Digital Innovation Magazine - October 2019

October 2019

4D Printing What’s the story?

We provide an overview plus possible future applications

Sainsbury’s Chief Information Security Officer on keeping ahead of the ever-changing threat landscape

CTO, Bryn Jones, says going digital is transforming the energy industry

O

ur autumn edition of Digital Innovation Magazine promises to pack a punch, with a host of mustread features, together with two exclusive interviews guaranteed to inspire! First up is Mun Valiji, Chief Information Security Officer at Sainsbury’s (p6).

Mun Valiji heads up the retailer’s IT proposition, and it’s a constant battle keeping ahead of today’s ever-evolving threats. In answer, Mun Valiji expounds the virtues of an agile approach, as well as harnessing the top-down support of every member of his team.

A company that has played a major role in transforming Britain’s energy sector, Pure Planet offers green energy at competitive prices… It’s a winwin for the eco-savvy consumer (p46)! CTO, Bryn Jones, talks us through the company’s digital journey, as well as sharing his thoughts on how the business can work towards creating a cleaner Britain.

And that’s not all! We have a great feature on game-based learning platform, Kahoot!, October’s start-up of the month (p90), along with an insight into future IoT developments (p72), 4D printing (p34), and the role of nanotechnology in recycling black plastics to create renewable energy (p24).

But, let me leave you with a final thought… In the world of IoT, what do you think is more important – security or privacy? We discuss this very issue over on page 62.

Happy reading!

Editor Anna McMahon

Director Danielle Harris

editorial@digitalinnovationeu.com

d.harris@digitalinnovationeu.com

Senior Digital Designer Daniel May

Director Tom Barnes

design@digitalinnovationeu.com

t.barnes@digitalinnovationeu.com

+44 (0) 203 890 1189 enquiries@digitalinnovationeu.com All rights reserved. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in Digital Innovation Magazine. However, the company cannot accept responsibility for the claims made by advertisers or contributors, or inaccurate material supplied by advertisers.

Digital Innovation is a trading name of iThink Media Ltd. Company Registration Number: 10933897. Company Registered in England and Wales

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We explore this latest pr plus possible futur

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We meet Mun Valiji, Chief Information Security Officer at Sainsbury’s

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72

Research predicts 24 million satellite-linked IoT connections by 2024 Examining the big issues of the day when it comes to IoT 4

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62

The star digital tra

rinting phenomenon, re applications

rting point for every ansformation journey

Recycling black plastics found in food packaging for renewable energy

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90

Our start-up of the month is games-based learning platform, Kahoot!

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Bryn Jones is CTO at Pure Planet, Britain’s first app-only energy company 5

B U S I N E S S I N T E RV I E W

In an exclusive interview, we talk to Mun Valiji, Chief Information Security Officer at Sainsbury’s, about the importance of a flexible approach when it comes to keeping on top of today’s continually-evolving cyber threats facing a 150 year-old retailer.

Written by Anna McMahon • Produced by Danielle Harris 6

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SAINSBURY’S – WHICH ENCOMPASSES SAINSBURY’S SUPERMARKETS, ARGOS, NECTAR, SAINSBURY’S BANK AND HABITAT – OPERATES WITH OVER 28 MILLION CUSTOMER TRANSACTIONS EVERY WEEK. s the most senior member of the leadership team responsible for security across a multi-channel and multibrand business, Mun Valiji is accountable for setting the endto-end security strategy, roadmap and the protection measures for all of Sainsbury’s UK operations.

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So, how would Mun Valiji describe his multi-layered role? He says, “I think a business-enabling strategy is one of the most important contributions I make and how I bring security to Sainsbury’s. We have to be seen as a businessenabler; to be empowering, rather than impeding technology and transformation. Security has to be at the heart of the proposition.

I sit within a leadership team that recognises the absolute importance of privacy, trust and assurance in terms of building the brand, as well as doing the right thing by the families, communities and society we serve. Having a customer-first, business-first proposition in mind is essential, but trust and privacy absolutely have to be part of that.”

H MUN VALIJI

Chief Information Security Officer

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Speaking a language that the business understands, not making it too technical or too scientific, is key to Mun Valiji’s approach.

He explains, “At the end of the day, if people don’t understand what you’re trying to do and the approach that you’re trying to take, it’s difficult to engage.

What is essential is to be clear,

to be outcome-based in your communication, and to articulate what you’re trying to do in as non-prescriptive terms as possible.

“We measure things in terms of outcomes and against our adherence to regulatory compliance because that’s essentially a requirement. If you can do that and keep it non-technical and as simple as possible, it’s easier for people to come on the journey.”

