The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to smart,
interconnected devices and technology that millions of people use from day to
day – and, as it happens, not just at home.
Nobody going on vacation wants to have to waste time on
looking for things to do, searching for lost luggage, and even checking in and
out of airports. IoT devices, such as smart luggage tags, connected vehicles,
hotel room locks, and digital wallets, are all helping to make trips around the
world more efficient and easier to customize.
And yet, there will always be security risks – and one of
the biggest IoT vulnerabilities lies in the networks they are connected to. eSIMs, however
– which help travelers to stay connected to stable networks wherever they go –
seem to hold the key to IoT security success on the move.
How Do eSIMs Help to Improve Travel Security?
An international eSIM, by
definition, is a downloadable SIM card that allows users to connect to multiple
networks around the world, removing the need to leap onto public WiFi and to
insert a different SIM for every location.
The eSIM has quickly become an essential facet in any smart
ecosystem – in the sense that it unlocks doors to complete global connectivity
for the devices that use its technology. At the very least, eSIMs help IoT
devices to connect and verify with each other much faster than through public
or standardized WiFi networks, and they can also switch between available
networks seamlessly – there is zero need for manual reconfigurations or
tweaking.
And yet, this is purely from a basic IoT perspective. When
it comes to travel security, eSIMs can provide consumers and experience
providers with enhanced protection, building up a more reliable, flexible
digital ecosystem that needs very little manual oversight.
At the base level, eSIMs are provisioned with enhanced data
encryption, meaning users can feel safer that IoT devices that use their
financial and travel information (such as wearable tech that uses digital
boarding passes, GPS tags, and wallet cards) scramble private details in
transit.
Remote provisioning also helps service providers and end
users avoid SIM swapping, which in itself carries considerable fraud risks.
Instead of swapping SIMs, devices can simply leap from one available network to
another, seamlessly, allowing for more devices to be connected to the same
chain where necessary.
This means that travel IoT technologies can always remain
online, allowing users to rely on automated room locking, airport checking, and
luggage tracking systems without fear of connectivity dropping out – and
hackers sneaking in to steal data.
There’s also the fact that it’s very difficult for criminals
to damage or steal eSIMs – they would need to attack an entire device – and
eSIMs are also easy for users to control and manage from remote terminals.
Further Benefits for Tourists
Tourists – regardless of where they may go – are looking for
convenience on their vacations. Thanks to IoT connectivity and eSIMs, they can
efficiently pass through airport terminals, check in and out of hotel rooms,
track and trace luggage, plan low-traffic routes, make payments – the list goes
on.
The introduction of eSIMs here ensures that tourists can
rely on whatever technology they use – from smartwatches to sensors – no matter
where they go. There’s none of the inherent danger posed by public WiFi
hotspots, which are frequently wide open to hackers – and there’s zero need to
swap SIMs out or to reconfigure devices on the move.
We ultimately need to think about the whole purpose of IoT –
which is to allow devices to connect with each other and to share real-time
data to help make life more convenient for their users. Vacationing can be
complex – planning is always a must, but then, there may be issues such as
delays, traffic, and weather that get in the way. Therefore, IoT devices used
by travelers need to be ready to react at any given moment to keep life
convenient.
Without eSIMs, the hypothetical smooth connectivity and
running of IoT devices almost becomes moot. Swapping out SIMs and leaping on
and off WiFi hotspots somewhat defeats the purpose of having technology that
can communicate with itself – if these devices drop out or become unsecure,
travelers are left high and dry.
Imagine losing connection to a smart tag on a piece of
luggage at a busy airport – if you don’t already have a physical, written tag,
you’d be forgiven for thinking your bags are gone for good!
Crucially, the pairing of eSIMs and IoT helps to give
travelers greater control over their belongings and what they do when they
travel – in years gone by, they have otherwise faced a variety of security
issues, and have been at the mercy of unpredictable weather, traffic,
administrative issues, and more besides.
Examples of Smart Travel Ecosystems and eSIMs in Practice
Let’s explore a few common examples of IoT ecosystems that
are supported by eSIM technology, and what the security and efficiency effects
are for travelers who use them.
Firstly, consider smartwatches – with eSIM connectivity,
users can ensure their bodies’ vitals are always tracked, and in some cases,
can raise alarms to emergency services if there is an unexpected spike in, say,
heart rate. Without seamless connectivity, emergency situations may go
unreported or even missed altogether. Thanks to eSIM encryption, sensitive
health data is always secure, too.
Then, there are connected cars – vehicles with smart
dashboards that provide users with real-time updates on traffic, potential
on-board issues, and allow drivers to connect entertainment seamlessly on the
go. On road trips, this connectivity can be immensely useful – and, with an
eSIM on board, there is no need to constantly park up and find WiFi hotspots
(it’s therefore much more secure, too).
From an infrastructure perspective, modern CCTV frequently
makes use of eSIMs to ensure that public areas are carefully monitored at all
times. When relying on spotty WiFi and public data, people such as tourists are
at risk of footage they may need going missing, getting broken up, or even
getting intercepted by trackers. You never know when you may need to rely on
CCTV, and that especially applies when visiting new countries.
Conclusively, it just makes basic sense for IoT devices to
utilize eSIMs to stay connected at all times, no matter where they are in the
world. That’s not just from a security perspective, but from one of efficiency,
too – and travelers can take full advantage by investing in and downloading
their own eSIMs to their devices.
