The Risks of the IIoT to Business Networks

An Introduction to the IIoT

The Internet of Things (or the IoT), essentially encompasses a lifestyle of connectivity. This could be anything from simply connecting to Wi-Fi, a home automation system, control devices, or wearables. If we apply the same idea to an industrial environment, these devices now become the monitoring and controlling practice for manufacturing (i.e. the machines and operating systems). The introduction of IIoT, or the Industrial Internet of Things, within the manufacturing environment, strengthens the ability to customize controls, and collect and analyze data through a new layer of communication; and it's all with the touch of a button. It creates a means for organizations to easily track processes, change production requirements, and ensure efficiencies, all in real time.

Exposures of the IIoT in Manufacturing Environments

In a day and age when machines talk to machines and real-time data is accessible, risks are inherent and need to be fully understood, in order to protect the organization. In this new IIoT world, if an operating device is compromised, or introduces a new network security risk to exploit, it also means that the network and all associated devices are also compromised, no matter where that device is physically located.

The ability of a threat actor to exploit a vulnerability in the network could cause harm to employees, manufacturing equipment, quality of products, and potentially a number of other things. So, what's the insurance marketplace's response to IIoT? Risk has to be transferred but at what cost?