The Internet of Things (IoT) Technology - Essay Sample

Over recent years, manufacturing industries in the United Arab Emirates have embraced the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. However, the technology has contributed to both benefits and challenges to these industries. Cybersecurity threats are the main problem that is undermining the operation of various manufacturing industries in the U.A.E. This makes the problem an area of interest for many researchers and innovators within multiple companies in a bid to solve the problem for the economic benefits of the manufacturing Industry in the country. As a result, there are considerable efforts to secure crucial data in many organizations against cyber threats. The progress in Information Technology is profoundly compounded by issues and risks undermining cybersecurity, which has adversely affected the innovativeness alongside the progress of most manufacturing industries in the U.A.E.

In this regard, it is essential to be aware of the impacts of threats to cybersecurity. Therefore, the researchers within the manufacturing scope of business in the U.A.E. are bound to analyze the problems related to various types of cybersecurity threats, techniques used to attack vulnerable devices, and solutions to the increasing rate of cybersecurity threats and attacks. The paper will primarily focus on Techniq International Manufacturing Industry as a company that uses wearable technology to foreground various aspects of Internet of Things regarding the threats and challenges accrued. This is necessary in qualifying various decisions suggested by the panel on the best security measures to apply. This will incorporate the application of methodology that will allow the management team to evaluate the overriding. The results of the study will aim at impacting future approaches to cyber security issues as the Industry expands.

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Key Words: United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), Internet of Things (IoT), Manufacturing Industry, , Cybersecurity, Cyber-attacks, Techniq International.

AcknowledgmentI would like to express gratitude to my supervisor, who has played a significant role during the research by advising and guiding me on the significant metrics throughout the research. Also, I appreciate the efforts of the University, their support and the management team for supporting the research process through provision of all the essential resources for undertaking the whole research process. I also appreciate all the interviewees who gave their opinions and knowledge during the process. As a result, their feedback about various instances of cybersecurity threats was impactful on this research. Finally, I would like to appreciate my family and friends who have demonstrated full support throughout the process.

IntroductionAt the core of every industrial operations, enterprise, and organization, innovation will remain of paramount significance to progress. Therefore, in the contemporary world, cyberspace's continued growth is considered as a vital part of our daily life and the industry at large. It is a foundational area that controls most ventures, along with numerous project undertakings. As a result, Information and Communication Technologies has created both benefits and challenges, which significantly impact the operations of many industries. The Internet of Things devices, in particular, are connected to improve the quality of life through various digital experiences. Internet devices produce data that can be stored and put into different uses. For instance, the health sector relies on these devices' information about the patients' health conditions. This makes Techniq International a competent company since it majorly produces lifesaving machines that require more profound applications (Mourtzis et al., 2016). Consequently, monitoring censors and tools have provided a suitable platform for the storage and sharing of crucial data. As a result, this technological advancement has contributed to current production. In foregrounding the impacts of cybersecurity issues in the manufacturing industry in the United Arab Emirates, the paper will focus on Techniq International Company. The Industry has always embraced the IoT technology after they joined the illustrious group that contains affiliated firms that are reputed and dedicated to establishing the finest products and services within the country's industrial safety. This will, therefore, provide a comprehensive investigation of the impacts of the advent of IoT regarding cybersecurity threats in the manufacturing Industry in the U.A.E (Mourtzis et al., 2016).

Internet of Things (IoT) technology was chosen for this study because it has contributed to low-security controls and the high rate of cyber-attacks. This technology has been marked by a lack of an environment of trust, including the stealing of crucial data undermines the security and safety of the digital infrastructures (Mourtzis et al., 2016) The IoT devices cause cybersecurity threats in most of the manufacturing industry in the United Arab Emirates and specifically to Techniq International since the companies are interconnected through networks. This technology has profoundly contributed to the prevalence of cyber-attacks (Stefanov and Liu, 2014). For instance, the production strategies in various manufacturing industries have been leaked due to the advent of IoT in the Industry. Therefore, network interdependence and cyber-threats are aspects that require holistic strategies and efforts from all stakeholders to facilitate a high level of cybersecurity in the manufacturing industry in the U.A.E. (Mourtzis et al., 2016). With the international community, however, it is impossible to arrive at common ground regarding principles and solutions to overwhelming cybersecurity threats. In this case, it is imperative to involve all stakeholders from the public and private sectors and broadly from organizations worldwide.

The adoption of the Internet of Things and the increase in the rate of cybersecurity threats in the United Arab Emirates Manufacturing Industry during the technological development are considered an area of interest among academics and information experts. According to Statista Research Department, in 2015, 76.6 percent of the U.A.E. manufacturing companies actively embraced the IoT technology, and this gave rise to the instances of cybersecurity attacks to 80.2% as recorded in 2019 (Tubaishat and Al Jouhi, 2020). Several attacks such as computer hijacking, malware, corrupted programs, and denial of services have increased at an alarming rate in recent years. For instance, the malware attack of Techniq International in 2007 the Stuxnet worm of 2009 and attacks of the major oil company in Saudi Arabia A.R.A.M.C.O. in 2012, among others, are some of the significant challenges of cybersecurity threats (Alsaadi and Tubaishat, 2015). The prevalence of I.T. security attacks on crucial industrial data is due to vast amounts of data and internet connectivity. The recent statistics demonstrate an increase in the rate of cybersecurity threats in the U.A.E due to the increasing cyber security attacks in the country.

The author’s argue that the manufacturing industry in the U.A.E. is one of the primary targets for cybersecurity-attacks (Tubaishat and Al Jouhi, 2020). This is due to the speedy revolution in the field of technology alongside the dynamics in the production within the Industry. For instance, Techniq International Company has increasingly engaged the use of IoT in their designs to meet the new requirements in their field of operations. The attacks have increased within the company since they are committed and determined to deliver world-class industrial products along with services established on the cutting-edge of innovation and technology. This has been majorly to meet the expectations of their prestigious clientele globally. As a consequence, the past couple of years have witnessed research activities directed toward the way forward to prevent such concern in the manufacturing industry. It is of utmost significance to devise approaches that are specifically meant to mitigate cybersecurity-related concerns in the U.A.E. manufacturing industry.

Study Background Industrial production has been among the areas of life that relies on internet-connected devices. In this case, the manufacturing business incorporates various sensors and monitoring tools specifically to collect essential data from the machines, as evident in the operational frameworks of Techniq International Manufacturing. These data collected are considered crucial to industrial production because they promote higher and effective production (Schumpeter, 2013). For instance, maintenance data from the machines can help achieve planned-based solutions within the shortest time. As such, the world is experiencing an era of connected devices that cover all aspects of life. Thus, identifying the root cause of the cybersecurity issue in IoT devices will culminate in the overall improvement of IoT security. Therefore, this study will emphasize IoT technology purposely to design various controls that will help in securing the devices against malware.

According to Symantec, an American software company that provides cybersecurity software along with services, there is a continuous increase in the rate of cyber-attacks worldwide, mostly targeting the Internet of Things devices (Alsaadiand Tubaishat, 2015). Over the past years, manufacturing industries in the United Arab Emirates have experienced unprecedented cybersecurity attacks. Techniq International is one of the manufacturing industries that has greatly experienced the impacts of cyber security attacks as they try to meet their clients' needs and reach the global markets. This challenge has become a concern and fueled by the adoption of the Internet of Things technology. Despite progress in terms of productivity, this technology has led to an increase in the rate of cybersecurity threats. Thus, these threats can get split into social attacks, smaller subsections, and broad-spectrum attacks.