Paul Krill
IT is bracing -- but not preparing -- for the Internet of things
Although 71 percent of IT professionals queried in a recent survey believe the so-called Internet of things will affect both users and the workplace, 59 percent said they were not doing anything specific to prepare for it. As usual for new technology, security is a huge concern, at 86 percent. In fact, 43 percent plan to isolate new Internet-enabled things to a separate network, and only 23 percent plan to allow them onto the corporate network. Network management vendor SpiceWorks surveyed 440 IT pros in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa about IoT. IoT involves potentially billions of network-connected devices, tools, medical equipment, and appliances. More devices connected to the Internet means more data generation and greater demands for bandwidth and IP addresses. Thus, SpiceWorks concluded that IT is preparing for IoT more than it may realize as it addresses individual projects.
Forrester: Businesses having trouble getting with the digital times
Although businesses acknowledge the disruptions digital technology will bring them, digital is still not driving business strategy, concludes a report entitled "The State of Digital Business in 2014".
While 74 percent of business executives surveyed say their company has a digital strategy, just 15 percent believe their company has the capability to execute the strategy. "Despite the threat of disruption, digital is not yet driving business strategy in 2014. Only 34 percent of executives in companies with more than 250 employees see digital technology as a major driver
 of business strategy.
Forrester expects this number to climb significantly as more and more firms feel the impact of disruption in their markets," the report states.
Forrester believes every business needs to transform into a digital business, in which digital technologies are exploited to find new sources of value for customers and increase operational agility. Successful digital business transformation requires a CEO's full support to drive investment priorities.
But few CEOs set a clear vision for digital, Forrester said. Outside of the business's digital team, few executives understand their firm's digital strategy.