LIVE FROM WEDO WORLDWIDE USER GROUP, PORTO: The Internet of Things (IoT) will create challenges for operators in terms of network security and risk management, placing extra strain on ICT professionals, according to Robert Stickland (pictured), co-founder of consulting firm Digital Nexus.

Strickland, whose previous positions include CIO at T-Mobile USA and CTO of Leap Wireless, warned: “You are running around, every day, on fire. And it’s going to get worse, it’s not going to get better. We’ve got to have tools and capabilities to solve the problem.”

Driving this trend will be the proliferation of new types of terminals connecting to the network, creating new potential opportunities for miscreants. “Devices connected equals money. Money equals revenue. And revenue equals bad guys,” he said.

“The Internet of Things is real. We are looking at 20 billion connections across our ecosystem. It’s happening, and it’s going to happen faster, and faster, and faster. And the bad guys are around the corner,” Strickland warned.

“And it’s not just the bad guys outside of our companies, it’s the bad guys inside, and it’s even bad programmers, that leave the company after they do things you didn’t know they did, and still leave holes in your company. The question is, what are we going to do about it?” he postulated.