devices raises many new regulatory and legal problems, as well as amplifies existing legal problems on the Internet. The questions are broad in scope, and the rapid rate of change in IoT technology often exceeds the adaptability of associated regulatory, legal, and policy structures.

A set of issues surrounds cross-border data flows, which occur when IoT devices collect data about people in one jurisdiction and pass it to another jurisdiction with different data protection laws for processing. Additionally, the data collected by IoT devices is sometimes susceptible to abuse, which can cause discriminatory results for some users. Other legal issues with IoT devices include the conflict between law enforcement oversight and civil rights; data retention and destruction policies; and legal liability for unintentional use, security breaches, or privacy gifts.

While legal & regulatory challenges are broad and complex , Adoption of the Internet Society guidelines to promote the user’s ability to connect, talk, innovate, share, choose, and trust are essential considerations for the evolution of laws and IoT regulations that allow user rights.

Emerging development problems and the economy

The Internet of Things holds significant promise to provide social and economic benefits to emerging and developing economies. This includes areas such as sustainable agriculture, water quality and use, health, industrialization and environmental management, among others. As such, IoT holds promise as a tool to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The wide scope of IoT challenges will not be unique to industrialized countries. Developing regions will also need to respond to realize the potential benefits of IoT. In addition, it will be necessary to address the unique needs and challenges of deployment in less developed regions, including the availability of infrastructure, market and investment incentives, technical skills requirements and political resources.

The Internet of Things is happening now. It promises to provide a revolutionary “smart” world, fully connected, as the relationships between objects, their environment and people become more closely linked. However, the problems and challenges associated with IoT must be considered and addressed in order to realize the potential benefits for people, society and the economy.

Ultimately, solutions to maximize the benefits of the Internet of Things and minimize the risks will not be found by engaging in a polarized debate that pits the promises of the Internet of Things against its potential dangers. Rather, it will require informed engagement, dialogue, and collaboration among a variety of stakeholders to establish the most effective ways forward.

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