EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
Aadopting IoT technology can enable businesses to enhance their productivity and performance . Odeh said IoT devices streamline activities , collect data , monitor activities and provide useful insights . Businesses can benefit from the automation and inter-connectedness brought about by IoT devices and enjoy reduced costs , optimised operations , and enhanced capabilities .
IoT technology enables businesses to streamline their operations and utilise their resources effectively while gathering real-time information , allowing companies to explore and pursue new opportunities .
One of the major challenges that CIOs and IT teams face is the tendency for businesses to engage in data-hoarding as each of the IoT devices can collect large amounts of data , resulting in a proliferation of data .
Although IoT technology has its benefits , it presents significant challenges for CIOs and IT teams . With the adoption and use of IoT technologies rapidly increasing and IoT devices having various applications in business , from being used in sensors and printers to cameras and virtual assistants , one of the major challenges that CIOs and IT teams face is the tendency for businesses to engage in data-hoarding as each of the IoT devices can collect large amounts of data , resulting in a proliferation of data .
CIOs and IT teams are tasked with deciding how to analyse and store data efficiently . In addition , IoT devices greatly increase the security challenges of defending corporate networks . Most IoT devices come with little or no built-in security capacities , so each of these billions of endpoints generates a vulnerability for hackers to enter otherwise secure enterprise operations .”
In today ’ s economic environment companies are not looking at buying IoT technology but rather are looking for ways to accelerate business outcomes . Yes , IoT is important in this regard , but it must be seen as the means to an end especially when it comes to unlocking the true value inside organisational data . To this end , decision-makers must build strong business cases for how IoT can deliver data value and set measurable KPIs .
That said , I believe the biggest challenge to implementing IoT especially on the African continent relates to the availability of high-speed and low-cost Internet connections to users especially in the rural areas . Another challenge would be the need to provide low-cost power to IoT devices in these same areas . There are some challenges outlined as well below that also include regulation , security , data privacy and awareness etc . p
TAMER ODEH , REGIONAL DIRECTOR , SENTINELONE ,
MIDDLE EAST
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