Retail businesses, from mom-and-pop shops to major department stores, are investing heavily in technology to enhance the in-store experience. With the imminent arrival of mainstream 5G, smarter systems are expected to dominate the retail space as the internet of things (IoT) expands. But as we know from connected device deployments in other sectors, such as financial services and healthcare, the IoT is fraught with security vulnerabilities. For retail security, the risks of deploying IoT devices are no less dire.
As organizations rely more on the IoT to enable internet connection at every stage of the retail process, protecting IoT infrastructure is critical. Getting on board with the right mindset can go a long way toward achieving a win-win for retail security.
Outfitting the IoT for the Retail Industry
What I find fascinating about the retail industry is its hope that the IoT can solve IT-related problems. Steve Latham, CEO and founder of the IoT software company Banyan Hills Technologies, told me that one of the IoT trends they’re seeing in retail is meant to help IT personnel sleep better at night.
“Kiosks and point-of-sale (POS) systems are a good case in point,” Latham said. “One of the biggest problems with systems like these is unexpected failures and unplanned maintenance. When a terminal fails, that failure is generally unpredictable. Getting someone there and getting it fixed is critical. IoT technology can leverage real-time data about the health and status of the entire kiosk or point-of-sale network — along with historical maintenance records — to recommend a ..
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