Most organizations are not highly confident in their preparedness to complete each phase of an Internet of Things (IoT) initiative in-house and about one-third of IoT project needs require support from external vendors, according to research released by TEKsystems.

The survey defined the Internet of Things and IoT-related initiatives as any internet-like network of physical objects and infrastructure, containing embedded technology with the purpose of communicating, sensing or interacting with their internal states or the external environment.

The IoT needs of 63% of the organizations surveyed are, or will be, addressed though current internal resources and 37% through an external vendor.

Survey participants cited information security and return on investment as the biggest hurdles to address and information security experts as the most difficult skill set to find.

Increased exposure of data/information security is the biggest challenge to realizing IoT potential for 50% of organizations. Other early stage concerns — return on investment/making the business case at 43% and interoperability with current infrastructure/systems at 37% — rounded out the top three risks/challenges. One-third of respondents, 33%, indicated finding the right staff/skill sets is also a challenge. 

The survey asked, “For your IoT initiatives, which skill sets are you having the biggest challenge finding?” Participants could select all that applied. Responses include:

1. Information security: 45%
2. Big data analytics: 34%
3. Architects: 27%
4. Cloud: 23%
5. Programmers and developers: 21%
6. Business intelligence: 19%
7. Software engineers: 17%
8. Networking: 16%
9. Business analysts: 13%

“Organizations who are able to successfully implement IoT projects to better understand their business and customers will be positioned to make more strategic and informed decisions,” said TEKsystems Research Manager Jason Hayman. “However, only a minority of organizations have adopted IoT initiatives, despite a majority recognizing the potentially transformational impact these projects will have on their business.”

“Part of this measured adoption is likely due to a lack of confidence that IoT initiatives can be handled internally, and concerns over information security, ROI and interoperability with current systems,” Hayman said. “Organizations that are able to develop strong partnerships internally between IT and business leadership, and externally with key staffing and services providers, will be more successful and efficient in moving through the project phases and delivering meaningful results for the business.”

The survey included more than 200 IT and business leaders and was conducted in November 2015.