IoT Integration in Commercial Applications: How Smart Devices are Revolutionizing Industries

What is the Internet of Things?
Internet of Things, or IoT, is the network of physical things or objects containing sensors, software, or other technologies. IoT connects these physical things to help them exchange data with each other over the internet and achieve various tasks. The transfer of data and information is done without any human intervention. Firewall routers and network appliances like MNHO-113 and MHO-096 provide secure gateway, and end-to-end encryption, and act as network security to protect your devices and network from outside cyber threats.
What are the Core Elements of IoT Technology?
The core of IoT is the connection between devices wirelessly or via wires and connecting all devices to a central area. In addition, the data from external sources is collected through sensors. All IoT devices have some technical requirements, which are grouped into the following mentioned categories.
Iot Technology Requirements
Hardware
The physical components of IoT devices are known as the hardware. On the consumer level, IoT devices include laptops, phones, tablets, wearables, and industrial IoT hardware like smart appliances, machines, smart IoT sensors etc.
Software
The software makes the IoT devices operational and able to connect, give insights, and allow us to control them. For commercial native operating systems, it does the job. While for commercial and industrial devices application specific software is installed.
Connectivity
Network connectivity means the connection of IoT devices with the Internet, with system software, and with other devices via the Internet.
Positioning
Most IoT applications require the use of sensors to get the geolocation of the device. Sensors detect data, transmission from phones, smart tags, wearables, as well as Wi-Fi for accurate positioning.
When everything is connected the chances of breach increase many folds. Thus, the need for firewalls and network appliances should be a high priority for safety and security. PICOPC MNHO-113 and PICOPC MNHO-096 are your keys to achieving seamless network connection across devices and applications with the secured passageway. This is possible through their fast Intel processors to operate effortlessly and Intel AES-NI for encryption and decryption.
Industry IoT Transformations
According to a 2023 IoT adoption report, more than 62% of industries have embraced and implemented IoT into their manufacturing facilities. This also proves that IoT technology is getting wide recognition. However, the potential of IoT towards process automation and improving efficiency throughout production is underplayed.
The report also stated that only 43% of manufacturers are taking advantage of positioning or real-time location services. In fact, the importance of positioning is also overlooked as it can do wonders in tracking, management, and manufacturing alike among other things.
To utilize the power and take advantage of IoT devices to their full extent highly adaptable and powerful devices are required. PICO PC MNHO-113 firewall router and PICOPC MNHO-096 fanless network appliance make this possible by connecting industrial machinery and data transfer through the safe gateway at high speed for smooth collaboration.
If you are just looking to protect your network and keep the data safe then the MNHO-113 firewall router is the right choice as it comes embedded with Intel N6005 16GB/128GB for processing at ultra-fast speed, WiFi6 and Bluetooth support, Dual Intel 10Gig SFP+ Fiber and Dual 3.1 Gen2 USB ports for up to 10Gbps speed. On the contrary, if you are looking to upgrade the entire network setup with moderate processing demands then the MNHO-096 fanless network appliance with SD-WAN security TPM gateway is your trusted partner. Intel J4125 processor 4xRJ45 Ethernet ports Cisco standard console, and the latest 4G and Wi-Fi network support can effortlessly enhance workflow. Now, you want to upgrade? No worries, you can upgrade up to 16GB DDR4 and dual 2.5” SATA SSD/HDD.
Iot Applications in The Industry
IoT applications have already made their way into many businesses and industries. Countless businesses have already integrated IoT into their business. However, the following are a few examples of how IoT is integrated into different industries.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing facilities have faced the biggest disruption due to IoT integration. Several sensors are installed across manufacturing facilities and industrial machines to not only automate processes but also to give insights into the production and equipment itself. Yes, the need for manual work and employees is reduced, but on the bright side, potential hazards are prevented. Additionally, production value and the number are improved with better future prediction.
Retail and supply chain
No more manual inventor management or tracking, with IoT devices integrated monitoring of retail, supply chain, and logistics is easily done on the tips of your fingers. Now, whether it is customer management, fleet management, adjusting to the demands, or optimizing routes for better services, anything is achievable with IoT integration.
Many other industries are also utilizing IoT technology like cloud services, healthcare, integrated testing etc. However, one should not forget to protect the entire system. One weak link can break the entire system.
This is why along with other IoT devices integration of firewall and network appliances like the MNHO-113 and MNHO-096 is a must. With wide and easy OS support it can be easily installed and paired with other devices. The firewall support makes it perfect to configure LAN/WAN Router, VPN, DNS Server, or DHCP Server however you want. Hence, they are perfect for Gateway, Server, VPN and Firewall such as Sophos and Untangle etc. Energy efficiency and lower power consumption keep the power bills low, conserving energy.

