Imagine a factory humming with potential, yet held back by outdated systems and fragmented data. When systems struggle to communicate, critical tasks like risk management and quality control often fall through the cracks. Without seamless access to real-time data, decision-making becomes less certain, and strategic planning becomes more difficult. The result? Lost time, missed opportunities, and a notable dip in productivity.

Fragmented systems complicate everything—from decision-making to daily operations. In the age of Industry 4.0, these challenges can hinder progress.

The cost of IoT challenges – and the risks of ignoring them

Deploying IoT across multiple solutions comes with its own set of challenges:

• Management complexity: Coordinating multiple vendors and verticals can be overwhelming.
• Operational fragmentation: A disjointed approach hampers efficiency, underscoring the need for a unified solution.

But what’s the price of ignoring these issues?

• Since 2010, $35 trillion has been spent on IT products and services, according to Statista. Of that, 75% was allocated to maintaining outdated systems, while $2.5 trillion was designated for replacements—$720 billion of which was lost on failed efforts.
• Companies spend around $300 billion each year just to keep legacy systems running, according to Stripe and Harris poll.
• More than 70% of companies find it difficult to implement and scale advanced technologies in a way that delivers significant improvement in return on investment or operational key performance indicators (KPIs).

The stakes, however, are higher than mere financial costs. As digital transformation speeds up, IoT integrations need top-notch cybersecurity to avoid costly breaches and the kind of reputational damage that’s hard to recover from.

Conquering the data integration challenge?

For companies with outdated systems, integrating data from multiple sources can feel like assembling a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. A large share of enterprise data goes unused, leaving valuable insights untapped.

This complexity slows down digital transformation and prevents companies from fully embracing the opportunities of Industry 4.0. Without access to real-time data, decision-making can feel like a shot in the dark, and strategic planning is clouded with uncertainty.

Addressing these integration challenges is key for businesses looking to move beyond outdated systems. By overcoming these hurdles, organizations can unlock real-time data, streamline operations, and stay competitive in the era of Industry 4.0.

Breaking free from legacy systems and the skills bottleneck?

Old habits—and even older technology—are tough to shake. Many companies still rely on legacy systems and traditional practices, slowing their path to digital maturity.

Manufacturers are struggling to attract skilled talent, which slows down digital transformation efforts. These outdated systems and practices predate IoT, driving up costs and delaying essential projects.

The result is clear: underperforming equipment, wasted energy, and decision-making hindered by a lack of actionable insights. To thrive and unlock the full potential of Industry 4.0, businesses must address these challenges head-on:

• Outdated tech: Legacy systems limit flexibility and growth.
• High upgrade costs: Expensive overhauls can block innovation.
• Skill gaps: A lack of skilled talent hinders progress.
• Operational inefficiencies: Wasted resources and missed opportunities for improvement.

The false economy of short-term thinking?

In an effort to cut costs, companies sometimes make the mistake of prioritizing short-term savings over long-term growth—a classic case of focusing too much on immediate financial gains, to the detriment of future success. When the emphasis is on reducing costs today, the foundation for tomorrow starts to weaken:

• Archaic systems: Delaying necessary upgrades keeps businesses stuck with technology that can’t keep pace.
• Limited flexibility: Short-term fixes lock companies into rigid systems, limiting their ability to adapt to a changing market.
• Missed innovation: Focusing only on quick wins can blind companies to transformative ideas, leaving growth potential untapped.

Smashing silos and breaking down integration barriers?

Siloed systems in IT and OT create significant barriers to scalability and integration. These gaps force businesses into inefficient manual workflows and expose them to security risks. These roadblocks prevent companies from realizing the full potential of digital transformation.

To tackle these issues, many organizations are adopting hybrid solutions that blend cloud technologies with on-premise systems. This allows businesses to gradually modernize without the need for a full system overhaul. Edge computing is another emerging approach, enabling data processing closer to the source, reducing latency, and improving real-time decision-making. Additionally, businesses are leveraging AI-driven analytics platforms to unify disparate data streams and extract actionable insights from legacy systems.

