What is the Internet of Things (Iot)?

Connected smart devices, ubiquitous wireless connectivity, and scalable cloud-based computing have created the platform for the Internet of Things (IoT). These IoT platforms allow organizations to monitor, control, optimize and automate their operations in ways that were previously unimaginable. In many industries, IoT is disrupting traditional business models, leaving companies wondering the fundamentals.

This is leading many public and private sector organizations to wonder how they can use IoT to create new sources of value. Some are using it to deliver new operational efficiencies. Remote asset management enables organizations to track assets in real time and make much more efficient use of their field equipment. Predictive maintenance reduces downtime by replacing parts before they fail. Real-time analytics help employees make better decisions. And intelligent IoT systems can automate repetitive and predictable processes.

IoT systems

The Internet of Things extends Internet connectivity beyond traditional devices such as desktops and laptops, smartphones and tablets to a wide range of everyday things and devices that use embedded technology to communicate and interact with the external environment, all via Internet.

But, at the moment, there is a wide range of technology that can be accurately described as enabling IoT. Only at the network level, there is Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, RFID, Wi-Fi, cellular, Z-Wave, 6LowPAN, Thread, NFC, Sigfox, Neul, LoRaWAN, Alljoyn, IoTivity, Weave, Homekit, MQTT, CoAP, JSON-LD, and many more that can and do play a role in IoT implementations.

IoT applications

IoT systems have application development in all industries through their unique flexibility and ability to adapt to any environment. They improve data collection, automation, operations, and more through smart devices and powerful enablement technology.

IoT is everywhere, but there are certainly some verticals where it is more prevalent. Heavy industry is possibly the sector that has been working with IoT concepts for the longest time, thanks to SCADA and robotics, and has its own subtype of IoT: Industrial IoT, or often just IIoT. Sharing data for operational and maintenance purposes makes industrial equipment much more responsive and useful, and it also creates a much safer working environment.

IoT security

IoT security is the work area related to the protection of connected devices and networks in the Internet of Things (IoT). The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they think of IoT security is encryption. If you are one of those people, don’t worry, you are not totally wrong. Encryption is an important component of security, but it is only part of the whole story. However, on its own, encryption does not provide security in the way that most people tend to think.

Security, like most things, has a curve of diminishing returns versus cost. What IoT requires is a good balance of reasonably robust security measures that are inexpensive and massively scalable. The first major problem is that a compromised IoT device can, in some cases, provide access to a company’s network for a malicious actor. A poorly secured smart TV, a security camera – anything that accesses the network is a potential vector for an attack.

IoT interoperability

The full benefits of the Internet of Things are only realized when a large number of devices can interact with each other, and therein lies a big problem. The number of different players in the market covers a wide range, both horizontally, in terms of functionality, and vertically, between different industries.

With a large number of companies “doing IoT,” most big-name tech companies including Google, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Intel, and IBM have various types of IoT games, all working to attract as many users as possible. possible to their respective ecosystems, sometimes the motivation to make sure that different companies’ IoT systems and devices work with each other is lacking.

IoT platforms

One IoT device connects to another to transmit information using Internet transfer protocols. IoT platforms serve as a bridge between device sensors and data networks.

The following are some of the main IoT platforms on the market today:

Amazon web services

Microsoft Azure

ThingWorx IoT platform

IBM Watson

Cisco IoT Cloud Connect

Salesforce IoT Cloud

Integrated Oracle Cloud

GE Predix