IoT Roundup: Microsoft looks at IoT

As with any technology whose use is growing at such a rate, it can be hard to know exactly what's going on in the IoT world – everything from usage numbers from basic to customer attitudes through more detailed segments of the market is constantly changing. Fortunately, the month of May brought to light several new research that should help provide at least a partial insight into what is really happening in IoT.

Internet object polls

All the news is not good. An IPSOS Mori survey conducted on behalf of the Internet Society and Consumers International (respectively an umbrella organization for open development and use of the Internet and a widespread consumer advocacy group) revealed Despite the skyrocketing number of smart devices in circulation worldwide, more than half of users in many parts of the Western world do not trust these devices to protect their privacy.

While nearly 70% of respondents had connected devices, 55% said they did not think their personal information was sufficiently protected by manufacturers. 28% said they avoided using connected devices – smart home, fitness tracking and similar consumer gadgets – mainly because they were concerned about privacy issues, and 85% of Americans subscribed to argument that manufacturers have the responsibility to produce appliances. this personal information protected.

These concerns are understandable, according to data from the Ponemon Institute, a technology research organization. In its survey of corporate risk and security staff, published in early May, it was found that little concerted effort had been made to limit exposure to Internet-related security threats. objects, and that these threats were significantly higher than in previous years. the number of organizations experiencing data breach related to unsecured IoT devices has increased from 15% in FY 2017 to 26% in FY 2019.

In addition to the lack of organizational means to deal with these threats, part of the problem of some sectors is technical. Forescout, a security solutions provider, announced earlier this month that its research found that 40% of all healthcare computing environments had more than 20 different operating systems, and more than 30% had more than 100, which was hardly ideal.