Abstract
Ready or not, the Internet of things (IoT) is here. No longer just a buzz term, it'll continue to grow at an unprecedented pace over the next few years expecting to reach over 25 billion connected devices by 2020. History shows us that most fast growth technology solutions focus on solving business problems first and security is an afterthought. Unfortunately, IoT is following the same trend. Most IoT devices, apps, and infrastructure were developed without security in mind and are likely going to become targets of hackers. According to some security experts, major cyberattacks against the IoT devices are looming. According to the FBI, criminals can gain access to unprotected devices used in home health care, such as those used to collect and transmit personal monitoring data or time-dispensed medicines. Once criminals have breached such devices, they gain access to any personal or medical information stored on the devices, as well as the power to change the coding that controls the dispense mechanism of medicines or health data collection. This can result in major health issues and potential loss of lives. Are organizations ready to protect themselves? What are the key vulnerable points? There are various steps that companies can take to raise the barrier. In this article, we'll talk about the background, issues, potential attack vectors liable to be hacked, protection strategies, and more.