IoT red flags kickstart 2023 – Technologist

Heard on the street.  The dark web’s criminal minds see the Internet of Things as the next big hacking prize Elizabeth MacBride@EDITOREMACB.  2022 may have marked an inflexion point due to the rapid proliferation of IoT devices

Gartner Digs Deeper. A new Magic Quadrant for Managed IoT Connectivity Services report published on January 30, ranked 19 managed IoT connectivity service providers.

IoT and Security?  There is a lack of understanding of IoT security best practices and the need for a comprehensive security approach for devices, communications infrastructure, and applications.

New this past year were enterprises looking for providers with leadership, with a robust and diverse ecosystem of technology alliances and service delivery partnerships, spanning IT, OT and IoT. These leaders also had the size and scale in their operations, sales and marketing, formal bid, and product management to pursue large multinational opportunities for IoT connectivity.

Maybe you don’t need a leader?  An IoT-enabled business can use this analysis to select a provider that delivers enough critical functions to match its business objectives.

I&O leaders must insert themselves into the process of solution and vendor selection to determine whether providers of managed IoT connectivity services can provide a pre-integrated IoT solution. This strategy will ensure the cost-effectiveness and security of these solutions, as well as potentially reduce the opportunity costs of due diligence.

Major IoT market forces at work will continue in 2023.

While some enterprises interoperate IoT together with OT, Gartner sees many others bouncing among invisible silos within operating units and regional business units. Not an effective or efficient approach. Play nicer in the sandbox.

Inflation? Not. Gartner has observed price reductions of 10% to 15% in some regions and for certain connectivity types.

On the technical side, 3GPP LPWA network connections (NB-IoT, LTE-M) doubled since last year, reaching 20 million. Why important?  Managed IoT connectivity is a bridge to 5G, Private Mobile Networks and Edge Computing.

Effective IoT implementation and management require stronger security. Enterprises the analysts are talking to admit they struggle with security risks to their network and ecosystems.

First published on Gartner Blog Network