One NB-IoT example comes from Australian-based service provider Optus, which completed core network trials to support NB-IoT earlier this year. Also, Etisalat was one of the first service providers in the United Arab Emirates to successfully conduct trials using NB-IoT, and it has prepared the company for reliable and secure connectivity of IoT solutions at a large scale.

As we round out 2017 and head further into the future, these adoptions will become more commonplace and are even expected to pick up in the United States.

5G: Myth or Reality?

We cannot talk about IoT without addressing 5G: a high-speed wireless standard that might – to some – seem to be an urban myth in the making. Service providers and other industry leaders have grappled with the concept of 5G, and in many cases have still yet to define what it really is.

But 2017 marks a major pivot as the industry will buckle down to determine how 5G can realistically be utilized. Earlier this year, AT&T announced 5G Evolution plans and initiatives to “expand and enhance ultra-fast internet access.” The service provider claims that it has completed initial lab trials achieving speeds up to 14 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) over a wireless connection.

Beyond AT&T, other tech companies like Intel and Qualcomm are jumping on the 5G bandwagon, and like AT&T, have announced early trials, commitments and general interest in getting ahead of 5G as a new wireless standard.

As it evolves, 5G will have major implications on the deployment of IoT — for both high-bandwidth applications like connected car low-power applications like smart meters that require greater efficiency, and everything in between.

IoT Security Remains the Underlying Priority

Regardless of how many IoT devices connect to a network, and regardless of what technologies and standards get implemented for successful IoT solution rollouts, IoT security will need to remain the underlying priority for service providers and enterprises alike.

Aside from the obvious loss of trust from customers, and a tarnished reputation, IoT security breaches are costly, regardless of company size. According to a 2017 report from Altman Vilandrie & Company, nearly half of the firms with annual revenues above $2 billion estimated the potential cost of one IoT breach would be more than $20 million.

Many IoT devices used by companies — even on secure networks — could be vulnerable if those devices are not managed properly. So how can businesses better manage all IoT devices, in an automated way, to monitor for and prevent dangerous activity?

Anyone deploying IoT solutions today needs to deploy a comprehensive IoT security solution capable of providing visibility into applications, users, protocols, and anomalies. And critical systems need to be allowed to continue operating safely, even when under attack. In addition, it is important to simplify compliance with industry or government regulations; scale cost-effectively to accommodate more IoT devices or more data; increase situational awareness and accelerate incident response; and integrate IT and OT processes. By connecting OT systems to the IT network, companies can create more value around existing IT security investments and policies.

But no company can do IoT security alone. As service providers continue to build more robust IoT strategies, it will be critical for them to build strong ecosystem partners to tackle the security challenges that still remain on the horizon.