One of the hottest topics for discussion with many opportunities emerging around it is the Internet of Things, or IoT. It’s not just change or progress. It has the potential to disrupt and, in many instances, already is disrupting work, home, travel, play, and just about every facet of our lives. But what is it and what does it mean for the security industry — in particular, your business?
Definitions of the IoT are prolific and varied, but I’ll take a stab at it: “The IoT refers to devices with some amount of computer/microprocessing power that have an IP address, are interconnected and communicate over networks and the Internet.” These devices range from simple sensors (motion, heat, temperature, light), to mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables), to appliances (refrigerators, beds, washing machines), to transportation vehicles (automobiles, semi-trucks, boats, shipping containers, tractors). Data is sent and received by these devices, allowing for remote control. The real power of the IoT comes when the information accumulated from these connected devices is analyzed through artificial intelligence (AI).