Security News > 2022 > August > Data privacy regulation a top three challenge for IoT adopters

Fears over security have become less of a concern for organizations adopting IoT solutions than it was five years ago, according to a recent study by Wi-SUN Alliance, a global member-based association of industry leading companies driving the adoption of interoperable wireless solutions for use in smart cities, smart utilities, IoT and industrial IoT applications.

The Journey to IoT Maturity, a follow-up to Wi-SUN's 'state of the nation' IoT study in 2017, is based on interviews with IT decision makers from UK and US IoT adopters within key industries, including energy and utilities, state and local government, construction, technology, and telecommunications.

Those respondents ranking security as one of their top three challenges when rolling out IoT fell from 58% in 2017 to 24% in 2022, while the proportion of respondents viewing it as a technical challenge also dropped from 65% in 2017 to 42% this year, indicating fewer concerns but still highlighting it as an issue.

Data privacy regulation is the second highest challenge for IoT adopters, with 36% placing it in their top three, just behind the need to reprioritise spending due to Covid-19 and ahead of budget cuts resulting from less revenue during the pandemic.

Fears over big data have also risen over the last five years, with 19% of respondents placing it in their top three IoT rollout challenges, and one in four citing regulatory concerns.

Wi-SUN's Phil Beecher adds: "While obstacles remain, organizations will need to continue to overcome both technical and non-technical challenges with the support of the industry, including IoT solutions and device companies. With more than 90% of our respondents recognising that they must invest in IoT over the next 12 months to remain competitive, failure to navigate these important issues is not an option."

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https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/08/08/data-privacy-regulation-challenge-iot-adopters/