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Urgent action needed to address serious security concerns in the ‘Wild West’ Internet of ThingsReport by Scrutinise Research and Analysis finds immediate action is needed to avert potential catastrophic fallout from IoT security breaches UK, 15th May 2017 - Scrutinise Research and Analysis has today launched its “Securing the Internet of Things” report highlighting the security risks present in the Internet of Things (IoT). The report, published jointly with technology content marketing agency Ilex Content Strategies, finds that immediate action is required to avert potentially disastrous security breaches of connected devices by cyber terrorists and criminals in the current ‘Wild West’ of the IoT. The report recommends a four-pronged approach to prevent security breaches of IoT devices that could have wide reaching consequences: 1. Manufacturers should build security into their products at the outset, with appropriate commercial incentives. 2. Consumers must be educated about the importance of security and how to keep devices and personal data safe. 3. Industry associations and vendors need to agree internationally acceptable IoT security standards and best practice. 4. Governments should ensure that regulation encompasses the security of the evolving IoT landscape, and provide for and implement penalties for non-compliance. “Given that the proliferation of connected devices goes way beyond smartphones and home entertainment to include medical equipment, connected cars and even power plants, urgent action is needed to improve the security of these devices to ensure we are not vulnerable to those who might seek to exploit current weaknesses. Everyone in the IoT ecosystem shares a responsibility to improve security,” said Sacha Kavanagh, Co-Founder and Senior Analyst at Scrutinise Research and Analysis. At present there are no specific IoT security standards or regulations, leading to a ‘Wild West’ situation where security is at risk of being compromised. The report features comments from industry experts from the IoT Security Foundation, the GSMA, Cisco Systems and Trustonic, amongst others. “Manufacturers and developers should build security into the design of their IoT devices, services and apps, and should be commercially incentivised to take their responsibilities seriously. Led by manufacturers and service providers, consumers also need to be educated about the potential threats and how they can use IoT products safely and securely,” said Paul Ridgewell, Co-Founder and Senior Analyst at Scrutinise Research and Analysis. The report details how more partnerships and collaborations between tech firms on both the equipment and service sides of the fence are needed, as well as with manufacturers in other industries that will become part of the IoT supply chain. “It’s great to be tackling some of the big technology issues that have the potential to shape our society and the way we live for years to come. The IoT has moved beyond hype but how it is used is still evolving. A consumer education programme will be needed to make sure that devices and data remain safe. Likewise we anticipate governments will need to incentivise manufacturers to build security into their devices as part of any regulatory framework,” said Lucia Barbato, Director, Ilex Content Strategies. The report, which is available to download in full here: http://www.ilexcontent.com/addressing-security-in-the-internet-of-things-iot About Scrutinise Research & Analysis Scrutinise Research and Analysis was founded in 2016 to provide independent, in-depth research and analysis about IoT and other emerging market trends and technology developments. We focus on the facts and practical issues rather than producing nebulous forecasts, and provide a cost-effective service for all types of bespoke research and writing, from blogs, case studies and white papers to specific research projects and reports. Please contact us to discuss your needs. www.scrutinise.xyz [email protected] Sacha Kavanagh: +44 (0)7450 287767 Paul Ridgewell: +44 (0)7905 625211 About Ilex Content Strategies Ltd Ilex Content Strategies is a full-service content marketing agency for tech and telco brands. It combines the right mix of Editorial Content, Public Relations, Social Media and Advertising to accelerate customer growth and help clients meet their business objectives. Ilex delivers ideas and creative concepts to meet the marketing goals of global brands and local organisations within the tech and telecoms industry. It puts content creation at the centre of its marketing strategies to drive efficiency, consistency and give organisations multiple touch points with their audiences. www.ilexcontent.com As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments. |