Internet of things technology was deployed in the Department of Defense long before IoT became a buzzword. But outdated technology stays in the field longer than might be desired, according to Charles Wells, who works on DOD projects at Symantec. Recent events, namely the Mirai botnet attack, have increased the urgency for securing devices that are connected to the internet, which typically means patching or updating software. But there are too many IoT devices in DOD to make that practical. "We've got a proliferation of sensors on the battlefield today," Wells told the audience at a May 9 IoT Tech Summit hosted by the Washington, D.C., Chapter of Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.