Standardizing communication protocols and investing in Industrial IoT (IIoT) platforms are also helping bridge the gap between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). These platforms serve as a foundation for predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and overall operational efficiency. The key is finding scalable, secure solutions that minimize disruption while maximizing the value of existing infrastructure.

Treon Connect – A unified approach to digital transformation?

Treon Connect tackles these challenges head-on by smoothly integrating with business systems, creating a unified operational environment with the first use cases being condition monitoring and fleet management. Furthermore, Treon operates according to its ISO 27001 certification and ensures data security while enabling insights and automation to optimize maintenance, enhance safety, and improve energy consumption.

By bridging gaps between siloed systems, organizations can streamline processes, reduce risks, and unlock their full potential in the era of Industry 4.0.

Companies embracing digital transformation with Treon Connect won’t just adapt—they’ll lead, redefining industries with smarter, more secure, and innovative solutions.

At Treon, we emphasize the most-recognized standards of cybersecurity requirements and safeguards in Operational Technology (OT). The Treon Connect platform enables seamless integration of devices, networks, and cloud systems, ensuring robust security across the entire ecosystem – from device-level data acquisition to cloud-based management and analysis. In this article, we will explore Treon’s strict security measures and why these are crucial for any Industrial, and Internet of Things (IoT) use cases.

Why is cybersecurity critical in IoT?

With over 25 billion IoT devices expected to be deployed by 2030, the Industrial IoT (IIoT) is a major driver of this growth. In this dynamic landscape, Treon emphasizes the most-recognized standards of cybersecurity requirements and safeguards, especially in the context of IoT and IIoT:

• Increased connectivity: IoT ecosystems involve thousands of interconnected devices. Treon’s cybersecurity measures ensure comprehensive protection, covering all devices, systems, and the cloud, to prevent vulnerabilities arising from this extensive connectivity.

   

• Data exchange: Sensitive data flows between IoT devices and the backend, including proprietary information. Treon implements robust security measures to safeguard this data, preventing potential compromises and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of information.

   

• Data storage and backup: Reliable procedures are crucial to ensure data integrity and prevent data loss. Treon employs stringent storage and backup protocols to maintain data availability and security. 

What are typical security vulnerabilities in IoT?

The larger the network, the more vulnerable it becomes to potential attacks. Scalability, increased connectivity, and connecting thousands of devices into large IoT ecosystems results in increased data exchange between devices, systems, and the cloud. 

• Device vulnerabilities: The integrity of devices is crucial to collecting and transmitting data from device to device. IoT devices can be sensitive to code vulnerability attacks, which can lead to malware installation and unauthorized access to critical systems, as they are the source for data acquisition. 
• Network vulnerabilities: Transmitting data and secure communication requires encryption with advanced systems to keep the data from leaking. 
• Backend vulnerabilities: The backend infrastructure supporting IoT devices must be reinforced against threats targeting data storage and processing. Inadequate backend security can expose sensitive information to cybercriminals, leading to data breaches or unauthorized access. Implementing robust authentication and authorization protocols and conducting regular security audits is essential to safeguard these systems. 

What common cybersecurity standards and practices are applied in IoT?

Standards and frameworks play a vital role in IoT security. They provide guidelines for best practices and compliance safeguarding the use and exchange of data and are implemented for several industries. Standards and practices aim to proactively detect threats and reactively apply measures to reduce the size of the attack surface. Key standards Treon refers to ensure cybersecurity include:

• ISO/IEC certification: ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management, offering a framework for organizations to safeguard sensitive information and ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability. By attaining this certification, Treon underscores its commitment to secure data handling and strengthens confidence in its cybersecurity practices.

   

• NIST framework: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity including standards, guidelines, and practices to manage and reduce cybersecurity risks. Treon’s deploys wireless networks which adhere to the NIST recommended, industry-standard AES-128 encryption. 
  

• ISA/IEC 62443: This standard focuses explicitly on industrial automation security, providing a comprehensive approach to secure IIoT devices, networks, and data exchange in the industrial context.

