Translator | Julian Chen
Reviewer | Sun Shujuan
It is well known that if enterprises can successfully implement Industrial IoT (IIoT), they will benefit immensely and significantly improve production efficiency. However, we must not only focus on the enormous benefits that come with smooth sailing but also overlook the various significant obstacles and unexpected situations that such projects may encounter in the early stages. Below, I will discuss the 5 major challenges associated with Industrial IoT while explaining its basic concepts.
What is Industrial IoT?
Industrial IoT is a network that connects sensors, actuators, and other components, which can be used to enhance processes in a specific industrial field. It is widely believed that the use of such connectivity throughout industrial infrastructure can better collect data, improve data visibility, provide more information for decision-makers, and enable them to take action or solve related problems with greater confidence. As the saying goes: knowing is easy, doing is hard. Even if business leaders recognize the various potential benefits of Industrial IoT, they may be required to make various unforeseen adjustments during the actual implementation process.
5 Major Challenges in Implementing Industrial IoT
Unclear Objectives and Scope
Some decision-makers feel that their enterprise must adopt Industrial IoT because they believe competitors have already done so, and they clearly should not fall behind. This can be one of many factors for implementing Industrial IoT, but it should not be the primary factor. Instead, organizational decision-makers should carefully consider what they want to achieve by leveraging Industrial IoT and how this technology will help them leverage their strengths and avoid weaknesses in the existing environment.
First, it is crucial to define the scope of Industrial IoT implementation. We need to consider whether the initial implementation phase will only relate to a single machine or a specific department. Clarifying this in advance not only helps control the budget but also ensures that everyone on the implementation team has a consistent understanding of what needs to be executed.
Only when everyone focuses on the specific improvements that Industrial IoT can bring to the enterprise after implementation will they be motivated to work hard to resolve potential equipment failures or improve the operating environment more safely through intelligent data collection.
Data-Related Issues
The data collection potential of consumer IoT devices is often more limited than that of devices related to Industrial IoT. For example, a homeowner can only use IoT devices to collect limited data about their residence. In contrast, the Industrial IoT network can span global sites, collecting rich data from hundreds or thousands of devices at any given time.
This is why we often say that the implementation of Industrial IoT is closely related to data collection. After all, decision-makers may find it challenging to make accurate judgments due to uncertainty about how to effectively process information from various sources. Therefore, only by understanding the most relevant data that needs to be collected can they grasp the specific goals the company hopes to achieve through Industrial IoT. In other words, they often need to set goals first and then identify the types of data related to these milestones. For example, if your enterprise’s implementation goal is to reduce the number of equipment failures per year, then in this case, business decision-makers may need data parameters related to machine temperature, abnormal vibration patterns, and overall operating time.
At the same time, we must ensure that the data collected and used is of the highest possible quality. Imagine if there are issues such as duplicate information or incorrect data; then the implementation process of Industrial IoT could lead to doubled workloads or even mislead decision-making.
Need to Maintain the Security of Connected Infrastructure
The extensive connectivity of Industrial IoT expands the potential attack surface for network hackers. Since companies using Industrial IoT can connect various devices throughout their infrastructure, it is easy to imagine the severe damage that could result from online attacks.
Therefore, when it comes to building and improving the industrial internet, we need to identify vulnerabilities in the infrastructure that hackers may exploit through methods such as penetration testing and assess the access they might gain. Of course, in addition to external threats, we also need to guard against potential harm from internal personnel. For example, threats triggered by an employee clicking on or even replying to a phishing email.
According to a report by Barracuda in 2022, 72% of organizations have implemented some form of “Industrial IoT plus security operations” technology within their companies. However, more concerning is that 93% of enterprises have encountered failures in their Industrial IoT security-related projects. Moreover, only 49% of surveyed organizations can handle security-related updates on their own. This means that their security measures may face the dilemma of being outdated.
Many experts believe that blockchain technology is a disruptive tool for many industries. It can store information in a digital, immutable ledger, helping to ensure the transparency of fundamental data while also preventing tampering. Therefore, the industry views blockchain as a key element in improving the security posture of Industrial IoT, making it easier to manage and maintain the security of Industrial IoT.
At the same time, personnel responsible for implementing Industrial IoT should regularly conduct cybersecurity reviews and present the security posture of Industrial IoT during the implementation process to decision-makers within the organization based on the review results, as well as identify areas needing improvement.
Encountering Scalability Difficulties
Scalability is another challenge that professionals may face in implementing Industrial IoT. In 2022, Bain’s survey of Industrial IoT decision-makers found that less than 60% of companies that have implemented Industrial IoT technology can achieve scalability as planned.
Respondents generally identified three main factors that hindered their ability to scale their projects:
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Integration work is overly complex and requires excessive investment
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Relevant vendors cannot support scalability
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Support costs over the project lifecycle are too high, making it difficult to convince stakeholders
The study provided two recommendations:
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Hardware can help bridge the gaps that hinder enterprise decision-makers from scaling
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Project participants should have a long-term vision for Industrial IoT projects
Some may only consider how to achieve the initial proof of concept. This is merely a starting point for the project. To achieve the ultimate project scalability, they must plan early and consider comprehensively, leaving open definitions and preparations for the later stages of the project.
Addressing Resource Shortages
It is an undeniable fact that at various stages of Industrial IoT projects, we often encounter the dilemma of lacking necessary resources. Moreover, this situation is more common than people imagine. Inmarsat conducted a global survey in which 37% of respondents felt they did not have enough internal resources available for their Industrial IoT projects. More specifically, among this group, 50% of respondents reported that they lacked sufficient cybersecurity talent. Additionally, 49% of companies need more talent in data science and analytics. Meanwhile, 32% of companies stated that they had the executives and specialized leadership knowledge necessary to fully integrate Industrial IoT into their business strategy.
Don’t Let Challenges Hinder Your Industrial IoT Project
When enterprises prepare to implement Industrial IoT through new technologies, various challenges often arise. I hope the 5 challenges discussed above can help you recognize and anticipate potential obstacles. Of course, there are hundreds of types of Industrial IoT platforms, each with its own characteristics and slight differences.
Original link:
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/top-challenges-of-implementing-industrial-iot/
Julian Chen, editor of the 51CTO community, has over ten years of experience in IT project implementation, adept at managing internal and external resources and risks, and focuses on disseminating knowledge and experience in network and information security.
