_With the arrival of more sophisticated technology, the industry is destined to become more efficient, sustainable, and user-oriented. _

The Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) are arising as crucial tools to improve the efficiency and efficacy of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry (HVAC-R), radically transforming the way the industry operates and develops itself.

“We are seeing an increasing demand due to the introduction of new technology aiding the decision-making in all areas of the industry, from projects to the follow-up of the facilities’ operation,” mentions Rodnei Peres, Deputy Director of Full Gauge Controls.

In the digital era, connectivity has become one of the most relevant trends in the market, with IoT playing an important role, in accordance with the director.

In his evaluation, with the arrival of more sophisticated technology, the industry is destined to become more efficient, sustainable, and user-oriented.

In general, IoT and AI, with concrete impact evidence, are allowing more strategic management of HVAC-R systems, mainly in predictive maintenance and failure prevention, resulting in higher power efficiency and minimizing the environmental impact.

In the cold chain, specifically, sensors can continuously monitor the environment’s temperature and humidity, warranting that perishable and other products are stored and transported under ideal conditions. The data gathered may be remotely accessed, which enables the facilities’ managers to make informed decisions to avoid losses, even at points of sale.

Furthermore, the GPS use in IoT devices allows for tracking the refrigerated cargo's exact location in transit. This tracking capability increases transparency, allows quick responses before interruptions, and helps warrant the products’ integrity to their final destination.

AI, on the other hand, is aiding in demand forecasting and resources efficient management. Through analyzing power consumption patterns, AI may, for example, automatically adjust the commercial refrigeration equipment set-up to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.

All in all, IoT and AI are redefining cold chain management, which transforms challenges into opportunities for the industry and the service providers when implementing smart controls in refrigeration and climatization systems.

“The ever-standing challenge is making our solutions reach the top of the HVAC-R chain, warranting that new technologies are accessible to all involved parties,” he mentions.

At the rate IoT and AI are evolving, the need to protect smart devices has become critical today. In the case of Brazil’s southern industry, “we always use closed protocols for a higher safety and security of users,” ensures Peres. This highlights the importance of safekeeping the digital infrastructure in an ever-connected environment.

Refrigeration and air conditioning systems, because they are crucial to several industries, are potential targets for cybercrime. If they are not correctly protected, the control systems may be easily invaded by hackers.

Many IoT devices are managed without adequate security requirements, making them vulnerable to attacks. To fight threats, the specialists recommend a series of protective measures.

This includes regularly updating your software, replacing obsolete equipment that is not receiving support from the manufacturers anymore, implementing complex password policies, and constantly monitoring networks and access with zero trust security verification.

One of the most famous cases of vulnerability in the industry was communicated in February 2019, when the refrigeration systems controlled by thermal gauges manufactured by RDM, a controllers company based in Scotland, presented security breaches that could be exploited by hackers, in accordance with an online report from Safety Detective security specialists.

These failures, in accordance with the collective, would allow invaders to access the devices and modify their temperature setups, impacting the industries that use them, including hospitals and supermarket chains.

Then, a search in Shodan, a way to search for devices connected to the internet, revealed 7.419 vulnerable facilities located mainly in Russia, Malaysia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, and Iceland.

Modifying the refrigeration setups may result in grave consequences, especially in hospitals, where refrigerators store vaccines, medication, and organs, among other pharmaceutical materials.

In accordance with Safety Detective, invaders may access the vulnerable control systems of the company through web browsers, only needing the device's correct address (URL).

“We trained our secretary on how to find other online devices, and she quickly found a freezing plant in Germany and a hospital in the United Kingdom using only Google,” they alerted.