Mun Valiji does not underestimate the importance of support from senior executives in meeting the security requirements of the business. He adds, “To be able to grow the business, to be 11

“HAVING A SELECT, FEW IMPACTFUL STRATEGIC PARTNERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE OUTCOMES WE ARE TRYING TO DELIVER IS ESSENTIAL. THE PARTNERSHIP SHOULD BE AN ENGAGING, LONG-LIVED, COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT WORKS BOTH WAYS” – MUN VALIJI

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able to transact securely and safely, whether it be online or in-store, security is absolutely important, as well as the ability to communicate that message and elicit support all the way down.

“Executive support is one thing, but to be able to get to the next level of execution becomes even more important if you’re actually going to engage and deliver a programme of change.”

An ambassador for security in a world where you can’t open the newspaper or read a newsflash without hearing about a data breach or loss of confidentiality, Mun Valiji is passionate about the adoption of a versatile approach when dealing with security risks. He explains, “You have to be flexible.

What we are doing today is totally different from an adversarial point of view to what we were doing 12 months ago. The level of sophistication of attack that I’m protecting the business against is constantly evolving, so you have to be versatile in how you respond to that. We set out the strategy, which is generally a 36-month strategy, but within the three years, we would effectively look to 14

respond differently based on the changing landscape, the threats, and the evolution of risk.

“In the way that technology has to morph over time, we have to be dynamic and elastic in the same way with security.

Otherwise, you lose sight of

what’s important and you don’t make the most of the investments and assets that you’ve built up.”

The difficulty that Mun Valiji and his team face is that they are not simply dealing with one single threat, but many, often unforeseen, challenges.

So, how can Sainsbury’s best protect itself from a retail perspective? Mun Valiji

InteliSecure is pleased to support Sainsbury’s digital transformation.

Through our suite of professional services, penetration testing services and managed services, we make data protection easy.

For more information

visit InteliSecure.com

Intelisecure has really taken the time to get to know our business. They are truly a leading and trusted partner helping us deliver a progressive security program Mun Valiji CISO

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“IT’S A REA EXCITING T BE A TECHN WITHIN SAI EVERYONE K THAT RETAI THROUGH A CHANGES, S THE OPPORT TRANSFORM

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LLY IME TO NOLOGIST INSBURY’S. KNOWS L IS GOING LOT OF SO THERE’S TUNITY TO M”

answers, “The concentration of resource and effort is centred on understanding how we can continue to build our online proposition. This means ensuring that the business is available, is able to transact, and can offer an online service to customers at all times from anywhere. An impediment to that would be a service availability attack, or means by which the online operation is disrupted.

“My role in minimising the disruption is to ensure we have appropriate detection, protection measures and a strategy to be able to identify, as pre-emptively as possible, any risks that might disrupt the online operation. In simple terms, the net impact of any disruption to service is loss of revenue and potential erosion of customer confidence. If we have a system that is affected by a vulnerability, for example, it could potentially disrupt back-end operations and be revenue-impacting. That’s a whole different level of severity that we’d have to respond to.”

Sainsbury’s has measures in place to safeguard customer information, as well as subscribing to intelligence 17

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services to ensure the brand name is associated with the right sentiment. According to Mun Valiji, “It’s about having the basic pillars and fundamentals in place and working effectively – having good security

operations and incident management that allow us to protect the business. We have processes in place to ensure that when we build and provision new systems or services, the appropriate

OUR PARTNERS

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The Sainsbury’s Tech and Splunk partnership continues to grow as both organisations are aligned in their corporate objectives - both want to ensure business success.

Each recognises the need to turn data into action, to solve problems and spot opportunities at pace and deliver a data driven future for the benefit of all.

Through a trusted partnership with InteliSecure, Sainsbury’s has been able to maximize the use of disparate technologies by delivering a comprehensive security program. InteliSecure is far more than a service integrator, helping Sainsbury’s to build a robust programme to meet regulatory commitments and protect data.

Symantec, the world’s largest pure-play cyber security technology organisation is focused on helping Sainsbury's secure the business with an integrated security capability across all the main vectors, Endpoint, Email, Web and Cloud.

Netskope helps Sainsbury’s secure it’s cloud and web data in one platform by simplifying infrastructure and operations.

“SAINSBURY’S IS A DATA BUSINESS WITH ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DATASETS IN THE UK FROM OUR MULTIPLE BRANDS INCLUDING ARGOS AND NECTAR. ROBUST, PROACTIVE AND FLEXIBLE SECURITY CAPABILITIES ARE MISSION CRITICAL FOR US” – PHIL JORDAN, GROUP CIO sign-offs from a security perspective are inherently built-in. So, we’re able to work with our curious colleagues to provide the governance around their experiments. Then when changes do take place, are we maintaining a continuous compliance stance to adhere to regulatory and contractual

requirements and protect our Crown Jewels?”

