Understanding the Internet of Things

Let's start by defining the IoT as a collection of devices that are capable of connecting to the internet to share data and resources.

Some examples could be your smartwatch or your smart TV (yes, they like to put the word smart on IoT devices), but many other devices in your office, such as the copy machine, the printers, and even the coffee machine, could be IoT-enabled devices that need to be analyzed for vulnerabilities before allowing them to be connected to the internet. The following are some examples of IoT devices:

Figure 10.1 – Examples of IoT devices

Companies are realizing the benefits of connecting devices to the internet. These benefits include the addition of new functionality and the harvesting of data regarding customer use or habits (very useful to improve future products). Additionally, companies can create connected ecosystems by sharing services, data, or features through devices, greatly...