Expert Interview Series

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2 Expert Interview Series Konk ana Khaund Principal Consultant - Energy & Environment FROST & SULLIVAN Konkana Khaund is the Principal Consultant with Frost & Sullivan s Energy & Environment Practice, North America. She focuses on driving and managing research programs within the areas of smart buildings, smart homes, smart cities, energy efficient technologies, as well as strategic consultative engagements with our wide cross section of industry clients around these disciplines. A cybersecurity expert, we had the pleasure to interview Konkana on her thoughts around cybersecurity in the connected home. Q: What do you think are the main cybersecurity concerns in the connected home industry today? The main concerns I feel encompasses a wide cross-section of issues we first need to look at what is at risk clearly everything; from internal connected network of the home and smart grid related components, to shared networks, data management components and services covering third party arrangements are equally impacted by cyber breaches. Presently connected devices have very little cybersecurity mechanisms in-built into their framework. In the rush to deliver connected devices, manufacturers did not adequately factor in cybersecurity. And the notion of cybersecurity often varies as you move from device to component to system providers. So it is not easy to integrate the same vision across the board unless stringent measures and standards are adopted. Secondly, consumers have very little power over the desired level of connectedness and information sharing they wish to opt for in the way connected home solutions are offered at the moment. So I feel the concerns are manifold and incorporate practically all stakeholders within the connected home industry. In the rush to deliver connected devices, manufacturers did not adequately factor in cybersecurity

3 From a utility s standpoint, the AMI network and components related to that such as MDM, are certainly vulnerable points. Q: What are some of the specific issues utilities need to address in order to decrease cybersecurity risks? Access to utility-installed devices such as metering solutions, in-home display, energy monitoring devices, SCADA devices, DR technologies these are all at-risk elements during a cyber-breach. Besides, in case of utility-driven programs, there are often third parties involved in carrying out monitoring, diagnostics, and analytics that involve the cloud in a big way. This poses significant risk of compromise of critical information for consumers, utilities as well as business entities involved in delivering such services on behalf of utilities. Some of the measures that can be adopted to address these issues would involve tighter standards in system deployment, data management ethics incumbent on third parties, better encryption standards, and potentially localized storing and encryption, instead of pushing information into the cloud where possible. Along with this of course there is a huge need for change of consumer behaviour and increased awareness to understand what a cyber-breach could entail and how to minimize the risks and damages by consumers. There is a huge need for change of consumer behaviour and increased awareness to understand what a cyber-breach could entail Q: In addition to utilities, who are the other This ecosystem, besides players that should be or are involved in the utilities, involves a broad cybersecurity ecosystem? spectrum of players including connected home consumers, developers, solution manufacturers, product and service integrators, managed service and third party service providers, OTT service providers, as well as participants from the IT and internet security solution providers, research institutes, government regulators, compliance enforcement bodies, not-forprofit organizations involved in consumer protection and privacy.

4 I expect the ecosystem of the connected homes market to expand quite Q: Within the next 5 years, where do you see the rapidly over the next five years, as connected home headed globally? we will witness the entry of newer products and service segments into this ecosystem with innovations in connectivity and smart devices progressing further. The concept of connected homes is also expanding in definition. This will include the broader context of connected living; combining connected home, workspace and the city. Ubiquitous connectivity, visibility and smart mobility are significantly driving the demand for connected living. Our in-house research suggests the global connected living market to reach $ billion by 2020 as the importance of Internet and digital solutions grows in the overall economy. The next five years will certainly make the connected home a more achievable concept as connected devices make way for more configurable and easy-to-use connected platform to create, manage and monitor a connected home. Our research suggests that the global connected living market will reach $ billion by 2020 as the importance of Internet and digital solutions grows in the overall economy I am trying to bring more focus into the changing technology landscape Q: What goals are you trying to achieve in 2015? through the research we are undertaking, as well as some of the broad overarching trends that we see in the horizon that could have meaningful impact in the smart and connected spaces. Urbanization, connected living, new business models and convergence of technology and markets are some of the themes I am associated with right now. I feel innovations will continue to drive the markets for smart homes and buildings. However, from a technology standpoint, we are perhaps reaching a tipping point. From here on, we need to make sure that we, as an industry, get our business models right if we are going to expect the kind of growth rates that the associated market and technology segments are capable of delivering. This a key part of my research and consulting focus through 2015.

5 CONNECTED+ is tailored to meet the industry s need for a unified and collaborative forum, that paves the way to IoT application and smart home success If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to contact us or us at vcaudan@corpagency.com Register now at: we look forward to seeing you at the Connected Conference!