Implementing IoT? 3 Questions You Should Ask

With the Internet of Things taking the world by storm, it’s no surprise that many businesses are attempting to leverage it to their advantage. However, implementing these devices into your operations comes with its fair share of risks and challenges. Let’s discuss some of the ways you should consider implementing the Internet of Things for your business, as well as what you must consider when building your IoT strategy.

Consider Their Functionality

There are a ton of great opportunities for businesses to use the Internet of Things, many of which fall into the smart appliance category. These appliances can be connected to the Internet, allowing for companies to control them remotely through a smartphone app. Other uses for IoT devices include automation of various tasks. However, you choose to implement the IoT for your business, know that it should be contributing to your operations in a way that makes things easier for you. Otherwise, why bother implementing them at all? Remember, functionality over all else.

Work to Optimize Security

The functionality provided by IoT devices should not come at the expense of security. We recommend that you partition off part of your infrastructure specifically for use with IoT devices. This is because these types of devices tend to share data with each other, a practice that can put it at risk. By partitioning off this part of your infrastructure for their use, you effectively secure the rest of your data by limiting what has access to it. Plus, we recommend that you implement some sort of access control protocol for IoT devices or some sort of policy about bringing them to the workplace. This helps mitigate damage done on the off-chance something does go wrong.

Are They Necessary?

The biggest question you will have to ask yourself is if implementing IoT devices for your business is actually worth it. The answer is not always clear, so you’ll have to do a little research to determine if the IoT can provide the results you need to justify their implementation. The more connected devices on your network, the more you’ll be putting your company at risk, and the more complicated a network, the greater the chance that something could go wrong. You’ll have to figure out if this investment is worthwhile for your business and its operations.

Don’t let the endless possibilities for the Internet of Things complicate your business’s implementation strategy. k_Street Consulting, LLC can help you figure out the best devices to add to your infrastructure, and we can make sure they are implemented intentionally. To learn more, reach out to us at (202) 640-2737.