What will the Internet of Things mean for project management?

The Internet of Things is estimated to grow to 50 billion devices by 2020. How soon - and how - will IoT affect the tech projects we manage?

Ok, the Internet of Things (IoT) may not mean anything to your next project, but it’s coming. IoT will eventually affect you, your next project, the technology you are delivering, and your IT organization as a whole.

What is the IoT? Taking a quick trip over to Wikipedia yields this definition and description:

“The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and connectivity to enable objects to exchange data with the production, operator and/or other connected devices based on the infrastructure of International Telecommunication Union's Global Standards Initiative. The Internet of Things allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure."

Since Wikipedia goes on to suggest that industry experts estimate that the IoT will consist of close to 50 billion – that’s right…BILLION – objects and devices by 2020 (less than 5 years from now) you can likely expect that you will soon be managing projects that are affected by the IoT.

So what does that mean? What do we need to be looking for? What considerations do we have?

BYOD issues. There are always the BYOD considerations. How do those affect the adoption and usage of IoT type devices? Let’s consider what those could be first. The development manager using his smart watch to sync his team calendar with his own on his wrist. Devices used in the field to communicate that are not yet provided by your employer in the early adoption phase of IoT devices? Yes. Be thinking today about your BYOD policies because this is all going to happen faster than you think.

Cybersecurity issues. Right now, I wouldn’t be too concerned with security. The role that IoT devices play – and will play in the very near future – is too small in terms of the corporate world to require much time or money to be expended on it. But I think that will all change in the next 6-12 months and only grow exponentially from there. Will your projects be affected a year from now? I believe so. Every PMO should be considering policies now or they will definitely be caught off guard when a large client requests IoT tech devices on a near-future project.

Who buys what issues. Who pays for what? Does your employer buy IoT devices for the workforce or do we stick to the standard laptops and smartphones? That will all depend on what functional and productive uses organizations find for IoT devices. It will be a stretch at first, and individual employee requests for devices they think they need the organization to supply will be the first wave. But it won’t be long till some device comes along that will become as standard employee issue as the laptop and smartphone.

What customer requests for IoT will you support on your projects? A handheld order device that delivers orders online is part of the IoT if it’s a standalone object. If it’s connected to a computer, then it’s still part of that computer and not considered part of the IoT. That will change in the next 6 months, right? Be ready. Will smart watches ever become a viable part of project engagements? Probably. More IoT considerations. For original post see here

IoT to Forever Change Enterprise IT Management and Security: Gartner

If managing and securing servers, PCs and mobile devices weren't enough, the burgeoning market for Internet of Things (IoT) solutions is about to give IT pros a lesson in adaptability in the data center. According to Gartner, a technology research firm, over 20 percent of enterprises will establish security services devoted to safeguarding parts of their businesses touched by sensors, smart devices and a bevy of connected technologies that constitute the IoT.

Last year, Gartner famously predicted that by 2020, 26 billion devices would be pumping data across the Internet of Things, requiring enterprises to adjust their data center strategies. In addition to beefing up their networking, data processing and analytics capabilities, IT organizations will be forced to come to terms with a massively altered security landscape.

"The IoT now penetrates to the edge of the physical world and brings an important new 'physical' element to security concerns," said Gartner research vice president Ganesh Ramamoorthy in a statement. "This is especially true as billions of things begin transporting data."

On the IoT, the digital and physical worlds will often collide, adding a new wrinkle to IT security. The shift from general-purpose PCs and computing systems to specialized hardware, some of which can affect physical environments, represents "a conspicuous inflection point for IT security, and the chief information security officer (CISO) will be on the front lines of its emerging and complex governance and management," Gartner stated.

In some respects, IT security pros can expect their sphere of influence to reach further within their organizations.

"The IoT redefines security by expanding the scope of responsibility into new platforms, services and directions," Ramamoorthy said. "Moving forward, enterprises should consider reshaping IT or cybersecurity strategies to incorporate known digital business goals and seek participation in digital business strategy and planning." For complete and original post see here

Taking Advantage of IoT as a Startup

The world is changing. Not only is it changing, but advancements in technology are increasing the rate of change exponentially. The connection amidst businesses and such advancements are crucial to being successful in this digital age. So when it comes to starting a company, careful consideration must be given to the implementation and integration of daily operations and the Internet of Things.

