We’re living in a fast-paced world. Constantly synced into IoT technology, things are moving more quickly than ever before. This provides plenty of conveniences and makes us more efficient, more connected to loved ones, and more aware of what’s going on in the world. It may also be leaving you more vulnerable than you realize.
You’re probably already using mobile devices and smartphones. You may have a smart thermostat and instant video feed of your front porch — even when you aren’t home to see who’s at the door. Here’s what else you can expect to see in 2022, and what you can do to keep your personal information safe and secure in the Internet of Things world.
An Uptick in Available IoT Devices
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Smart refrigerators and household appliances that tell you when they need new filters or maintenance. Adaptive technologies. Expect new products on the market that bring IoT to the forefront. With smart devices coming on in leaps and bounds, there’s no limit to the ways we can plug into networks and leverage interconnectedness to make running our lives and businesses easier.
As technology becomes increasingly advanced and companies become more competitive, you’ll also find the cost to produce these items fall. This leads to a competitive, more affordable market, which means items that once might have been out of your price range are readily available to the general public.
A Cloud Overhaul
Were you quick to transition to the cloud or were your reluctant to join in? Either way, you’ve likely been storing your data on the cloud. This allows you to have access to your important files and information from any device wherever you are.
Get ready for another transition though, as IoT moves toward Edge Computing. Like other IoT devices and processes, Edge Computing is intended to make your storage more efficient by reducing network traffic. You’ll have access to your things even more quickly than you currently do when using the cloud.
With us sending more data than ever back and forth between devices, Edge Computing not only makes accessing your data faster while keeping bandwidth use down, it can also help you keep your personal information (and stored files) more secure than when using the cloud.
Medical Applications
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IoT has plenty of convenient aspects, but it also has life-changing capabilities. As we move into 2020 and the years ahead, you can expect more smart devices and apps that let you monitor your health and well-being. In fact, by 2021, we can expect this area to grow by more than 25 percent.
Portable medical monitors and sensors will allow you to keep better tabs on your body’s current needs. This can make it safer for those with medical conditions to live on their own or venture out during healing. They’ll also provide great information for your care providers.
With The Internet of Things on the job communicating information back and forth between your body and your healthcare professionals, problems can be assessed and addressed immediately, even as they’re unfolding. Not only can we look forward to a greater use of medical applications and IoT, but we can also appreciate better health as a result.
Of course, this is all reliant on the healthcare industry as a whole embracing the move to IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) technologies and devices. While many providers have already started making the switch and governments are on board, there are still a lot of necessary changes to enact. But overall, MedTech is set to dominate the future of healthcare.
Better Cybersecurity
With all the advancements we’ve made and all the ways we’ve connected our networks, it’s more apparent than ever that our original understanding of cybersecurity didn’t scratch the surface of our needs. Moving forward, you can expect cybersecurity to be on everyone’s mind. Hackers are more advanced than they have ever been, and this means our cybersecurity needs to be stronger than ever.
Some of the cybersecurity changes and improvements will align nicely with the other progress we’ll see, like the transition to Edge Computing. You’ll also see plenty of apps developed to keep your information secure on your connected mobile devices for those times you’re on-the-go. Just make sure you cut through the online noise and research to find out which apps are worth it and which are just after your payments.
Smart Cities
Get ready for smart, efficient cities and communities. Looking forward to the moment when your smart devices will be in tune with current traffic and delays and can report back to you? We certainly are!
In 2022, you can expect to see an increasing number of cities opting to move to a smart, IoT-enabled infrastructure. Picture traffic lights that can adjust to current needs, accidents, and keep things running smoothly — It’s just one of the ways cities opting into IoT will see results you’ll love.
Better Life Management Tools
As we roll into 2020, you’ll find more and more IoT devices and platforms that give you better tracking and control over how you use resources. Automatic notifications can keep you apprised of your energy use and what you can do to scale back. Your wallet will certainly appreciate these tools and as an added bonus, you’ll also be contributing to the green movement.
Technological Advancements and Your Cybersecurity
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There’s no doubt that IoT and technology advancements have a lot in store for us in the coming years. While you can enjoy the increased attention to our cybersecurity needs, you don’t need to rely solely on your devices to keep your data and personal information secure. There are some things you can do to help beef up your own cybersecurity.
Embrace Blockchain Technology
If you haven’t already, it’s time to start thinking seriously about blockchain technology. With blockchain, you can share information as needed but prevent it from being copied, stolen, or otherwise compromised. It has allowed for easier and safer online money exchanges and has been the foundation enabling new digital currencies such as Bitcoin.
While traditional storage and the exchange of data involves a single location where information is stored, blockchain technology relies on multiple locations to access information. This makes it much more difficult to hack the information, working to keep your private data safe.
Protect Your Connected Devices
We’re making great advancements in technology and cybersecurity. One thing you can do to keep your information safe is to install a VPN for windows. A VPN is a Virtual Private Network that creates a secure avenue for information to travel from one device to the next. It helps protect your online patterns and activities.
VPNs can also be used as a proxy, working to mask your location while allowing you to use the internet anywhere, on any network, without scrutiny. The added benefit of using a VPN is that you know your device is protected, even if the network you’re using has been compromised or hasn’t taken all the steps it should have to protect itself. This allows you to be in total control of your device’s security and your data’s safety.
One extra bonus is that VPNs block a lot of the pesky and insistent location-specific ads we are all hammered with on a daily basis.
Use Connected IoT Technology Wisely
While it may be common sense, we’ve become so used to having information at our fingertips, we don’t always take all the precautions we should when using the internet. Always have safety protocols in place. Use secured networks and never exchange money over unsecured platforms. Remember the adage that if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. If something seems off about a website or request, don’t move forward with using it.
If you don’t already, you should also move toward a multi-point authentication system whenever possible. This makes it far more unlikely that someone can easily hack into your accounts and steal your information and data.
You’ll also want to change your passwords frequently and make sure you don’t rely on only one. If you use one password only and an account somewhere is breached, those hackers will then have access to all accounts you have that email address associated with. Of course, always plan on using letters and numbers in your password and stay away from important names and dates that can easily be identified.
IoT and Cybersecurity in the Future
The Internet of Things is set to dominate the ways we manage our lives and selves and we can’t wait to reap the benefits of all the new developments that are coming our way. With options available to protect your own devices and online activities, as well as the new dedication and awareness of cybersecurity infrastructure, you can be on your way to a safer IoT.
Secured properly, IoT devices can boost our productivity, simplify our lives, and streamline our personal life and processes. Only 2022 will show us which technologies are pushing forward in leaps and bounds and which are fast becoming obsolete, but one thing is for sure: the future’s looking bright and connected.