As Device Dependency Grows, So Do the Risks

It’s no stretch to say connected devices are taking over the world. In every sector and country, endpoints are driving newfound efficiencies inside the smart home, office, and warehouse. These devices – from sensors to smart meters and industrial controllers – are booming post-pandemic and doubling over the next decade to 40 billion worldwide. Overall, this evolution is digitizing businesses and uncovering insights on a new scale. But, there’s a downside, since more connected endpoints lead to larger attack vectors and potential bad actor entry points. This reality is reflected in a new report from Verizon which finds that as device dependency grows, so do the security risks.?

The breadth and depth of device growth in consumer and corporate contexts is something to behold. Verizon reports that four out of five organizations consider mobile devices critical to their operations while 95% are actively using IoT devices. Yet this rapid uptake brings mounting cybersecurity risks, particularly as remote work and hybrid environments become the norm. The stakes are especially high in critical infrastructure sectors, with 96% of respondents using IoT.?

The challenge extends beyond securing phones, tablets, and laptops. Today’s enterprise networks encompass a diverse ecosystem of sensors and purpose-built devices that monitor, measure, manage, and control commercial operations and data flow. This expanding array of endpoints requires admins to protect increasingly sophisticated networks with unique vulnerabilities. As these devices become integral to business operations and insights, organisations must implement adaptive security frameworks that evolve alongside emerging threats. As mobile and IoT threats rise, the need for comprehensive security measures has never been greater.?

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