As we close out 2021 and move to the new year, we’ll continue to see the implementation of new IoT solutions to meet the needs of companies in every industry as they look for ways to become more efficient in this challenging economic climate.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has been aiding businesses and organisations in improving their services, providing better customer experiences, and paving the way for technological developments. Self-driving cars and autonomous manufacturing robots are all possible due to these networks of connected things. Ericsson predicts that by 2022, there will be around 29 billion of these devices connected to the internet globally.
IoT also plays a crucial role in developing AI and 5G networking technologies. IoT devices can now do far more complex activities, collect vast volumes of relevant data, enhance data analytics, and include AI to increase automation and decrease mistakes.
We look at what is likely to shape the technology and its use during 2022:
Enhancements in cybersecurity
Today, the number of internet-connected gadgets outnumbers the number of people on the earth. And, this number is only going to increase. A current example is the recent COVID-19 epidemic, which restricted us all to our homes for an extended period. Companies and organisations enhanced their communication infrastructure as remote education, and remote work became the norm. This increased the number of devices linked to the internet.
Security has become a big problem given the massive number of web-enabled gadgets. Because the increase in internet-connected devices is unplanned, many of these devices’ owners are unaware of fundamental security standards. Furthermore, keeping track of the security of that many devices at once is a significant task for security agencies. In addition to security problems, the increased risk of cyberattacks is a primary concern for IoT devices.
According to Kaspersky, more than 1.5 billion attacks were directed at IoT devices in the second half of 2021.
Companies are already addressing the issue of weak security in IoT devices. Many businesses constantly provide security updates, construct more secure and resilient software ecosystems, and implement tactics to keep their online devices safe. Enhancing cybersecurity is projected to gain even more popularity in 2022.
Integration of IoT in the healthcare sector
Before the outbreak, the healthcare industry was a prominent user of IoT technology. However, during the outbreak, the industry’s readiness to absorb new technologies was highlighted. From cameras to maintain social distance to producing state-of-the-art medical equipment, the healthcare industry has embraced IoT.
Even auxiliary health equipment such as smart wearables, blood oxygen monitors, and other similar devices contributed significantly to enhancing healthy and afflicted lifestyles. This trend will continue in 2022. Healthcare businesses will be at the forefront of IoT adoption.
IoT for the manufacturing industry
Incorporating IoT into industrial processes has brought substantial benefits to the sector. Sensors to detect abnormalities in manufacturing facilities, disclose security threats in factories, and ensure better industrial equipment maintenance has benefitted the industry tremendously.
In 2022, IoT will aid in the development of innovative industries. Since automation has become the new trend, factories and manufacturing facilities will use IoT more to collect data from their equipment and enhance the efficiency of their production processes. This will improve production speeds and maintain higher quality standards.
IoT’s and the development of 5G networking
The forerunner of today’s mobile networking standards is 5G. 5G provides quicker connections, Increased network dependability, and higher data transfer rates.
Because 5G is all about connection, it will greatly influence IoT. When 5G becomes the standard for cellular networks, IoT devices will connect to the internet quickly and deliver critical data more quickly.
On the other hand, the existing state of IoT will impact the development of 5G by providing a baseline. 5G firms will use current IoT protocols in their R&D and create more lasting networking features.
IoT and its application in Big data
IoT finds various applications in Big data, data analytics, and machine learning even as you read this.
Because IoT devices use a variety of sensors to collect data from their surroundings, Big data approaches are used to analyse IoT data, mainly to analyse complicated and substantial data silos. Consequently, helpful information may be extracted and used in several ways.
One way is to process the data using machine learning methods. This enables robots to increase their decision-making abilities, better data analytics, forecast future trends more accurately, and significantly improve pattern recognition.
In 2022 and beyond, IoT will find a wide range of applications in Big Data and machine learning.
Conclusion
First introduced in 1999, it’s in recent times that the IoT has attracted much attention from many industries and is employed in future technologies. As the number of IoT devices grows, new ways to use them will increase.
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