In terms of its transformation journey, Sainsbury’s has brought all IT into Sainsbury’s Tech, Digital and Data with security sitting at the centre. Mun Valiji says, “It’s a really exciting time to be a technologist within

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Sainsbury’s. Everyone knows that retail is going through a lot of changes, so there’s the opportunity to transform. My role is to ensure the overlay of security and compliance is delivered singularly and effectively at all times.”

Embracing strategic partnerships is something that Mun Valiji considers to be fundamental to building security success. He says “Having a select, few impactful strategic partners who understand the outcomes we are trying to deliver is essential. The partnership should be an engaging, long-lived, collaborative relationship that works both ways.”

Some of Sainbury’s key partners include Netskope, Symantec,

Splunk and InteliSecure, to name a few. Mun Valiji adds, “They are valued, trusted partners who I’ve worked with for most of my professional life. For our strategy and evolving program of change, they are the right choice, but we constantly look to review our partner program to make sure we are doing the right thing by the business and the changing cyber landscape. We challenge our partners to be as progressive as possible, and always hold their feet to the fire on that.”

For further information on Sainsbury’s products and services, visit their website and social pages.

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NANOTECH

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Researchers at Swansea University have discovered that plastics commonly found in food packaging could be recycled to create renewable energy.

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ONE OF THE MAJO PLASTICS IS THAT AL FOR A VERY LONG THROWN AWAY AFT ince they were invented in the 1950s, around half have made their way into landfill or have been lost to the environment – we are all well-aware of the sheer amount of plastic waste that’s floating around in our oceans.

Only a small proportion of the hundreds of types of plastics can be recycled by conventional technology, but there are other things we can do to reuse plastics after they've served their original purpose. Researchers at Swansea University have been looking into how food packaging can be used to create new materials like wires for electricity, helping to reduce the amount of plastic waste in the future.

The research, published in The Journal for Carbon Research, focuses on chemical recycling, which uses the constituent elements of the plastic to make new materials. While all plastics are made of carbon, hydrogen and sometimes 26

OR PROBLEMS WITH LTHOUGH THEY LAST G TIME, MOST ARE TER ONLY ONE USE.

Carbon nanotubes are tiny molecules with incredible physical properties.

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oxygen, the amounts and arrangements of these three elements make each plastic unique. As plastics are very pure and highly refined chemicals, they can be broken down into these elements and then bonded in different arrangements to make highvalue materials such as carbon nanotubes. In theory, the only side products from doing this should be oxygen and hydrogen.

Dr Alvin Orbaek White, a Sêr Cymru II Fellow at the Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) at Swansea University, said, “Carbon nanotubes are tiny molecules with incredible physical properties. The structure of a carbon nanotube looks (like) a piece of chicken wire wrapped into a cylinder, and when carbon is arranged like this, it can conduct both heat and electricity. These two different forms of energy are each very important to control and use in the right quantities, depending on your needs.

“Nanotubes can be used to make a huge range of things, such as conductive films for touchscreen displays, flexible electronics fabrics that create energy, antennas for 5G networks, while NASA 28

“NANOTUBES CAN USED TO MAKE A RANGE OF THIN NASA HAS USED T TO PREVENT ELEC SHOCKS ON THE J SPACECRAFT”

During the study, the research team tested plastics, in particular black plastics, which are commonly used as packaging for ready meals and fruit and vegetables in supermarkets, but cannot be easily recycled. They removed the carbon and then constructed nanotube molecules from the bottom up using the carbon atoms, and used the nanotubes to transmit electricity to a light bulb in a small demonstrator model.

Black Plastics

Nanotubes are 80,000 times thinner than a human hair – in fact, they are virtually as thin as DNA strands, but being made of carboncarbon bonds also gives them diamond-like strength.

They are so strong they're

Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

N BE HUGE NGS. THEM CTRIC JUNO ”

has used them to prevent electric shocks on the Juno spacecraft.”

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considered the ideal material for a proposed space elevator.

Now the research team plans to make high-purity carbon electrical cables using waste plastic materials, and to improve the nanotube material's electrical performance and increase the output, so they are ready for large-scale deployment in the next three years. This could help solve the problem of electricity cables overheating and failing, as it is believed that around 8 per cent of the world’s electricity is lost in transmission and distribution.

This might not seem like much, but it is low because electricity cables are short, which means that power stations have to be close to the location where electricity is used, otherwise the energy is lost in transmission. Many long-range cables (which are made of metals) cannot operate at full capacity because they would overheat and melt. This is a real issue for a renewable energy future using wind or solar, because the best sites are far from where people live.

Dr Orbaek White said, “The research is significant. I've spent several years learning what's important to get the best electrical performance from carbon wires.

To do this, I first specialised in 30

creating the highest quality nanotubes using the most appropriate methods to make best the conductor. I mapped out the best reaction conditions which gave us the ability to use black plastics as a feedstock.

“Sticking to my motto of ‘no carbon left behind’, we are also developing new ways to quickly and economically convert plastics using this chemical recycling method. Any carbon that escapes our process is a loss to us, and could be a pollutant.

