With the rise of the Internet of Things and its imminent implementation across nearly every industry, it’s important to identify the key ways in which it will affect our lives. The revolutionary connectedness will change the way we work, how we communicate, and even our home life. The advancements in IoT go far beyond our personal lives, though, and are changing the industrial, health and financial services fields, to name a few.

With a hand in almost every industry, let’s explore the IoT trends we can expect to see in 2017.

Talent

IoT is growing and changing at a rapid rate and the talent to match simply isn’t there. As companies realize that IoT technology will keep them competitive, the talent shortage is concerning. The hunt is on for well-versed employees who can stay up on the latest trends and challenges and make sure their employers are utilizing the technology in the best way possible. Expect IoT training and certifications to become widespread as the demand for IoT talent steadily increases. This training will likely become the standard throughout the tech industry.

Security

Not everyone trusts IoT (yet) because of its vast reach, the consequences of its vulnerability and its aim to connect us in ways we don’t fully understand. With increased interconnectedness, secure networks and connections are imperative. There’s too much at risk. And by risk, we mean millions of dollars in assets. Watch out for the merge of Blockchain and IoT to address the concerns surrounding data privacy and reliability. Through cryptographic algorithms, Blockchain could be the answer to the daunting IoT security issues.

Telecom

With the expansion of connected devices and more shared global data, the industry should prepare to handle zettabytes of data in the near future. Companies will need to reevaluate their business models and the way they connect with consumers. With the ever-changing technology, telecom businesses will need to remain agile in order to stay competitive.

About NextGen

NextGen is the brainchild of longtime telecom professionals with nearly 50 years of experience and millions of dollars in Telecom Recruiting Services. We focus on establishing long term relationships with our clients and candidates so we can recruit the best and the brightest in the telecom industry. This ‘quality over quantity’ approach is at the heart of everything we do and has resulted in successful job placements at Fortune 1000 firms worldwide.