Iot Security Challenges and Considerations
Security has become the main concern of every business with the rising number of cyber-attacks. In fact, with IoT, the entire system is at risk as it is all connected. The protection of networks and data should be the priority. Apart from that Network connectivity, medical considerations, and infrastructure requirements come later. Clearly, initial IoT application and integration costs would be high but protecting the business with security devices like the MNHO-113 and MNHO-096 can save millions in the longer run.
The benefits of IoT integration cannot be ignored anymore, with rapid adoption across industries it is only a matter of time before every business will need IoT devices for optimal performance. Increased efficiency and productivity, reduced costs, data-driven decision-making, sustainability, and environmental benefits are a few major benefits you can reap.
PICOPC is a leading provider of cybersecurity and networking devices. So, you can protect your business and not overlook the importance of security and safety in the IoT marathon. To get more information you can contact us directly or follow us across social media platforms Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Reddit. Be a part of the vibrant and helpful community for more information and the latest updates.

Network Firewall

The Network Firewall protects servers and workstations from a host of network-level attacks, including protocol anomalies, connection flooding, denial-of-service, SYN flooding, as well as packet fragmentation evasion techniques.

Features

• Hybrid Firewall design for the best of all worlds.

• Application-Level Packet Filtering, both secure and efficient.

• Proxy-ARP Transparency isolates internal systems from attack.

• Policy-based routing for efficient use of dual network connections.

• Multiple redundant / balanced Internet links for fail-safe operation.

• Traffic shaping and QOS control for priority services.

• Address translation and port / address forwarding hides the internal network.

These features are available in pfSense and Sophos security softwares which need to be installed on a computer or virtual machine in order to set up a firewall/ router. These firewalls can be installed and utilized on Pondesk Networking devices like MNHO-073, NSHO-001, NSHO-002 and NSHO-004 etc.

All these devices are equipped with Intel® AES-NI and Secure Key which is the most broadly used standard when protecting network traffic, personal data, and corporate IT infrastructures.

All these devices are ready for IoT by simply connecting them by using 3G/4G LTE via Mini PCIe.

They are perfect to be used for Security Gateway, Server, VPN and Firewall such as pfSense, Untangle, Sophos, Smoothwall, ClearOS, m0n0wall etc.  Can be configured as a Firewall, LAN/WAN Router, VPN, DNS Server, DHCP Server to deliver a high throughput, reliable operation, high performance and wide array of network applications.

Pondesk devices are not only fast and reliable but are energy efficient as well as they have very low power consumption. All in all, Pondesk has come up with perfect multi-purpose embedded appliances.

IoT Ready Firewall Router / Server

From the long list of brilliant products of Pondesk, comes seasoned the MNHO-068. Its powered by Intel Celeron J1900 quadcore processor. This product is an all rounder whitebox firewall solution but the applications are not limited to just firewalls.

https://www.pondesk.com/

A lot of our customers have deployed this fine product in a number of other projects. With its four cores at work the multi-threaded applications work like a dream with effective CPU utilization. With four Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports available you have one WAN port preconfigured and three LAN ports to work with, you have the option to add secondary internet connections to offer even and failover load balancing.

https://www.pondesk.com/product/Intel-J1900-4-LAN-1-COM-WiFi-4G-Firewall-Router-Mini-Server_MNHO-068

If you have wired, wireless and guest networks running separately then the available LAN ports can accommodate it with ease.

With 3G/4G LTE so common these days and looked upon as an alternate solution. The engineers at Pondesk are hard at work to bring a solution that will revolutionize the industry. The 3G/4G solutions offered by our hardware solutions provide secure and reliable wireless connectivity in any location.

When it comes to wireless the MNHO-068 is equipped with optional 3G/4G interface you can get the best of both worlds by having a cellular 3G/4G internet connection making it IoT ready right from the start.

