Thursday 18 February 2016

Cybersecurity weaknesses threaten to make smart cities more costly and dangerous than their analog predecessors.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is already deeply embedded in cities, making them smarter and providing public officials with data and resources to make them more efficient and cost-effective. As the IoT continues to grow and its innovations improve city life and management, it’s key for public officials to actively work on addressing the real security concerns that come with network connections while the IoT is in its infancy. The costs of ignoring the security risks posed by networked objects are high: fraud can remove efficiency gains and unguarded IoT technologies leave cities vulnerable to costly and/or dangerous digital attacks.

Broadly speaking, the Internet of Things is a network of interconnected physical objects that allows these items to collect and share data. In addition to city-level integration, these networked devices are being used in private homes, for instance Google’s Nest thermostat uses sensors, weather forecasts, and your preferences to adjust your home’s temperature to keep you comfortable and reduce your energy usage. Comparable to the way IoT technologies are improving city life, personal use of these networked devices can help cut costs and streamline your life. However, these personal benefits pale in comparison to the possible improvements that IoT devices can have, and have already had in cities. Smart grid technologycan save cities millions, sensor networks can monitor noise and air quality, which allow police to respond to gun fire before it is reported and city officials to focus on re-routing traffic and other solutions in heavily polluted areas, while public transit, parking and waste collection can all be made more efficient through smart technology. For the full article click here 



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