IoT in the household an opportunity for development.
Security and Privacy concerns and solutions.
January 9, 2018.
Introduction.
The Internet of Things (IoT) a term coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999 that refers to the network that
enables objects to communicate with each other and exchange information. The IoT is what we
can call the next step in the evolution of wireless networks, the progress that has been made from
closed networks to enterprise IT networks to the internet has been faster than anticipated and it is
expected that by the year 2020 nearly 50 billion things will comprise the IoT, creating a $1.7
trillion market.
Most of the advancements in technology tend to focus on convenience, on making life easier for
people around the world. The IoT is changing fundamentally the way people interact with their
environment, and how they carry out everyday tasks. Some of the applications of the IoT in the
household enable users to adjust the temperature remotely or turn on lights from their bed; they
can also check the door from the comfort of their desk, activate alarms, control door locks and
other appliances, all of these remotely. While it is true that these advances make life more
convenient for the general population they are an excellent tool for People With Disabilities they
enable PwDs to become independent and self-reliant, the IoT can be a great equalizer of
opportunities if applied correctly.
Everything will be connected.
As Jacob Morgan said in 2014 “The new rule for the future is going to be, "Anything that can be
connected, will be connected.” It is imperative to recognize that the importance of the IoT does
not lie solely in the numbers, it is an essential component of development, and an opportunity to
achieve real equality. As substantial new opportunities are opening up through improved access
and use of Big Data Techniques, are becoming an essential tool in the advancements necessary to
achieve the Sustainable development Goals in both developed and developing countries.
Nevertheless there is important data to consider for example; in the 2016 ICT Households “Survey
on the Use of Information and Communication Technologies Brazilian Households” among
households without internet connection one of the reasons cited for the absence of this technology
in their household was: concerns about security and privacy with 40%. This number is significant
and should be taken with consideration because one of the most significant risks of the IoT seems
to be that it provides hackers and cybercriminals with more entry points, and privacy becomes
almost secondary when everything is connected, what information is off limits?
Privacy and security concerns.
These question, and others that raise from the security and privacy concerns, are crucial as
security and privacy are mentioned as one of the critical aspects that must be considered in the
implementation and adoption of IoT to improve people´s lives in the publication titled “Harnessing
the Internet of Things for Global Development” published by ITU and CISCO as a contribution to
the UN broadband commission for sustainable development. Trust and confidence are fundamental
in the adoption and implementation of the IoT, and “two key components to ensure trust and
confidence are privacy and security: a) Strategies to protect privacy must take a range of risks into
account from a variety of different sources as well as adapt to local regulations; and b) Acceleration
of research into IoT related security threats to minimize the downsides of the IoT across M2M and
M2P communications.” (Biiggs, Garrity, LaSalle, Polomska, & Pepper, 2017) Those two key
components need to be implemented together, not phased it is essential that we minimize the risks
while the technology and research catch-up.
The main issues presented regarding security are that it may be vulnerable to hacking, companies
might not be ready as first iterations of products usually tend to have flaws and that there is no
consensus on where security should be implemented. Looking at privacy the concerns grow since
there is just too much data floating on the internet with only 10, 000 households connected we
could be talking about 150 million discrete data points every day. That is why several theories and
documents explore the ramifications of security in the IoT in this article we provide information
regarding approaches that have been taken to ensure security in the past and how there is not one
single solution in the effort to achieve full security for the IoT.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, the IoT provides an incredible opportunity for development and advancements in
the search for more equitable societies. However, these advancements require the correct
implementation of security and privacy measures that enable users and households to confidently
approach tasks in different ways, that is why it is necessary not only for the legal framework of
countries to guarantee that data remains private and that security is taken into consideration both
at the device and network levels. The opportunities and advantages presented by the IoT outweigh
the risks and threats presented by a connected household that is why it is our belief that security
must be a primary concern of countries, developers, and engineers as we approach the reality of a
fully connected household and world.
Author:
David Pérez
Chief Global Strategist of Ruh Global Communications.
A Costa Rican Political Scientist graduated from the University of Costa Rica, he is also a Leader
an Advocate and Communication Strategist; he has experience in public policy implementation,
development, and evaluation as well as consultancy services for NGOs like UNESCO and the EU.
David´s expertise is focused on the work with minorities ensuring they have access to their rights.
His primary focus is to expand the vision of Ruh Global Communications across the globe and
impact the lives of PWD both in the developed and developing countries
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