Dear Readers,
3
V
iewpoint
October 2015
There is no doubt – the Internet
changed our behaviour and there-
fore our daily life since it started
approximately 20 years ago. During
this period – I would like to call it
the first step – the Internet devel-
oped to an universal information
platform, knowledge base, and dis-
tribution channel. Nowadays if you
need information about any topic
you search in the Internet and you
will get it with just one click. If you
want to buy a specific product –
you´ll find it in the Internet - mostly
for a lower price. But there was still
the interaction of humans needed. And the wireless communication
enabled us to access the internet from nearly any place in the world at
any time we like. But now it seemed that we are at a turning point and
will do the second step into the Internet of Things (IoT) in which no
human interaction is needed any longer. The connected devices will
talk to each other undependable mostly via wireless links.
Our cover story starting at page 6 shows that the Internet of Things is
not a real new thing but an optimal combination of still existing tech-
nologies. The disciplines of sensor technology, data preparation and
data processing, data output, actuator engineering, connectivity and
security come together in the Internet of Things. The terms IoT and
the very closely related Industry 4.0 are now widely recognised in the
industry and a starting point for further discussions. IoT applications
will affect any of the traditional market segments like automotive, con-
sumer, healthcare, high-rel, and renewable energies, and the industrial
area is also supported with applications such as M2M and Industry
4.0. Communication between machines (M2M) has been already an
important area for decades. However, the Internet, with its infrastruc-
ture and the increasing spread of products such as PCs, tablets, smart-
phones, and new semiconductor products, has not only shaken up the
market completely but also permitted totally new approaches to solu-
tions in areas which were not previously relevant at all.
But what about security? Current manufacturers are still developing
products using old and entrenched supply chain, engineering, and QA
processes that weren’t designed for the complexities of highly-con-
nected smart devices nowadays. Likewise, engineering teams are
utilizing an increasingly diverse set of suppliers and relying on third-
party software where possible to save developer time, all while try-
ing to satisfy the business and market thirst for these new capabilities.
Unfortunately, many software development teams treat security as an
afterthought, running only basic checks, if any, during their QA cycle.
But there is a solution. The GrammaTech article starting at page 14
introduces CodeSonar, a binary analysis technology which provides
developers with the ability to evaluate, check, and inspect third-party
code, and provides businesses with more options within their supply
chain, enabling them to utilize software from new, innovative compa-
nies that might not have an established reputation. When source code
is available, you can use CodeSonar in mixed source/binary mode,
analyzing complete applications.
And if you run over the pages of this issue you´ll find more useful
information about the ongoing activities in the IoT. Enjoy!
Yours Sincerely
Wolfgang Patelay
Editor
