The Consumer Technology Association

THE CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY ASSOC I AT ION technical improvements. For example, these new connections will come with easier “onboarding” of devices. Streamlining the onboarding process means cutting back on the hassle of connecting and configuring a new device. This is expected to improve consumer and corporate acceptance of new connected functions. So, the tech industry is working hard on the cybersecurity of connected devices. In 2017, PwC surveyed 2,000 consumers to understand their perceptions of cybersecurity and privacy risks. Among the key findings, more than two-thirds of consumers believe companies are vulnerable to hacks and cyberattacks. Yet, nearly three- quarters of consumers believe businesses are best equipped to protect them. What risks does a business take with the cybersecurity of connected devices? Adding devices to a business network may add any security weaknesses of that device to the network, and this is as true for a global enterprise as it is for a small doctor’s office. But of change and uncertainty for companies. Connected devices are now present in every industry, sector, and business. Some devices have been connected for a long time, such as ink jet printers. Others are just now getting connected, such as appliances; a washing machine that keeps track of wash cycles and re-orders detergent for you is just one example. And some products are emerging both as new types of devices and new examples of connectivity. For example, the medical industry is finding new sensor technologies, and building them into connected consumer monitors. And yet, despite all the talk about IoT, it is still in its infancy. Consider that the brand new, 5G standard will allow for massive connectivity of “things”– but hasn’t been fully deployed yet. With today’s 4G/LTE technology, you can connect a few thousand devices per square mile. The 5G network will be able to support millions of devices per square mile. This kind of massive, always-available connectivity comes with other