However, as the city moves forward with its plan to collect data from thousands of sensors and use predictive analytics to measure the effectiveness of city service, the 30 people in the IT department will have to learn new skills associated with the internet of things (IoT).

Kansas City must also hire IT staffers with expertise in analytics, project management, and communications. “The IT team is a critical part of this,” said chief innovation officer Bob Bennett. “Those are the type of folks I’m looking for.”

Unfortunately, there is a mass shortage of IT professionals who are expert in analytics or data science. The IoT is a complex ecosystem, and tech workers will have to have some knowledge of every aspect of that ecosystem, says Seth Robinson, senior director of technology analysis at CompTIA.

“It’s not just about building a competent technical system that can perform a task for daily operation,” he says. “It’s about using this technology to drive forward into new areas. There has to be this knowledge of what the business is trying to do.”

Tech workers in the IoT world will expand their primary domains of infrastructure, development, security and data to include IoT-related skills, however, they will still need project management skills and business acumen, Robinson adds.

The following skills are in high demand across the IoT ecosystem:

• Cybersecurity specialists will be in even greater demand as the influx of IP-enabled devices increases vulnerabilities. The DDos Attack launched last week against Dyn will only add fuel to the demand.
• Hardware and networking. Just about any device can be equipped with a sensor that can gather, store and transmit data. Robust networks will be required to move all of that data. IT professionals who already specialize in infrastructure will need an understanding of the types of networks that have to be in place to connect IoT devices, Robinson says.
• Software and connectivity. Software is required to make the data usable, and connectivity is needed to share that data with the entire system.

“Some people are very good at a system,” Bennett says. “In an IoT environment those who are the most successful have figured out how to link multiple systems, how to link the data from them to accomplish a second or follow-on goal, and they understand how System A communicates with System B.”

• Big data. The biggest force in software is Big data. According to ComputerWorld, IT professionals will need at least a working knowledge of big data to be successful in managing IoT devices.

At GE Aviation, an IoT-oriented digital transformation has led to the creation of new positions – including chief data officer and “brilliant factory leader.” Likewise, the company’s software development initiatives require people with a broad knowledge of big data because the big data technology life cycle is just 19 to 24 months, says CIO Jude Schramm.

• Another driver of IoT projects is a desire to make better decisions, and that requires analytics to create insights out of data.

According to research conducted by LNS Research, some 60% of companies don’t have enough internal expertise to launch an IoT or analytics project. Matthew Littlefield, president and principal analyst at LNS, says the remaining 40% – those who say they do have the necessary skills – “don’t really understand how big the challenge is.”

The best option is to hire IT service professionals to help with IoT integration. Telx Computers offers premier IT services for businesses across the country. With locations in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, our IT professionals help businesses manage their technology  applications, servers, computers, software, and more.

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According to several reports, the volume of malicious hackers and cyber-attacks have increased since the beginning of the Rio Olympics. And the most insidious characteristic of these attacks has been the social engineering that makes it possible. Here are some of the tactics to be aware of:

Phishing

No, not the band. The phishing we are talking about here is the type that gets embedded in email messages; these scams lead potential victims into seemingly trustworthy web pages, where they are prompted to fill in their name, address, login information, social security number, and credit card number.

Phishing emails often appear to come from legitimate sources, but are often identifiable by slight differences. You may find phishing emails that ask you to complete a survey, or ‘update’ your banking information. In fact, many phishing scams targeted Olympics goers: fraudulent Olympics-themed emails redirected potential victims to fake ticketing services, where they would eventually input their personal and financial information. This lead to many stolen identities.

Pretexting

Pretexting is a form of social engineering whereby an attacker fabricates a scenario to convince a potential victim into providing access to sensitive data and systems. The most familiar example would be when a scammer calls you about ‘owed back-taxes,’ claiming to be a representative of the IRS. Other examples include impersonations of co-workers, police, or IT auditors, in an attempt to gain the trust of their victims and game them into divulging sensitive information.

Quid pro quo

Similar to phishing, quid pro quo attacks offer appealing services or goods in exchange for highly sensitive information. Attackers might offer a cash reward or VIP access to an event in exchange for login credentials.

Tailgating

These technique is less about sophisticated technological manipulations, and more about holding the door open for a stranger. Once a non-employee enters your place of business, they can steal valuable company secrets or hack into your IT infrastructure. Although most larger companies employ sophisticated preventive measures for this, smaller companies are more vulnerable to this tactic.

There will always be scammers, and unfortunately, social engineering is becoming ever more sophisticated in scope. The best way to prevent these attacks is to have an experienced IT team on your side that will be able to detect fraud before it ever reaches your inbox. Telx Computers is expert in protecting your business from social engineering attacks, as well as all order of malware and internet fraud. Contact us to find out how your systems can be protected from online opportunists or for more IT support information .

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