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Survey: Wearable devices most likely to pose IoT security threat

Wearables are the Internet of Things (IoT) devices most likely to emerge as a security threat or cause a breach, according to a new survey by Spiceworks and Cox Business.

Across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 53 percent of IT professionals said that smart watches, fitness trackers and other wearables were somewhere between likely and extremely likely to create a threat. Video equipment (50 percent) and physical security devices (46) were ranked next highest.

Moreover, almost 90 percent of respondents said the flood of IT devices entering the market creates security and privacy issues in the workplace, with 84 percent of survey-takers naming the growing number of entry points into the network as a major concern. The second most common concern was insufficient security measures on the part of IoT manufacturers (70 percent).

Despite this apprehension, 39 percent said their organizations connect IoT devices to the corporate network, while 41 percent use a separate network and 11 percent don't allow IoT devices at all.

Bradley Barth

As director of community content at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for SC Media online conferences and events, as well as video/multimedia projects. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

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