So, we aim to keep this to an absolute minimum by capturing the carbon after each step using chemical scrubbers to capture carbon from the exhaust gas, so it can be upcycled again and again, until we've used as much of the original carbon as physically possible.

“We are also looking at using other forms of carbon waste to make nanomaterials. Plastics are a known problem, but there are lots of other carbon materials, such as tyres, papers, paints, solvents and refrigerants, that don't always have an end-oflife plan. The plastics problem is growing at the rate of plastic use, with only a very small amount of them being reused. But, our research shows that we can use today's problem to make tomorrow's materials.”

OF THE WORLD’S ELECTRICITY IS LOST IN TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

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for more industry news, check out their latest podcast! tech-talks.co.uk 32

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4D PRINTING

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We explore what exactly 4D printing is all about, how it works, as well as possible future applications.

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4D printing is not a term that man people will have encountered, an that’s because it’s a technology t very much in its infancy – right n still has a long way to go before be adopted at a practical scale. S with this in mind, we take a glimpse into the world of this advancing tech of the future.

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ny nd that’s now, it e it can So,

What is 4D printing?

Also known as ‘additive manufacturing’, 4D printing refers to the creation of physical objects from digital blueprints by building them up layer by layer. It uses special materials and sophisticated designs that are programmed to prompt your 3D print to change its shape post-production – a trigger may be water, heat, wind or any other form of energy. In this way, 4D printing differs from 3D printing by adding an element of time into the mix.

Instead of being static objects, 4D prints change form.

Who invented 4D printing?

It is impossible to pinpoint a single inventor, as 4D printing is currently being developed by a number of industry leaders and research facilities. Some of the most notable include 3D printing manufacturer, Stratasys, and 3D software company, Autodesk.

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How does 4D printing work?

As opposed to 3D printers, whose sole function is to create printing in 3D, 4D prints rely on the use of materials that react to stimulus and the accurate execution of designs that allow changes in the material to manifest as actual changes in the form of the final product.

Material and design therefore play essential roles in making 4D prints function as they are intended.

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In what kind of industry might 4D printing be used?

Imagine having a box that could automatically flatten itself for packing once it is impacted by some stimulus. It almost sounds unthinkable, the idea of a box going from 3D to 2D by flattening itself, but the impact that could have on the business world would be massive.

For example, a shipping company might have a warehouse where they store all of their boxes.

Whenever they receive a shipment of goods, they remove the goods from the boxes for delivery to their individual sites, and then they flatten the boxes to ship them back out to their departure point to be re-used for other shipments.

A workforce is required to constantly break down the boxes for shipment back out, and they are paid a basic hourly rate. Having boxes that flatten themselves upon stimuli could save the company a considerable amount of money each year.

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“One of the more entertaining applications of 4D printing is a robot made completely from a smart material – a combination of polyaniline and polypyrrole doped with tetrafluoroborate�

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s

Material How an object reacts to a stimulus and what type of stimulus it needs to undergo a deformation are heavily dependent on the material from which it was made. Research on material development is still ongoing, but there have already been a lot of successful trails for hydrophilic materials that swell when submerged in water.

There have also been polymer gels that exhibit hydrophilic properties, but only when subjected to a certain threshold temperature. When exposed to higher temperatures, these polymer gels tend to dehydrate and shrink.

Polymers combined with photoinitiator compounds can undergo deformation when exposed to light by allowing the photoinitiator to get consumed and continue the polymerisation process. This effectively provides more material for the polymer, making it expand.

Design 4D prints aren’t just sophisticated sponges – they are deliberately designed to take advantage of material deformation to take on an intended shape or form.

This is done by incorporating a series of joints and hinges in a design that will respond to deformation in a predictable manner. 4D prints can also be designed with fibre architecture, allowing anisotropic expansion, or expansion.

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What other future applications of 4D printing are there?

Many scientists are optimistic about the possibilities that 4D printing could open up, with revolutionary effects in the construction, utilities and medical industries.

For example, 4D materials could be used to build roads, bridges and walls with self-healing properties. Pipes that crack in cold weather could expand and fill in the gaps, effectively repairing themselves. It might even be possible to order furniture that assembles itself in the future.

Smart materials may also offer solutions to various logistical problems of trade and commerce.

Computer scientist, Skylar Tibbits, has elaborated how 4D printing could create products that can be packaged flat and assembled at their destination with just a simple electronic stimulus. There might even be clothing that can expand or grow sleeves when exposed to cold temperatures.

One of the more entertaining applications of 4D printing is a robot made completely from a smart material – a combination of polyaniline and polypyrrole doped with tetrafluoroborate. When treated with an electrical stimulus, this material rapidly expands. By shocking individual parts of the robot, it can be made to move using its various appendages. In the same vein, there are also magnetically responsive ferrogels that can respond and align to a magnetic field. These types of materials can be developed for better drug delivery systems or responsive particles that aid cell growth.

