## 4 Results and Discussion
### Discussion
Addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring that IoT systems are secure, efficient, and capable of scaling across different industries. To address these challenges and promote IoT adoption, businesses in the Silicon Mountain ecosystem can implement mitigation strategies to minimize data privacy risks (such as end-to-end encryption, anonymization schemes, introspection, blockchain, access control, physical security, edge processing, etc.) and mitigation strategies address the security risks (such as device authentication, regular firmware updates, network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, etc.) [58]. IoT interoperability was also identified as another major challenge impeding IoT adoption in the Silicon Mountain tech ecosystem. Interoperability refers to the ability of different IoT devices and platforms to communicate and work together seamlessly. A lack of standardization in IoT hardware, software, and communication protocols makes it difficult for devices from different manufacturers to interact, posing a major challenge for IoT adoption in Silicon Mountain. The absence of interoperability can lead to fragmentation, high integration cost, and limited scalability [59]. To enhance IoT interoperability within the Silicon Mountain ecosystem, the use of open standards (MQTT, CoAP, Zigbee, etc.) and middleware solutions can be adopted [60]. The development of robust and scalable IoT infrastructure is also crucial for fostering the adoption of IoT technologies in emerging ecosystems like Silicon Mountain. In particular, leveraging innovations such as fog computing can significantly enhance the performance and scalability of IoT systems by processing data closer to the edge, thus reducing latency and improving response times. According to the research by [PERSON] et al. [61], the Spine-Leaf Network Topology, combined with fog computing, offers an effective approach for managing the scalability challenges of IoT datacenters. This framework facilitates the seamless integration of numerous IoT devices by decentralizing data processing and management, which can be particularly valuable for regions with limited network infrastructure, like Silicon Mountain. Given the infrastructural challenges and connectivity limitations in Central African ecosystems, adopting such scalable IoT solutions could accelerate the deployment of IoT technologies across sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and urban management. Digital literacy was also found to be one of the key factors inhibiting IoT adoption in developing countries due to the low-level of digital literacy within the population [62]. In this study, we consider digital literacy as the ability to effectively use digital technologies, including understanding how IoT devices function and how to leverage them for personal, professional, or industrial purposes. Based on this definition, the level of digital literacy in the Silicon Mountain tech ecosystem is low as many individuals in the region lack the necessary skills or understanding to fully engage with IoT technologies. This study identified labor shortage resulting from this low level of digital literacy in the region as a major challenge to IoT adoption, with a mean score of 3.760. This challenge is closely related to inadequate education on the IoT and the absence of specialized university courses in this emerging technology within the region [63]. These findings are consistent with the results of [PERSON] [64], who noted that a shortage of skilled labor in the IoT, data science, and other technical fields could contribute to the migration of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates seeking better opportunities elsewhere. The scarcity of formal IoT programs in universities exacerbates this issue, as companies are hesitant to adopt new technologies without the assurance of having access to qualified personnel for operation, maintenance, and support. Improving digital literacy is crucial for expanding IoT adoption across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, and education.