Defining the IoT

IoT, or the Internet of Things, has been in use since circa 1999. It defines a next chapter in the evolution of the Internet where computing devices embedded in everyday objects are able to send and receive data themselves. In recent years miniaturization and economies of scale brought a boon of new devices to the consumer and enterprise market, prompting Gartner to predict over 20bln live IoT devices by 2020. However, the definition of IoT is loose and, for the purpose of predicting trends or discussing security, formulating a clear understanding of the term is crucial. In fact, Internet of Things is a term only mostly used by the media, academia and the industry. Customers in the consumer space refer to the technologies by their benefit describing term of “Smart Home”. A quick analysis of this gap shows how it’s entirely possible no knowledge permeates the business and market worlds because of the incompatible terms used. As more devices, OSes and heterogeneous platforms entrench the concept of a new digital lifestyle, the new “Digital Kingdom” opens its doors to radical disruption, such as the latest massive Mirai and Reaper attacks. Our ability to correctly define the IoT, it’s platforms and components, should lead to better market dynamics and better preparedness, as one can’t secure something that can’t be defined. This paper proposes to further understand the IoT by exploring available definitions, reiterating misuse and equivocal perception, concluding with a more suiting, contemporary definition.