A connected product is a device or machine that collects, generates, or uses data and can transmit that data electronically or through another access method. Examples include industrial machines, sensors, vehicles, and smart building equipment. The important feature is not only that the device computes or measures something, but that it creates a data path outside the physical machine.
In cyber security, connected products matter because every data path is an access path. Remote portals, APIs, service dashboards, and device exports can become targets for abuse if authentication, authorization, encryption, logging, and revocation are weak. Attackers may try to steal operational data, alter telemetry, or misuse authorized access through third parties. Defenders need to design least-privilege sharing, strong identity controls, and clear data boundaries so the product can communicate safely without exposing sensitive machine or user data.