Pondesk Intel 3855U 6 LAN 1 COM WiFi / 4G Firewall 1U Rackmount Server (NSHO-002)

NSHO-002 Applications

The NSHO-002 is the latest in line of networking equipment range offered by Pondesk. It is powered by 6th Gen. Skylake Intel® Celeron® Processor 3855U. With dual-cores, it makes processing much faster than you think when dealing with multi-threaded applications. This effectively utilizes the CPU cores, hence making the processing of tasks seamless. With Intel gigabit I210-AT ethernet ports the NSHO-002 has multiple applications.

It can be used as a firewall like pfSense, Sophos, Untangle etc. The essential use is to provide WAN redundancy. If you have more than one ISPs providing internet connection, then look no further. With its 6 ports you have the choice to configure any of the ports as WAN connections. These are all high speed WAN connections.

With multi-WAN connections you can easily configure failover and even load balancing. It is also possible to have guest network setup with NSHO-002 or if you have more than one type of connection on LAN (for example, wired or wireless).

Thanks to the available fiber ports it is possible to install fiber connections making it an ideal solution for small to medium sized enterprises where the fiber connection is easily configured for usage.

The Rise of Cyber Security

If you use and love the internet then you must have a connection (pun intended).
When you’re using your computer for your business or any other device connected to the internet then you need to have a form of protection around your network. You have probably heard of Cybersecurity, it’s the name used to describe the safeguard of internet devices from online attacks (cyber crimes).

Cyber attacks are usually committed with the intention of accessing an individuals or company network and exposing or destroying their private data, which in the end would put the victim at great risk, damaging their reputation and loss of money.

Cybersecurity is an absolute must in today’s world as more and more people are gaining access to advanced technologies which allow them to commit these kinds of offences. Yes, you still have to be very tech-savvy to do so, however, with the rise of the Internet of Things and these devices’ poor security measures, they store valuable information making us vulnerable to network crimes. According to an article on Zednet.com, it can take as little as 3 minutes to hack into devices like smart fridges and video conference applications.

Here are a few types of cyber attacks

Phishing – is a very common kind of cyber attack and easy for some people to get affected by. If you have ever received a notification from a dodgy email disguised as a legitimate company or clicked on a harmless pop-up when trying to stream a movie, you have been in a close encounter from a Phishing attack.
Hackers may use malware which is a method used to get you to download a virus through your computer to access your network and ‘take over’, resulting in gaining all sorts of information such as passwords and confidential data. It’s a real pain.
A way to prevent and be cautious of this is to look carefully at the sender’s email. It may have numbers and gibberish in the address, something a legitimate company email wouldn’t. If you’re still not sure, ask a friend to look it over or call the official company to confirm.

SQL Injection and XSS – are similar attacks but have opposite methods. Structured Query Language is used in websites with a company database which for example will store customer records and credit card details. The attacker will use SQL to inject harmful code into the server and reveal valuable information, therefore, affecting the company (and it’s customers).
Cross-Site Scripting is the same, other than instead of attacking the company website, it is used to inject harmful code into the web user’s browser directly without the knowledge of the company. These codes can be placed in comment sections or somewhere the customer has access to. Sensitive information that is passed through the website from the customer can be snatched through XSS, affecting GPDR.

DoS – meaning Denial of Service, is where an attacker drives so much traffic to a website, that it prevents or (denies) all legitimate customers from accessing it. Resulting in company loss of all factors like sales and advertising. This kind of attack may be carried out by multiple computers at the same time, resulting in the attacker using different IP addresses from all over. This is called a Distributed DoS.

What can we do to prevent cyber attacks?

Well apart from making sure you back up all your files correctly and frequently change your passwords, there is a must have for all companies, big or small, and that’s a firewall.

You need a strong, reliable firewall to protect your company network from harmful connections wanting to break through to your data. Luckily Pondesk.com has got you covered as we specialise in this area.

Let us introduce the MNHO-073. Our bestselling secure, fanless firewall router.

This high performing device is perfect to use as a firewall and performs exceptionally with Pfsence, Sophos, Untangle and many more.
It’s a security gateway appliance ready to take on many networking and communication tasks and provides universal performance for small and medium sized business networks, offices, Internet service providers and MSP/MSSP etc.

References

https://www.zdnet.com/article/iot-devices-can-be-hacked-in-minuteswarn-researchers/

https://blog.learningpeople.com/what-does-cyber-security-really-mean

https://www.rapid7.com/fundamentals/types-of-attacks/

Published by, A.W Michie, Digital Marketing Exec