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Businesses are lacking worker skills needed to develop Internet of Things (IoT) technology and cyber security, a new study says.

According to the report by UK-based satellite communcations provider Inmarsat, by 2050 the world population will hit 10 billion and IoT will be one of the most important technologies worldwide. Machine learning, robotics, automation, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and augmented reality will bring significant value, and IoT will be the gateway to these innovations.

However, 60 percent of respondents in the study reported that they required additional staff experienced in cyber security to handle the vast quantities of data that IoT solutions generate, while 46 percent identified a deficit of staff with experience in analytics and data science. Additionally, only less than 28 percent of Asia-Pacific respondents reported to have all the skills they need to make the most of IoT on management, strategic, and delivery levels.

The study is focused on four verticals: agritech, energy production, transportation, and mining. The information is part of Inmarsat’s The Future of LoT in Enterprise – 2017 report. The company partnered up with market research firm Vanson Bourne, and interviewed 500 senior IT decision makers from major organizations in the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Paul Gudonis, president of Inmarsat Enterprise, said that there is a clear recognition from global businesses that IoT will play a fundamental role in their digital transformation. However, “unless this skill deficit is properly addressed, there is a risk that IoT projects will fail and that businesses will open themselves to new security threats, putting an unwelcome brake on innovation.”

Gudonis suggests enterprises prepare themselves by establishing strategic partnerships with IoT specialists. He added, “With economies of scale on their side, specialist partners can help businesses overcome their skills bottlenecks and make their IoT deployments successful.”

IoT is changing the way that businesses operate, but it is dependent upon reliable connectivity. Many of the locations that would benefit most from IoT technologies are remote and situated where terrestrial networks are sparse, the study stated.

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