The Internet of Things is already being applied effectively by the healthcare and insurance industries. For example, insurance companies are developing and using sensors on cars to link driver behavior and risk to that driver’s insurance premium. Healthcare companies are using wearable devices to detect falls, medical conditions, or even alert physicians to specific health risks. Seeing how successful these industries are illuminates opportunities for other businesses to digitize some of their day to day operations. It is predicted that 30 billion mobile phones, computers, tablets and other connected devices will be in use by 2020.

Increased Mobility and Reduced Expenses

Mobile connectivity can cut overhead drastically. Startup companies can offer employees the possibility of clocking in via mobile device without physically being in an office. Businesses can have apps thatmanage payroll or services that distribute payments to vendors automatically every month. The entire premise behind linking the Internet of Things to any business is to make running it easier and to even help get a leg up on the competition.

Take a look at the hotel industry. There once was a time when hotels only had to worry about other hotels within their own vicinity. Now these establishments have to take into account internet reservation sites along with the sudden emergence of alternative hospitality services, like AirBnB. AirBnB is a consumer favorite that specializes in renting rooms, apartments, and even entire houses. The world is becoming a much smaller place the more we integrate and connect with one another digitally. Businesses must factor this in to achieve and maintain any kind of success. Entrepreneurs have to be innovative to set their companies apart from the competition For complete and orignal post see here

Internet of Things in Action

Thousands of energy readers will silently start to hum in spinning mills in one of the country's largest textile hubs, Tirupur, in a project to leverage the Internet of Things concept to see if power consumed can be cut through real-time monitoring and analytics. 
For yarn spinners, nearly 40% of the cost of conversion from cotton to yarn is taken up by power expenses. Spinning mills in Tirupur have also run into rough weather with Indian exports appearing weak in the global market. To see complete post view here

Internet of Things- A New World Order

India begins to prime for the internet of things

Evidence is mounting towards India’s potential massive role in the global shakedown that will be the internet of things (IoT). Of course, IoT is already well on its way – multiple research outlets are predicting an explosion of the internet of things and are looking ahead to 2020 when billions upon billions of connected devices will shape both the enterprise and consumer worlds – but India’s participation has been dormant for a few reasons. However, with IoT estimated to become a potential $15 billion market by 2020 in India, manufacturers and companies in the sector should not discount the opportunities available.

A recent study published by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Confederation of Indian Industries points to East Indian states, in particular, bearing promise in the grand scheme of India’s IoT market. The research cites that states including West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar are growing hubs for IT, IoT, and wireless technologies. $750 – 900 million is the forecast for East India’s contribution to the overall IoT valuation.

Earlier this year, Cebit India organized a panel discussion as part of the COMPASS 2015 Tech Fair in Kolkata. The speakers — many of whom were from Eastern India — ruminated over the changes that will come with the IoT, what is already changing because of IoT, and how businesses should be looking at the market to facilitate growth. Indian innovators are well aware that IoT is already impacting the way the technology scene looks worldwide. No tech conference, no matter where it occurs, can take place without some sort of discussion on IoT’s current role in connectivity. For complete and original post see here

Start-up lets users control 800,000 devices — on their smartphones

If  the objective of the Internet of Things is to connect and control everything online, Israeli start-up WiseSec can perhaps be called the world’s biggest IoT company. That’s because its latest gadget — the Genii — allows users to control a whopping 800,000 devices from their smartphones.

Using a clever combination of web technology, infrared beams, and Bluetooth connections, WiseSec’s system lets users connect — to the Internet — all gadgets that can be controlled with a remote control. This allows users to turn on and off lights, televisions, air conditioners, ovens, or anything else, from a distance by using electronic signals.

According to Vadim Maor, founder and CEO of Yokne’am-based WiseSec, Genii is the first smartphone-based universal remote that’s truly universal. “It not only controls hundreds of thousands of devices, but it controls them no matter where you are on the planet.” For original and complete post see here