Tag Archives: applications
Internet of Things for Home Automation
As the Internet of Things continues to gain traction and several new devices come in market, home automation has taken the spotlight. The concept of smart home has been there since a long time but some social issues are now being considered too. Smart homes are much more than the simple ability to remotely lock and unlock your front door. Instead it is expected to use actionable situation intelligence in order to detect your entry inside a building, turn on the lights to your pre-set preferences, preheat your stove and put on your favorite music.
Developer working on the IoT projects focus on finding compatibility between home deployment tools and the verticals attachable with them. Home automation requires 5 components to function:
– Sensor: measures temperature, light or motion detection
– Interface: human to machine or/and machine to machine
– Controller: a general purpose computer
– Bus: wired or wireless for transmitting instructions
– Actuator: motorized valves, light switches and motors
These components can be assembled in any manner through a central hub. As developers build systems that manage devices and sensor data, the opportunities are open when mastering the connectivity based on temperature, lighting, video, security, appliances and entertainment.
Many categories of device and services lie under the IoT umbrella. Devices have a certain selection criteria, based on the following characteristics:
– Customer Oriented: These devices are marketed and sent to end users who need not have any technical expertise in using them.
– Always on: Designed to remain on and connected to the Net permanently.
– Useful for real-world impact: It contains the capability to interact with the environment.
Mobile Application Interface
Direct communication between mobile applications and a device makes it easier for users to control events. Security measures need to be followed, like checking whether all sensitive data sent between device and mobile applications are encrypted. Without adequate protection, sensitive data can be monitored by attackers by observing local network traffic. Also, test whether mobile applications employ TSL/SSL certificates.
Security and Privacy Concerns
As Developers continue to build out amazing applications and hardware for homes, security and privacy measures need to be followed as well. Privacy and Security are always at the forefront of design. Few key recommendations while developing a device include:
– Build security into devices at the outset, rather than as an afterthought
– Train employees about the importance security
– Monitor connected devices throughout their expected life cycle, and where possible, provide security patches to cover known risks
The future
Developers obviously have the best vantage point on how the future will shape out since they are the creators of the application. Every new invention comes from imagination. Through a series of universal standards, every device would add value to a persons persona. Developers need to realize that next generation platforms need to be able to abstract devices so that on boarding is made simpler.
Internet of Things for Home Automation
As the Internet of Things continues to gain traction and several new devices come in market, home automation has taken the spotlight. The concept of smart home has been there since a long time but some social issues are now being considered too. Smart homes are much more than the simple ability to remotely lock and unlock your front door. Instead it is expected to use actionable situation intelligence in order to detect your entry inside a building, turn on the lights to your pre-set preferences, preheat your stove and put on your favorite music.
Developer working on the IoT projects focus on finding compatibility between home deployment tools and the verticals attachable with them. Home automation requires 5 components to function:
– Sensor: measures temperature, light or motion detection
– Interface: human to machine or/and machine to machine
– Controller: a general purpose computer
– Bus: wired or wireless for transmitting instructions
– Actuator: motorized valves, light switches and motors
These components can be assembled in any manner through a central hub. As developers build systems that manage devices and sensor data, the opportunities are open when mastering the connectivity based on temperature, lighting, video, security, appliances and entertainment.
Many categories of device and services lie under the IoT umbrella. Devices have a certain selection criteria, based on the following characteristics:
– Customer Oriented: These devices are marketed and sent to end users who need not have any technical expertise in using them.
– Always on: Designed to remain on and connected to the Net permanently.
– Useful for real-world impact: It contains the capability to interact with the environment.
Mobile Application Interface
Direct communication between mobile applications and a device makes it easier for users to control events. Security measures need to be followed, like checking whether all sensitive data sent between device and mobile applications are encrypted. Without adequate protection, sensitive data can be monitored by attackers by observing local network traffic. Also, test whether mobile applications employ TSL/SSL certificates.
Security and Privacy Concerns
As Developers continue to build out amazing applications and hardware for homes, security and privacy measures need to be followed as well. Privacy and Security are always at the forefront of design. Few key recommendations while developing a device include:
– Build security into devices at the outset, rather than as an afterthought
– Train employees about the importance security
– Monitor connected devices throughout their expected life cycle, and where possible, provide security patches to cover known risks
The future
Developers obviously have the best vantage point on how the future will shape out since they are the creators of the application. Every new invention comes from imagination. Through a series of universal standards, every device would add value to a persons persona. Developers need to realize that next generation platforms need to be able to abstract devices so that on boarding is made simpler.
DDoS attacks: They are worse than you can think
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are getting worse than what it was a few years ago. Although we should not blame the popularity of the internet, digitalization, and technological progression for this, but that holds the harsh truth. Cyber-crimes are increasing at the same pace as that of Internet technology.
Understanding Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
Any attempt to choke an online service with heavy artificial traffic from several malicious sources is considered to be DDoS attacks. Earlier, only the large corporate were at its risk, but now any business, small, medium or large, are not spared by DDoS attackers.
DDoS attacks have become worse with the time. Today, it is not only related to inconvenience and slower online speed but now it is also causing network intrusions and businesses are even suffering financial losses. Banks are also at the risk of Distributed Denial of Service attacks which is a very bad news for all who prefer online banking services, online shopping etc. Our crucial banking and transactional information are at stake.
It has become so dangerous that even tech giant like Microsoft had to bear its brunt. Few months ago, Microsoft Xbox Live went interrupted for several hours due to DDoS attacks. Many banks have also been targeted and affected by DDoS attacks. 2016 will see the rise of Internet of Things. This is a great news but at the same time, it potentially attracts DDoS attackers which is a worrisome matter.
How can businesses get Immunity against DDoS
DDoS attacks can be prevented only by following strict security protocols. Protecting your website and web applications with HTTP or HTTPS will not be enough. Neither the network firewall can help stop DDoS attempts to the website and web applications. Your business needs more DDoS security layers.
Below are some great DDoS security solutions to protect your business from any loss:
Web Application Firewall: Apart from Network Firewall, also use web application firewall because only Network Firewall will not protect the web applications. It will leave your web applications vulnerable to DDoS risks. So, web application firewall will combat DDoS attacks in more effective ways.
Blocking the suspicious traffic: There are few requests screening methods to identify the malicious traffic from the genuine ones. This is based on real-time insights as well as some historical analysis. Once the malign traffic is identified, it can be blocked from the network. However, this should be regularly updated, monitored and executed.
CAPTCHA requests: Another indispensable solution to immune your business from DDoS attacks is to include online CAPTCHA test as it can detect script injections and suspicious traffic requests.
Cloud-on-premises: Cloud solutions can help you keep away from the Distributed Denial of Service attacks. When your business is using Cloud services, all the incoming traffic is first redirected to the cloud through DNS manipulation where the traffic is filtered and then sent to the destination server. This is one of the strongest DDoS protection solutions.
Some high-end DDoS protection solutions use IP reputation intelligence and fingerprinting, robot testing etc. However, the best ever practice that a business should always follow to secure the data from any kind of threat or disaster is to save the backup of data. Choose Cloud Backup solutions for enough storage, easy data access and even for DDoS security.