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What’s next for 4D printing?

As mentioned above, 4D printing is still in the adolescent stages of becoming a science, but there are a few concentrated groups of scientists who believe it may become one of the fastest growing technologies in the not-too-distant future. Current research and product testing will eventually lead to amazing inventions‌ Expect adaptive medical implants, self-assembling buildings, and even 4D-printed soft robots.

The myriad of uses that we can anticipate from 4D printing technology are very exciting, promising to make our lives easier, and it’s no wonder that scientists are working hard to explore the wide range of possibilities.

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B U S I N E S S I N T E RV I E W

The Bu Effe

Bryn Jones, CTO Britain’s first app-on explains how digital the energy

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utterfly ect

O at Pure Planet, nly energy company, is fast transforming y industry.

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With consumers increasingly keen to move to greener energy, Pure Planet was ahead of the ga when it launched back in 2016. ith the aim of helping to build a cleaner Britain, CTO, Bryn Jones, along with the company’s founders, have created a sustainable business model with digital at its core.

Bryn explained, “The way we looked at it, from a renewable energy perspective, was how can we offer green energy rather than power that pollutes? At the time, green fuel was around 20 per cent more expensive, so the challenge we set ourselves was to sell it cheaper so more people would take it up, helping towards the zero carbon footprint in the UK.” Energy companies typically have a culture of manual interventions, with a failure to focus on their members, but 48

Bryn Jones, CTO today’s tech-savvy consumer requires a platform that’s transparent and easy to use.

Bryn said, “We launched our app first, before moving to a wider digital platform. With a background in mobile, the founders and I looked at the energy industry and saw it was ripe for transformation. There was a real lack of trust, putting people on tariffs that were low at the beginning but allowed

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customers to roll over onto high priced deals, often without them realising. We wanted to create a more transparent and honest business with a focus on the customer, whilst making green energy more affordable.”

Pure Planet’s proposition is paperless, resulting in a lower carbon footprint, but one of its biggest attractions is its zero mark-up single tariff. Using the strength of the company’s ownership (BP owns 25 per cent), all members are put on a single tariff that goes up or down according to energy prices.

Bryn explained, “All members, new and old, have confidence in knowing that they are not going to get ripped off. We also

A small IT team works alongside the partners who offer the expertise, allowing the company to focus on the member experience” without being tied down with the delivery of solutions. wanted to make sure that it was simple to set up, with members being able to join within two minutes of getting a quote. Our app and digital interface provide all the information you need to manage your account, send meter readings and understand the charges. The paperless bills are very clear to read.”

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Zero markup Zero hassle Zero Guilt But, Pure Planet’s journey has not been without the odd stumbling block. Bryn said, “One difficulty we faced was a cultural issue within the energy industry. When working with suppliers and people who joined us from other companies, we had the cultural issue of the failure to focus on customers and continuous service improvement. People having the right mind-set is crucial. The data in the industry is also poor, and when you have an automated business, the data behind you needs to be robust.”

With an emphasis on integrating with best of breed partners, rather than building the platform in-house, another big challenge for Bryn was to ensure all partners were

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working effectively together. He said, “We have lead the way in collaborating with our partners and helping to drive out industry problems. The key principles of our solution are digital, intelligent, and agile. We have taken an approach to integrate best of breed platforms and services to deliver that solution.”

Pure Planet is cloud-first, giving the business strength to make it sustainable and robust. A small IT team works alongside the partners who offer the expertise, allowing the company to focus on the member experience without being tied down with the delivery of solutions. An intelligent AI solution called WattBot enables interaction with Pure Planet’s members, as Bryn explained, “This is the first port of call for any help.

You ask the bot a question and he will respond with either the right answer, a link to the right answer, or if you need help with our member services, he will put you into a chat with them. WattBot has built up his capabilities over the last 12 months, so he is now answering 60 per cent of all questions instantly.”

“Bryn is very proud of the vibrant community Pure Planet has built, offering help to one another as well as discussing the wider issues surrounding sustainability�

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Bryn is very proud of the vibrant community Pure Planet has built, offering help to one another as well as discussing the wider issues surrounding sustainability.

He added, “We call them our Zero Heroes. They work with each other to solve questions and they have the ability to chat about topics such as plastic-free shampoos and electric vehicles.

We have over 25,000 people in that community.”

Two of Pure Planet’s trusted partners include Utiligroup and Torry Harris Business Solutions.

Utiligroup offer integration into the energy industry. Bryn explained, “As a supplier of energy, we provide the front-

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end to customers and the retail aspect of the business. Behind that, you have the distribution, wholesale etc. Utiligroup are responsible for all the integration via their platform. We are working closely with them on improving the integration of services to get a better end-toend experience.”

