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Vodafone Advertorial
Security alert
How business assets can be assured
Carjacking has gone wireless. Thanks to
a couple of friendly hackers, journalist
Andy Greenberg lost all control of his
Jeep Cherokee and plunged into the side
of a freeway. Mercifully, it was all a set-up
to make a point – but this isn’t science
fiction. This is the new age of hacking.
Last year, website Insecam hit the
headlines as a one-stop shop for more
than 73,000 live streaming IP CCTV
cameras. Thousands of businesses hadn’t
changed the default factory password
on their security cameras, leaving them
accessible to hackers – and the public.
Live video footage of the inner workings
of thousands of factories and businesses
posed a real threat to their financial and
proprietorial security, despite the purpose
of these cameras being the opposite.
Add a computer to a toaster and
someone could remotely burn your last
two pieces of bread. Add it to a car or a
security camera, and the results can be
far more dangerous.
We’re all familiar with the threat hackers
bring to our bank accounts and personal
information, but with the advent of the
IoT (internet of things) comes a new
challenge; how to keep our smart
devices secure.
The IoT – from humans to machines
It’s no longer enough to bolster the
security of our local and cloud systems:
M2M (machine to machine) technology
means a whole ecosystem of assets is
now online – and sensitive to breaches.
M2M technology is what drives the IoT –
a vast array of devices and machines that
use wireless modules to connect to the
internet and enable the user to control
their assets remotely.
While most business owners won’t need
to be concerned about hackers turning
their machines into weapons, hacking is a
real threat to all businesses as we become
more connected and reliant on these
machines to run them.
In the case of the carjacking, professional
security experts spent their time
uncovering these potential flaws before
hackers with more nefarious means
were able to – but they highlight the
challenges facing this new world
of interconnectedness.
The wireless future is now
M2M technology is already ubiquitous.
From obvious items like your smart
phone and car’s computer, to toll-paying
systems and vending machines that let
the distributor know when it’s time to
restock inventory – smart devices are
part of daily life. Intelligent assets that
enable business growth and a seamless
experience for both the manager and the
consumer are integral to the health of
all operations. And they’re here to stay.
Back in 2008, the number of things
connected to the internet surpassed
the number of people on the planet.
Now, given we have cameras and
computers one cubic millimetre in size,
the number is so large it needs upwards
of 39 digits. According to a Strategy
Analytics report, the global M2M industry
size is forecast to grow to around US$200
billion in revenue by 2020. That’s up from
US$62 billion this year.
With 175 million M2M connections in the
global manufacturing and supply chain
sector predicted by 2020 (according to
a Machina Research report), the industry
is only getting stronger.
This is no surprise. In this year’s Vodafone
Annual Barometer, it was reported more
than 25% of all businesses globally use
M2M technology and, importantly, 59%
of companies report a significant return
on investment from M2M.
Securing your future
Security is a cornerstone of any business.
In order to protect both information
and physical assets, operators need to
make sure they have a firm grasp of the
measures needed to maintain security
in their business.
While enhanced security measures can
often be seen as another cost, with 93%
of companies surveyed for the Vodafone
Annual Barometer experiencing tangible
ROI on their M2M assets, security costs
are worth the investment.
These can range from making sure the
password has been changed from the
default factory setting to sophisticated
encryption services. Whether the security
needs are simple or relatively complex,
securing M2M assets is a key requirement
for any business.
M2M drives growth and innovation
While threats such as asset hacking by
a third party are a concern, real world
theft of these assets is still one of the top
security risks facing many businesses.
Shoplifting alone costs retailers more
than US$100 billion annually worldwide
according to the Global Retail Theft
Barometer. But smarter devices mean
added value for businesses. Now able
to do much more than send emails or
images, smart devices allow access to
the machines in your business from your
poolside recliner while on holiday in Fiji,
or while travelling in an airplane, enabling
a more efficient, flexible and global
business strategy. The opportunities,
efficiencies and security M2M technology
brings to businesses will be integral to
the growth and innovation of all industry
in the near future – something boutique
electric commuter bicycle company
Vanmoof discovered.
The Dutch company needed a way to
track their highly desirable and globally
shipped bicycles to prevent theft and
enable route mapping. By adding GPS
connectivity, each bike became a smart
device the company was able to track
anywhere in the world. What began as
a way of ensuring security using M2M
technology has offered Vanmoof a unique
selling point.
“Connectivity means we could monitor
distance covered, send service alerts or
lock the bike remotely. Things become
even more interesting when we mesh this
data with other transport data. If we can
map the routes of thousands of cyclists,
could we help urban planners develop
better cycling infrastructure?” said
Vanmoof co-founder Taco Carlier.
Transformative power of smart devices
M2M technology is not only here to
stay, it’s an integral component of all
businesses of the future. The answer for
any operator is to embrace the best this
new world of technology has to offer,
while ensuring security is at the top of
the priorities list.
The smarter and more secure your
business is connected, the more ready
it can be.
To find out how Vodafone can help
you become a Ready Business, visit
vodafone.co.nz/readybusiness
VDA714/NBR2