​As the world becomes more connected, the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand. Gartner forecasts that 14.2 billion connected things will be in use during 2019, rising to 25 billion by 2021.
In the wake of this increased connectivity, cybersecurity breaches emerged as the #1 concern for US CEOs at this year’s World Economic Forum. Here, we explore three key cybersecurity trends impacting the IoT in 2019 and how they are shaping the labor market.
The emergence of 5G
5G is 2019’s hottest trend in IoT and its impact is expected to be huge. It has the potential to transfer higher volumes of data and connect to more devices up to 20 times faster than 4G. By 2020, Gartner forecasts that 60% of organizations plan to deploy 5G, while Ericsson’s 2018 Mobility Report predicts that by 2025 1.5 billion of us will be connected to 5G.
While 5G will integrate the Internet of Things more deeply into our lives and open up numerous possibilities for consumers and businesses, it brings with it a much higher cyber security threat. A world that is almost entirely connected means organizations will be exposed to significant new cyber risks that businesses must be prepared for.
IIoT : Industrial Internet of Things
The Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, refers to billions of industrial devices connected to wireless networks which collect and distribute data across industries as diverse as healthcare, utilities and transportation. This gathered data is analyzed to improve businesses processes and productivity to enable faster and more accurate decision making. The IIoT protects the critical infrastructure and systems we rely on and may take for granted in our day-to-day lives.
A broader base of assets connected to more diverse systems and devices offers more points of entry for a potential breach and industries must rethink its security. System failures in the IIoT can have high risk consequences and without effective protection serious disruption can occur.
The emergence of 5G will also have an impact on the IIoT. 5G enabled devices will require a new level of cybersecurity to protect infrastructures, with denial of service attacks (DOS) becoming a significant concern. For instance, in March 2019, a cyber disruption to the US grid reported by the Department of Energy involved a "denial of service condition" at a Western utility.
IoMT – (Internet of Medical Things)​
Emerging technologies are transforming the healthcare sector. Connected medical devices gather vital data to provide insights into patient symptoms, enable remote care and improve treatment. However, healthcare remains a vulnerable area in cybersecurity.
The cost of data breaches in the IoMT are among the highest across all sectors, yet many healthcare facilities still rely on outdated operating systems. 4.4 million patient records were breached in Q3 alone in 2018, highlighting the need for extreme precautions.
Again, 5G will have a far-reaching impact on the IoMT, with the increased connectivity substantially raising the potential for data breaches.
The cybersecurity skills shortage
The rise of the IoT and the investment in 5G technology are putting immense pressure on demand for cybersecurity talent. An estimated 2.93 million cybersecurity positions globally are currently unfilled. A staggering 500,000 of those are located in the US.At the same time, while jobs postings for cybersecurity roles are up, applications have fallen.
In the longer-term, 5G technology is expected to create an estimated 22 million jobs by 2035, requiring skills that people don’t yet have and placing more pressure on a jobs market struggling to keep pace with demand.
Without a seamless and effective hiring process, organizations simply don’t have the capability to develop effective security procedures to both detect and prevent cyberattacks and protect vital data.
Glocomms has recognized a tremendous opportunity in the emergence of 5G and the increasing reliance on IoT in our everyday lives.
Given this market knowledge, we have developed a recruitment practice focused exclusively on networking and building a talent pool within IoT and IoT security. Having built relationships with some of the world’s premier IoT, IIoT and IoMT vendors, Glocomms continues to establish itself as a major provider of talent in a very niche and undersupplied IoT talent market.
With lines of business that cover everything from Sales and Marketing, Product Management/Development, Software Development & R&D, Data Science & Engineering, and Cyber Engineering & Operations, we can confidently address the needs of any growing IoT vendor across their product development lifecycle.
We work closely with vendors as they build and deploy their products and services, from early stage and greenfield organizations to companies looking to ramp up their sales and marketing teams and ensure their products and solutions reach the doorstep of every potential customer.
Regardless of your business growth needs, we’ve got you covered!
For more information about how to reach one of our specialized IoT recruitment consultants, or to learn how our business can become an extension of yours in finding that tough to reach IoT talent, contact us today.