Torry Harris has been critical in the delivery of Pure Planet’s integration capability across all its platforms and operations management. Bryn said, “We wanted to make sure we knew about any technical problems before our members. A digital businesses needs to be 24/7, so Torry Harris have worked with

Forging Digital Ecosystems A recognized leader in API Strategy & delivery, we bring 20+ years of focused integration expertise to build meaningful digital ecosystems.

Torry Harris is helping Pure Planet, Britain’s first app-based renewable energy supplier, to build its API-driven digital ecosystem.

Learn more:

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Copyright Š 2019 Torry Harris Business Solutions

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The Founders

Steve Day

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Chris Alliott

en y Andrew Ralston

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us to ensure all our partners and systems are collating information that would tell us if there was a service issue, as well as helping to resolve it and notifying key business members.”

With the ongoing goal of establishing itself as a brand in the energy sector, Pure Planet aims to become a key player in the industry, having enjoyed recent recognition in The Times top tech companies to watch.

Bryn added, “We were very proud to be identified and listed.

It was perhaps surprising for us to be recognised as one of the companies to watch so early on.”

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“We are pushing h integrating smart digital experience to our members a that capability int digital service, an asking how we ca services into our p

hard on t meters into the e, rolling them out and integrating to our app and nd we are always an integrate other platform” – Bryn Jones, CTO

Adding new services so members can be even more sustainable, Bryn and his team are constantly thinking about the next step in working towards a cleaner Britain. He concluded, “We are pushing hard on integrating smart meters into the digital experience, rolling them out to our members and integrating that capability into our app and digital service, and we are always asking how we can integrate other services into our platform.”

For further information on Pure Planet, visit www.purepla.net

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DIARY DATES Minds & Tech 9 October

39 AllĂŠe Jules Guesde, 31000 Toulouse, France

World Summit AI 9-10 October

Taets Park, Hemkade 16, 1506 PR Amsterdam, The Netherlands

SaaStock 14-16 October

Various locations in Dublin, Ireland

Artificial Intelligence Conference 14-17 October Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, London, W2 1JU, UK

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SECURITY

WHAT’S THE BIGGER ISSUE?

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When it comes to the world of IoT, security has long been a key concern. But, these days, privacy is fast becoming an even bigger threat.

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We have seen a flood of IoT privacy issues in the last few months, with experts warning that users should be paying very careful attention to what happens to the data collected

by IoT devices. lthough most of the concern has come on the consumer side, companies are also vulnerable to their information being improperly shared or misused. And, as a result, they could face backlash from their customers if they are seen as not properly safeguarding the data that they collect via the IoT. In fact, it is estimated that over half of consumers distrust devices to protect their privacy and handle information in a responsible manner.

Take Ring as a case in point, the IoT doorbell company now owned by Amazon.

Ring is reportedly working with police departments to build a video surveillance network in residential neighbourhoods. Police in

more than 50 towns and cities are apparently offering free or discounted Ring doorbells, sometimes requiring the recipients to share footage for use in investigations.

While Ring touts the security benefits of working with law enforcement, it has asked police departments to end the practice of requiring users to hand over footage, as it appears to violate the devices’ terms of service.

Many privacy advocates are troubled by this degree of cooperation between the police and Ring, but that’s only part of the problem. Last year, for example, Ring workers in the Ukraine reportedly watched customer feeds. And according to Motherboard, “Ring is using video captured by its doorbell cameras in

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"While Ring touts the security benefits of working with law enforcement, it has asked police departments to end the practice of requiring users to hand over footage, as it appears to violate the devices’ terms of service" 66

Facebook advertisements that ask users to identify and call the cops on a woman whom local police say is a suspected thief.� While the police are apparently appreciative of the “additional eyes that may see this woman and recognise her,� the advert calls the woman a thief, even though she has not been charged with a crime, much less convicted!

In many cases, IoT privacy complaints come down to what users are getting in return for giving up their

privacy. For instance, while drivers may get a discount on car insurance in return for sharing their driving data, that relationship is hardly set in stone. It may not be long before drivers have to give up their data in order to get insurance in the first place.

However, no matter how many legal or technical protections are put in place, there is always the worry that data may be revealed or used in unforeseen ways.

So, how can developers help to protect the privacy of endusers as much as possible?

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Security First By taking a deliberate approach to building data privacy and security into every layer of their app, developers can best protect against threats.

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Encrypt Everything Use strong encryption across all devices and networks, and never allow users to export data beyond its native application.

Role-Based Authentication

Multiple Access Layers

Each user in the structure should be anonymised so they are only traceable through event streams with privileged knowledge.

Every data store should have mandatory access controls, and those for interfaces and web application services should have discretionary access controls, along with the necessary security logins and firewalls.

Log, Log, Log

Trusted Vendors

Log all security events within the platform in one centralised place, alongside access to an audit trail.

