WHAT IS INTERNET OF THINGS

 INTERNET OF THINGS(IOT)

The internet of things, or IOT , is a system of interconnected computing devices , mechanical devices and digital machines , objects or people that are provided with unique identification mark and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human to human or human to computer interaction.

How does Internet of things work

An Iot ecosystem consists of web enables smart devices that use embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware to collect send and act on data they acquire from their environments. Iot devices share their sensor data they collect by connecting to an IOT geteway or other edge devices where data is either sent to the cloud to be analyzed locally. Sometimes, these devices communicate with other devices and act on the information they get from one another. Mostly these devices do their work without any human supervision.

IOT can make use of AI(artificial Intelligence) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting processes easier and more dynamic.

How did IOT become important

The internet of things helps people live and work smarter, as well as gain complete control over their lives. In addition to that offering smart devices to automate homes, IOT is essential to business. IOT provides businesses with real time look into how their systems really work, delivering insights into everything from the performance of machines to supply chains and logistics operations.

IOT enables companies to automate processes and reduce labor costs. It also cuts down on waste and improves service delivery, making it less expencive to manufacture and deliver goods , as well as offering transperency into customer transactions.

As such, IOT is one of the most important technologies of everyday life, and it will continue to pick up steam as more businesses realize the potential of connected devices to keep them competitive. 

PROS AND CONS OF IOT

Some advantages of IOT include:

1.Ability to access information from anywhere at anytime on any device.

2.Improved communication between connected electronic devices.

3. Transferring data packets over a connected network saving time and money.

Some disadvantages of IOT include:

1.As the number of connected devices increases and more information is shared between devices, the potential that a hacker could steal confidential information also increases.

2.Enterprises may eventually have to deal with massive numbers of IOT collecting devices, and managing the data from all those devices will be challenging.

3.If there is any bug in the system, it's likely that every connected device will become corrupted and non usable.

Iot seurity issues

The internet of things  connect billions of devices to the internet and involves the use of billions of data points, all of which needed to be secures. Due to its expanded attack surface, IOT security are cited as major concerns.

In 2k16, one of the most notorious recent Iot attacjs was Mirai, a botnet that inflated domain name server provider Dyn and took down many websites for an extended period of time in one of the biggest distributed denail of dervice(DDoS) attack ever seen. Attackers gained access to the network by exploiting poorly secured IoT devices.

Because IoT devices are closely connected, all hacker has to do is exploit one vulnireability to manipulate all the data, rendering it unusable. Manufactures that don't update their drivers regularly or at all leave them vulnearable to cybercriminals. 

Beyond leaking personal data, IoT poses a risk of critical infrastructure, including electricity, transportation and financial services.

Finally,

The concept of IoT ecosystem, however, didn't really come into its own until the middle of 2k10 when, in part, the government of China said it would make IoT a strategic priority in its five year plan.