Internet of Things is one of the most talked about topics in a number of circles – not just tech. As more and more devices become connected, IoT grows, becoming more complex, and that in turn may lead to loopholes that hackers can exploit.
As things move forward in IoT, the challenge becomes connecting networks and devices and getting them to work in one beautiful, seamless ballet. To maintain the brilliantly choreographed dance between devices and connections, it is important to understand that a more expert hand may be needed to make sure things go smoothly.
“Trend Micro is prepared for the Internet of Things. We have a range of support services that can help, especially if there has been a growth to the intricacy of your current network. What you need is something that will do everything from setup up your devices and network all the way to removing malware and optimising performance,” says Indi Siriniwasa, vice president of Trend Micro, Sub Saharan Africa.
There is no doubt that IoT is making its presence felt in South Africa, and indeed the entire African continent. From the mining industry to tourism, from conferencing to the medical field, the Internet of Things has gained more than just a toe-hold. It’s becoming a force to be reckoned with.
It is already being utilised on the African continent for security, electricity, mining, traffic monitoring and in healthcare. While there are a lot of areas IoT is used in Africa, there is still a great deal of potential for further deployment.
“It’s important to consider what you need before selecting a network or deploying connectivity in your home and business. The next step is to look at the network itself – the devices that will be connected need to communicate with each other and in order to do that they need to ‘see’ each other,” Siriniwasa explains.
And it’s not just the network itself that needs to be considered, but the safety of the network. Hackers can access connected devices and gain entry to a network to launch a cyber attack. For this reason, it’s vital to have to right kind of security in place to not only detect intrusion, but to possibly prevent an attack altogether.
“Security cannot be emphasised enough. The digital age is here and multi-layered security is the answer. This means getting the security software that will offer you comprehensive protection and that will regularly scan your system. Of course, part of the solution is knowing how we, ourselves, can prevent viruses and malware by knowing that certain links and emails should not be opened or downloaded. With IoT becoming more and more mainstream in Africa, it’s time we look at being prepared and securing our networks,” Siriniwasa concludes.
Edited by: Neo Sesinye
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