Only partner with vendors that are compliant and put safety first.

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"As the IoT industry is in no way standardised or regulated, it can be a bit of a headache for end-users"

Ensuring IoT security and therefore privacy can be a big undertaking, especially for smaller companies with limited IT resources. That is why many successful organisations are partnering with managed hosting providers to help keep their business data private and secure, thus transferring the risk to a trusted partner.

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As the IoT industry is in no way standardised or regulated, it can be a bit of a headache for end-users.

As a result, the move to drive IoT device makers to take a privacy-by-design approach is encouraged, especially in the wake of the Ring doorbell concerns. Perhaps this is something governments might seek to make law if developers fail to take heed?

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FUTURE IoT

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ABI Research predicts 24 million satellite-linked IoT connections by 2024.

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“TERRESTRIAL CELLULAR NETWORKS ONLY COVER 20 PER CENT OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE, WHILE SATELLITE NETWORKS CAN COVER THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE GLOBE, FROM POLE TO POLE” Harriet Sumnall, Research Analyst at ABI Research

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ABI RESEARCH PROVIDES STRATEGIC GUIDANCE TO VISIONARIES... ...delivering actionable intelligence on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies and workforces around the world.

In a recent report, the company announced that there will be 24 million IoT connections made via satellite in the next five years, unveiling the longterm opportunity within the satellite space for the growth of IoT deployments, particularly in application verticals, such as agriculture and asset tracking, which are dealing with the unreliability of terrestrial infrastructures.

Harriet Sumnall, Research Analyst at ABI Research, said, “Terrestrial cellular networks

only cover 20 per cent of the earth’s surface, while satellite networks can cover the entire surface of the globe, from pole to pole. The expansion of the satellite constellations that are currently in orbit, and those due to take place, will allow for connectivity to be more global.

While the market using satellite connection is still immature, it shows great opportunities for growth.”

The report, titled ‘Satellite in IoT: New Satellite Networks for New Wave of IoT Investment’, indicates that the application segments that are expected to see significant growth include agriculture tracking, asset tracking, maritime tracking and aviation tracking. Maritime and aviation tracking are 75

“SATELLITES ARE PLAYING A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE GROWTH OF IOT DEPLOYMENTS WORLDWIDE”

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two important markets for the satellite space, as both sectors lack terrestrial infrastructures within their locations.

Aerial & Maritime (A&M) is one such vendor serving these industries. The company provides cost-effective aircraft ADS-B surveillance and ship AIS tracking from constellations of nanosatellites. This technology is a game-changer in this industry space, and recent initiatives demonstrate the high-end tracking capabilities from large satellites in multi-constellations.

Although this is yet to be considered a cost-efficient process, it is expected to become more so with upcoming Software Defined Radio technology,

making it is possible to use nano-satellites for these actions.

Moreover, the larger and more well-known satellite providers, such as Inmarsat and GlobalStar, are facing new competition from many new start-up constellations from vendors like Amazon and SpaceX, which are launching Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

In April, Amazon confirmed its plans to launch a constellation of 3,236 satellites for global internet connectivity. Known as ‘Project Kuiper’, the project aims to cover a cover a range

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JEFF BEZOS DISCUSSES PROJECT KUIPER

between the 56th parallel north and the 56th parallel south.

If achieved, it would provide connectivity to around 95 per cent of the world's population.

LEO satellites, however, are costly in the set-up of the constellations, as many satellites are required to give the coverage that vendors are offering. But, in the long run, they are more cost-effective than the larger traditional satellites for these applications.

The conventional satellite providers will not only have to consider driving their prices down to become more competitive than

the newcomers, but also be sure they stay relevant within the market.

Harriet added, “Once the market becomes more successful and has matured, the pricing strategies will drop overall, allowing the satellite IoT connectivity options to compete against terrestrial connectivity options.�

What is clear is that satellites are playing a very important role in the growth of IoT deployments worldwide, ensuring seamless global connectivity in the years to come.

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D ATA

STARTIN POINT 80

NG T

A holistic data strategy is key to successful digital transformation.

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owever, unless they have a robust data strategy in place, the road to digital transformation will be a bumpy one. It is impossible to reap the rewards of AI, whether it’s improved customer service or increased productivity, without knowing where to start on your digital transformation journey.

Creating the right data strategy is the first step for any organisation

– a strategy that will harness all the information typically gathered and processed by today’s businesses in a clear and useful manner. At the heart of any data strategy should be the aim to reach a single point of truth, but the sheer amount of data that most companies need to process, together with the various forms that data can take, is often a major barrier to achieving this vision. Take,

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for example, a large company with several different customer-facing locations, each with its own master sets of data. As each set has been captured independently by location, there is no simple way to report on what an individual customer is buying across those locations. This can have all kinds of implications, while storing data on disparate systems also means a company is potentially missing out on valuable business insights.

