IDC: Cutting Through The IoT Red Tape

Between fast-changing technology protocols, security concerns and other issues, the mere thought of starting an IoT initiative at a company might be daunting.

However, after performing extensive surveys and analysis, IDC research manager Kimberly Knickle suggest the best way to overcome those hurdles is to dive right into the deep end of the IoT pool – albeit with a smart, well-considered strategy.

’To do this well, it’s going to require some planning and bringing in some protocols and standards and technologies together,’ she said. ’I still believe there’s a way to do this successfully.’

Knickle urged executives that even if there are foreseeable roadblocks on the road to being fully integrated and connected technically, that is no reason to delay the start of the IoT journey.

’The message is just start small. Start something that’s protected, if that’s what works,’ she said.

She used GE as one company that started with small IoT initiatives and built up to massive systems.

However, for each company, the beginning of an IoT transformation can differ. Not every company can spend a year on a pilot program before launching a full-blown initiative.

’We still have companies, though, that say, 'The best way for us to get started is not to obsess over the pilots, it was to tackle the biggest problem first, and once we knew we had tackled that, then we knew that the rest was going to be easy,’’ Knickle said.