Internet of Things

For everyday life, Internet of Things, or IoT, is connecting everyday devices, like refrigerators, smart phones, lights, home security systems, GPS, vehicles, or medication management directly to the internet and to each other in some cases. These devices can send and receive information that help us. For example, you can change your thermostat anywhere from your smart phone or manage and monitor your medications from home. They can make household management more efficient, more effective, and easier, if used correctly! 

In a military context, IoT refers to the network of interconnected devices, sensors, and systems that enhance operational efficiency, situational awareness, and decision-making. By integrating IoT technologies, the military can gather real-time data from various sources, like drones, sensors, vehicles, wearables, logistics equipment, medical equipment, and smart weapons. This allows for the improved management and monitoring of troops, equipment, and environments and enables commanders to track movements, assess threats, and make faster, more informed tactical decisions. The reliance of interconnected systems introduces new challenges, particularly in cybersecurity, as adversaries may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in these devices, systems, and networks.

By 2030, over 32 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices will be deployed worldwide. These devices have and will continue to impact our lives and change how we do business and manage industrial and consumer activities. The mass proliferation of these devices makes Cybersecurity a primary concern. They are not inherently secure and need more processing power and the complexity of information technology and computing devices. Therefore, adding Cybersecurity controls directly to these devices is cost-prohibitive and counter to their high-volume/low-cost marketing strategy.

With IoT already deeply embedded in our daily lives, from healthcare to smart cities, it's hard to overstate the importance of addressing the potential for significant damage from insecure IoT. This makes IoT cybersecurity one of the most important challenges to be addressed over the next 10-20 years.

At RPI Group, we are attacking these challenges head-on. Our collaboration with the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC) at the University of Texas San Antonio is focused on assessing and enhancing IoT cybersecurity. We are committed to fortifying device security and protecting valuable data and processes by evaluating devices for vulnerabilities and developing mitigation methods to maintain Cybersecurity and compliance while in operation.