The Internet of Things has been one of the most talked about technologies over the last decade.  So much so, that many businesses want to do what they can to utilize this new technology for the betterment of their business. The Internet of Things, however, can have positive and negative effects on your business. In this month's newsletter, we'll take a look at the good and bad the IoT can provide for your business.  

Some Benefits of the IoT

The Internet of Things does one thing extraordinarily well: it brings automation into the fold.  Most businesses are looking for consistency throughout their operations, and in certain tasks The Internet of Things can help them do just that. Basically it works by improving the machine-to-machine communications that can work to automate a lot of tasks that typically would have to be performed manually, while also:

• Improving communication - IoT devices are ubiquitously connected which improves company-wide communication and results in better quality service and product delivery.
• Shifting Costs - One of the biggest benefits IoT can bring a business is to optimize resource utilization, improving overall efficiency and reducing costs.
• Identifying inefficiencies - IoT devices create data that can be used to improve workflow performance and service and product delivery. 

Drawbacks of IoT

Every Internet of Thing device is technically an endpoint, which makes network security all that much more difficult. If you take the dozens and hundreds of endpoints that your organization already has and you multiply that by 10, you are going to have some issues guaranteeing security of the underlying network. When deployed correctly—that is segregated from other parts of your network—you may not run into such risks. Other issues found with the IoT include:

• Problems with compatibility - Since there is no standard to go by for IoT devices, it can be difficult to get every IoT device to play nice with your current computing environment or even IoT devices from the same manufacturer. 
• Overall complexity - As we mentioned earlier in this article, when something goes wrong with a single endpoint on your network, it can be a catastrophe. With increased endpoints, the chances of something going wrong increases. 
• Longevity - One variable not many people consider when implementing IoT in their business is that each of these devices have to be consistently updated for functionality, security, and more. Each device you add could have a negative effect on your employees and on workflow. 

At First Column IT, our technicians understand that the IoT is an intriguing technology, and that for some organizations it is certainly the future of how they do business. Give us a call at (571) 470-5594 to have a conversation about the IoT and how we could help you come up with a plan to make all those devices work best for you.

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