NATO Releases IoT Draft Report

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has published a draft report titled "The Internet of Things: Promises and Perils of a Disruptive Technology." The report urges governments to take a more proactive role in defining the future of the Internet of Things (IoT).

"Policy makers, including national parliamentarians, need to start to proactively shape an IoT environment that remains open, innovative and secure. We have to find the right balance," the document states.

It also outlines some of the military risks the IoT poses. "As armed forces deploy IoT devices and applications, the number of entry points for cyber attackers will only grow," it states. "Insider threats and user error are also concerning. Furthermore, most IoT technologies rely on wireless communication via radio frequencies and are therefore vulnerable to electronic warfare, including signal jamming and detection of troop positions."

The report draws several preliminary conclusions, including: 

• Regulatory frameworks and policies designed to shape the IoT should find the right balance between making it reliable, secure and private while providing incentives for companies to invest in IoT technologies.
• International standardization of IoT technologies should be promoted vigorously.
• Funding for IoT research and development should be adequate to enable large-scale adoption of the IoT.
• Government, and especially the armed forces, should reform the way it adapts emerging technologies and make long-term investments to reap the full benefits of the IoT.
• Governments should redouble their efforts on cyber defense and security and critical infrastructure protection, given the number of IoT devices and services being deployed.

The draft will be discussed at the Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session, which begins Friday in Tbilisi, Georgia. It will be updated over the summer, and a revised draft will be presented for adoption at the annual session in October.