What IT Professionals Need to Know About the Internet of Things

Device integration: Consumers and professionals alike are already overwhelmed with digital accounts and passwords, and IoT has the potential to increase that burden. IT experts should take advantage of IoT integration platforms whenever possible to simplify the end user’s experience and make the integration of devices pleasant, not overwhelming. While there’s a strong temptation to forge ahead without regard to how each connected device works together, successful IT professionals will consider the total connected experience, rather than isolated products or services.

Privacy and security: Poor password hygiene aside, security remains a major concern among all end users today. As IoT matures, IT professionals will need to account for both the vulnerabilities and privacy implications of smart devices. The number of Internet connected devices is expected to explode, reaching 50.1 billion by 2020, according to CompTIA’s white paper, Sizing up the Internet of Things. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are already common and costly, and may become much more so as the number of connected devices per person swells. As the number of IoT use cases grows, so too will the risks. With smart devices managing everything from biometrics to home and business security, professionals must possess the skills to identify and proactively address a diverse set of device weaknesses.

Analytics expertise: Many companies view IoT as a gold mine for harvesting valuable customer data, and rightly so. Within five years, the IoT industry is predicted to add $1.9 trillion to the global economy. However, data is only as useful as its analysis. IT professionals who are able to identify trends and patterns amid the noise will be in high demand as Big Data becomes even bigger. Familiarity with non-relational database tools like Informix and MongoDB will also give a major edge to job seekers and working professionals alike. At the same time, analytics experts shouldn't shy away from interdisciplinary experience. Understanding what kind of customer data is valuable, and how it can be used to enhance and refine IoT devices, is just as valuable as the ability to identify behavioral patterns and consumer preferences.