   

• EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA): This European legislation aims to enhance cybersecurity across the EU by enforcing stricter standards for all products with digital elements, Treon closely follows the development of those recommended cybersecurity measures throughout its products lifecycles, ensuring safer software and hardware for users.  

• Regular updates: To maintain the security and functionality of IoT systems, regular updates are crucial to mitigate potential vulnerabilities. Treon’s software and firmware updates include patches that fix security flaws, enhancements, and new features that can improve product performance and interoperability. Additionally, each update is signed with Treon’s private key and verified against a public key.

   

• Own Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Utilizing PKIs ensures that the updates are authentic and have not been tampered with and beyond that proving Treon device identity The X.509 certificate fortifies device security and helps uphold the integrity of the IoT ecosystem, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected and the network functions optimally.

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): This data protection regulation establishes critical guidelines for secure data handling and privacy, which are essential for protection of data processed by Treon solutions.

   

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): The implementation of multi-factor authentication significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. 

• Regular updates: To maintain the security and functionality of IoT systems, regular updates are crucial to mitigate potential vulnerabilities. Treon’s software and firmware updates include patches that fix security flaws, enhancements, and new features that can improve product performance and interoperability. Additionally, each update is signed with Treon’s private key and verified against a public key.

   

   

• Own Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Utilizing PKIs ensures that the updates are authentic and have not been tampered with and beyond that proving Treon device identity The X.509 certificate fortifies device security and helps uphold the integrity of the IoT ecosystem, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected and the network functions optimally.

By adhering to these standards, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture and ensure robust protection against evolving threats in the IoT landscape. When developing a new offering, companies should not only pay attention to awarded certifications, but also technical requirements for secure interoperability.  

How to send data securely from devices to the cloud?

Leveraging industry standards and best practices Treon emphasizes the end-to-end encryption and ensures that sensitive information is transmitted securely, reinforcing the resilience of its IoT ecosystem against potential cyber threats.

• Encrypted communication between devices: Inter device radio communication is encrypted by protocols. For example, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-128) on the Wirepas mesh network is used to send both data transmission and network signaling data securely between Treon sensors and gateways.  
• Encrypted communication between devices and the cloud: Safeguarding data transmission between Treon Gateway and the backend Treon deploys a lightweight Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), or Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). All communication is protected by Transport Layer Security (TLS) version 1.2 or higher to establish a secure channel. 

What to consider when selecting an IoT solution provider?

Besides certifications, standards and technical requirements, choosing a provider also involves evaluating their expertise. When selecting an IoT solution provider, these key factors should be considered:

• Software Integrity: Prioritize providers that offer top-notch software maintenance and integrity. 

• Secure Communication: Ensure that they provide secure communication across all devices, networks, and backend systems. 

• Data Ownership and Storage: Check their data ownership policies and storage options, whether you’re looking for cloud or on-premises deployment. 

• Security Standards and Certifications: Choose providers who comply with industry security standards and follow relevant certifications. 

• Industry Expertise: Confirm that the provider has deep expertise in your specific industry and understands relevant protocols. 

Treon Connect middleware – the backbone of secure IoT deployments with Treon Connect?

Treon offers comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for IoT ecosystems, ensuring secure, scalable deployments. Treon Connect middleware is the backbone of the platform and provides end-to-end communication security using X.509, TLS, MQTT, HTTP, and wireless networks. Regular updates address vulnerabilities, and the ISO 27001 certification guarantees robust information security management. With their own private key infrastructure and device authentication mechanisms, Treon ensures enhanced security across thousands of connected devices. Trusted by global leaders across the domains of industrial, logistics, and digital buildings, and more Treon is positioned as a reliable and secure partner for IoT solutions. 

As the IoT continues to evolve, cybersecurity must remain the top priority. With its robust security features, Treon is well-equipped to help customers navigate the cybersecurity challenges of the IoT era. By securing our IoT solutions, we can fully harness the potential of IoT while safeguarding data and operations.