For optimal data intelligence, data needs to be cleansed. Most businesses don’t know about the majority of data they have, what it is, or where it is stored. So, the first task when formulating any data strategy is to find it all. Next, it’s important to identify and discard anything that’s no longer valuable. Not only is this very important when meeting GDPR regulations, but it is also a waste of time and money to store decadesold data that no longer has any benefit.

Once the data has been cleansed, it’s ready to be stored in a centralised data lake, making it

“A SOLID BACK-UP AND RECOVERY PLAN IS THEREFORE A VITAL ELEMENT OF ANY DATA STRATEGY” easier to manage and analyse.

Think about all potential formats, from emails and documents, to databases. Without a clear view of your data, you could be missing out on all kinds of opportunities to utilise it. Once you’ve finished your data audit, your next aim should be to make it all accessible, via cloud-based services, for example.

Organisations should choose a platform that is easy to scale in both capacity and performance, and think about what format their data should take. With such important information being held together in one place, the issue of security is now more important than ever. A solid back-up and recovery plan is therefore a vital element of any data strategy.

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SECURITY Look for systems that use solid data protection policies

FORM

Consider wh you need yo be avail

TRANSLATION TOOLS A translation mechanism (such as Kafka) makes it possible to manage data across different apps

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MAT

SCALABILITY

hat format our data to lable in

Choose a platform that will scale according to the demands of your business

LOCATION Opt for cloud-based services to start with, as on-site data centres are expensive

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Once you have gathered, cleansed and stored your organisation’s data in one secure place, the next step is to think about what you want from your data i.e. what kind of insights will make a difference to your business... What would have the biggest impact? What are the business problems you would like to solve?

A clear set of objectives is crucial, and once you’ve agreed them, you can do a test-run.

Test your questions against a smaller set of data to reveal if you are asking the right kind of questions, and whether the right algorithms are being used to answer them.

Each of these steps will contribute towards a successful data strategy, which should ultimately lead to a single point of truth. Achieve this, and your business is ready to embark on digital transformation and take advantage of the business opportunities that AI-driven data analytics can deliver, ensuring real competitive advantage.

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“A CLEAR SET OF OBJECTIVES IS CRUCIAL, AND ONCE YOU’VE AGREED THEM, YOU CAN DO A TEST-RUN” 89

IN THE SP OTLIGHT

START-UP OF THE MONTH A global leader in gamifying learning in the workplace, Kahoot! aims to make presentations and training more engaging.

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he team at Kahoot! is on a mission to make learning fun by unlocking the potential of every learner through games. With the determination to improve education all over the world, regardless of age, aptitude or circumstance, Kahoot! believes it has the power to unleash the magic of learning.

Having devised a games-based platform that makes learning inclusive, replacing the need to look down into textbooks or devices, learners are encouraged to look up while playing and connect with each other. For

Kahoot!, this kind of engagement is fundamental to the whole learning process.

So, where did the idea come from?

A few years ago, several talented entrepreneurs – Johan Brand, Jamie Brooker and Morten Versvik – put their heads together to make learning enjoyable. In a joint project with the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, they teamed up with Professor Alf Inge Wang, and were later joined by Norwegian entrepreneur Åsmund Furuseth.

Kahoot! was launched in private beta in March 2013 at SXSWedu.

In September 2013, the beta was opened to the public, and it’s been quite a ride ever since! Today, the Kahoot! movement spans far beyond classrooms – it is played in business training sessions, at sporting and cultural events, and even between family and friends.

A spokesperson for Kahoot! said, “Building a company with learning

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2 billion players since launch More than 2 billion players have played on the Kahoot! platform cumulatively since it launched it in 2013.

200+ countries Kahoot! has been played in all countries in the world. at its heart, we chose to address the classroom first, but it seems game-based learning is now a pop culture phenomenon!

We are a vibrant, diverse, hard-working bunch who are passionate about building something truly amazing, and have a lot of fun doing so!�

60 million Kahoot! games Kahoot! lets you create a game for any subject, in any topic, in any language, in minutes.

20 million corporate players Kahoot! is used in different settings beyond classrooms and had 20 million participating players in organisations in 2018.

97% of Fortune 500 As of October 2018, 97 per cent of Fortune 500 companies use Kahoot! for training, presentations, on-boarding, events and more.

The leadership team bases itself in various exciting tech hubs around the world, including Oslo and London, and is currently on the look-out for new talent to join the community.

For further information on Kahoot!, visit www.kahoot.com

$60million investment Kahoot! has raised $60 million in funding from Datum AS, Creandum, Northzone, M12 (formerly Microsoft Ventures), Accelerator Investments LLC (owned by Walt Disney Company) and private investors from Norway.

5 million teachers Five million teachers have hosted a Kahoot! in the last 12 months.

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