The way we shop, get entertained and conduct business has drastically changed over the last decade or so, thanks to the advent of the internet.

While there have been several notable innovations during this time, the Internet of Things (IoT) is arguably the most exciting of these. By granting connectivity to the devices we use every day on a professional and personal capacity, we are witnessing a digital revolution in the making, bringing us to the next era of the information age.

In the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, IoT is forecast to grow 19.6 per cent year-on-year in 2017 to a total of $7.8 billion (about Dh28.6 billion). This means billions of devices across the region are already connected, changing our lives one device at a time. By the time IoT becomes more mainstream, these connected devices will help us become increasingly efficient with our time, money and energy.

The driving industry behind IoT

The most visible and widespread application of IoT by far can be seen in the automotive industry. Many brands are embracing the idea of the connected car. By connecting with smartphones or the internet, vehicles can now perform simple tasks such as automatically playing music, reducing travel time and fuel consumption and even locking/unlocking and starting cars remotely.

We, at Gemalto, recently provided Daimler AG with a new smartphone-based ‘digital vehicle key’ for its Mercedes-Benz E-class range. This technology gives consumers the freedom to lock/unlock their cars by simply placing the smartphone against the door handle. The engine of the car can also be turned on with the phone in the charging tray of the dashboard and pressing the start button.

Using NFC technology, the solution works even if the smartphone battery is drained. This technology offers consumers enhanced experience as well as a seamless connection, through the digital key, with services that meet the demands of modern mobility, without having to carry a conventional key ever again.

Who wouldn’t like that? While this technology is currently only for luxury vehicles, we expect that in the next 10 years IoT will move beyond this segment to mainstream cars. As ‘things’ become more affordable, car manufacturers will launch models with at least basic connectivity.

Smart homes and happy homeowners

The reach of IoT is also extending into our homes, with people being able to operate fridges, PCs, fitness devices, printers and TVs at the click of a button. While these are nice-to-haves, IoT solutions also help us fulfil more basic needs such as home security. Fuelled by rising standards of living and increased awareness regarding physical security and safety, the Middle East region is fast becoming an important market for the smart lock industry.

This growth is driven by increasing spending on access control technologies in the region, with wireless locks, IP-enabled devices and iris detection systems being some of the most popular.

While IoT brings with it numerous benefits, it is important to consider the potential security risks and privacy breaches. Smart products and devices are increasingly becoming more attractive to cybercriminals to carry out their nefarious activities, including monitoring live feeds, changing camera settings, accessing personal information and even controlling the devices remotely. The smart home for example, is an enormous database of personal information and if this falls into the wrong hands, our safety could be compromised.

With huge amounts of information being generated by connected devices, our focus must shift to an inside-out security approach. Security at the device, network and cloud level is critical to the efficient and safe operation of IoT at every point of entry.

Ensuring that people are who they say they are and therefore authorised to use a device, is the essential first step in securing the device. Authentication is important with connected devices. For instance, when we can unlock our connected car with our mobile phone we want to know that no-one else can.

IoT will not reach its full potential unless people like you and me can trust that our connected devices are secure and our privacy is guaranteed. As for the data, it must be secured not only on the device, but on its journey through the network towards the data centre and beyond, using encryption.

IoT will play a pervasive role in how we live and work in the future. In a world that’s more connected than ever before, we need to be more vigilant and understand the power and potential that IoT presents, while managing the associated risks.

By implementing appropriate systems and processes, service providers and device manufacturers can ensure that our homes, streets and beyond are both ‘smart’ and secure, ensuring a seamless experience for consumers wherever they are.

– The writer is the senior vice-president for IoT solutions for the CISMEA region at Gemalto