IoT proves to be a valuable technology for many organizations and sectors. If organizations can develop and standardize certain aspects of the IoT architecture, they can tap into the full potential of their investments. In this article, Kamal Rupareliya, chief of customer product success, Intuz, discusses the key factors to consider before designing IoT infrastructure.
Unlike a few technology fads of the past (remember, AOL, Napster, AltaVista?), the Internet of Things or IoT has proven extremely valuable for a range of organizations and sectors.
The technology has the potential to revolutionize all industries, from agriculture and healthcare to transportation and education. As per reports by IDC, the IoT global market revenue is predicted to reach approximately $1.1 trillion by 2025Opens a new window .
IoT promises a future where we can control almost every aspect of life remotely. In contrast to traditional data applications, the technology has no limit in terms of the number of devices deployed.
While the IoT invariably generates immense amounts of data, there is a heightened focus on harnessing and transmitting the information collected.
Obviously, the Internet infrastructure is going to face challenges as more sectors adopt it. Thus, we need wider access to create a better system for exchanging and storing our data while at the same time making efficient use of available technology.
Eight Components of IoT Infrastructure
If businesses develop and standardize certain aspects of the IoT architecture, they can tap into the full potential of their investments. They can prepare their IoT deployments successfully by understanding each infrastructural component and how they all work together. Here is a list of critical components that should not be ignored:
Eight Components of IoT Infrastructure
1. IoT sensors and actuators
They are connected through networks. Different types of sensorsOpens a new window measure factors such as humidity, motion, temperature, and pressure. Actuators control or take action. They include drones, controllers, and robotic arms.
Businesses use wireless networks to connect sensors and actuators. Depending on the IoT application, different technologies may be used, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Network design is critical to a successful deployment of an IoT system as it allows devices that communicate with each other over one network connection.
2. Internet gateways
They distribute computational power in edge computing scenarios. An example of this would be data processing at the “edge,†rather than relying on a central server for bulk work. Sensor data starts in analog form, later aggregated and converted into digital streams for processing downstream.Â
This can help to provide speed and flexibility while reducing network congestion or preventing outages from cloud-based systems.
3. Edge IT systems
They create a distributed network that can deliver faster insights, improved response times, and better bandwidth availability. They bring enterprise applications closer to data sources, such as IoT devices or local servers.
Learn More: Edge Computing: Why the Future Is Now
4. Cloud data center
This is a facility that a business uses to house its critical applications and data. It comprises the network’s computing resources, which enable the sharing of apps and data.
The data center’s components include routers, switches, firewalls, application delivery controllers, and storage systems servers. The main types of data centers are:
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- Enterprise data centers
- Managed services data centers
- Colocation data centers
- Cloud data centers
5. IoT cybersecurity
Security of the IoT infrastructure is crucial as it involves critical data transmission across devices. It can be secured by following the principle of security by design, which ensures that security is an essential objective at all stages in product creation and deployment.
This will help ensure better protection for IoT devices since it is designed with cybersecurity in mind from inception rather than being added at the later stages of the project.
The system becomes robust with this process compared to the other process of patching vulnerabilities after an attack. It involves three crucial steps:
- Risk analysis to identify vulnerabilities, probability of an attack, and its impact
- Deploying trusted digital devices to avoid device cloning, data tampering, or theft
- Storing IDs and credentials of digital devices in a tamper-resistant secure element
6. IoT communications platform
This is a hub that connects all system components and allows real-time monitoring of each of them. You can consolidate the different interfaces offered by the various connected devices into one unified interface for better management, security, and control over the whole network. It facilitates:
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- SNMP traps V1-V3
- PBX infrastructures
- Serial connection via ESPA 4.4.4
- Windows services and processes
- Standardized and proprietary interfaces
- LPWAN-based protocols such as LoRa, SigFox, or NB-IoT
- IP integrations via Modbus, KNX, HL7, BACNet, e-mail, ESPA-X, OPC, XML
- IP contact controller for analog signals such as temperature, pressure, and fluid levels
7. Analytics and aggregation platform
Analytics of IoT data is challenging as vast volumes of heterogeneous data from IoT devices must be processed. A combination of tools is required for processing, storing, and extracting business value from the data.
Businesses need access to a range of elements such as data lakes, processing frameworks, and analytics tools to produce accurate information in real-time for analysis. The different types of IoT analytics are:
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- Descriptive analytics
- Diagnostic analytics
- Predictive analytics
- Prescriptive analytics
8. Cloud facility
This provides services such as hosting, storage, and applications for computers of companies or individuals. The different types of off-premise forms are:
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- Public clouds (e.g., Amazon Web Services)
- Private clouds which use the servers and equipment owned by a business itself (e.g., OpenStack)
- Hybrid clouds which combine both on-premise facilities with their hardware along with third-party resources in the form of IoT app development kits from providers such as IBM Cloud or Microsoft Azure
Key Factors To Consider When Designing IoT Infrastructure
The IoT planning process is different for every business. Still, primarily, the data flows from sensors attached to “things†through a network and eventually on to a data center for processing, analysis, and storage.
These “things†could be a building, machine, or even a person. Before you start designing IoT infrastructure for your business, here are some factors to consider:
Key Factors To Consider When Designing IoT Infrastructure
1. Scalability
The scalability of your custom IoT solutions is one thing to consider when choosing a partner. You should ask whether scaling up will require time-consuming configuration efforts or significant investments in new hardware.
Ideally, the scale-up process should be simple and easy with minimal resources (including time, money, and workforce) required from you as a business.
Learn More: Delivering IoT Connectivity at Scale: Why We Should Care
2. Usability
A key feature of your IoT platform should be ease of use. It should be intuitive and easily accessible for both tech-savvy and not-so-technically sound workforce. The system must integrate with existing processes to provide maximum value. Is that not the whole point of having an IoT architecture at the end of the day?
3. Connectivity management
It would help if you considered how and where your IoT data would be processed. Also, find out if it will be primarily processed on the cloud or there is a need for more local processing of information.Â
Another point of concern must be if the data will be needed at specific locations, like smart cities. The most crucial factor is the bandwidth required for each solution and the overall connectivity requirements.
4. Security
The biggest risk of introducing IoT technologies into your business process is security. While most platforms include patches and encryption, businesses should seek solutions that embed it at every level. Additionally, look for distinctive monitoring or authentication features beyond base-level protection to stay secure.
Learn More: 6 Cybersecurity Questions About an Increasingly Ubiquitous IoT
5. Data aggregation and management
The IoT platform will collect data and must aggregate it based on your business needs. Ideally, it should quickly process incoming data and deliver it in real-time for quick decision-making. In case you need data on edge, you must pick the solution accordingly.
IoT platforms can gather data from third-party sources, IoT devices, and business tools to create a strong understanding of the end-to-end process.
You must, therefore, look for IoT products that join disparate data sets to provide a new perspective on all things involved with an operation or piece of equipment.
6. Integrations
When it comes to IoT platform development, you need a solution that supports the organizational processes of your company. You should look for an integrated IoT system with standard service providers to transfer applications later if required.Â
Additionally, consider platforms that integrate with your existing enterprise software, such as CRMs and ERPs. It must also incorporate other in-house or third-party applications used by other teams or departments within your organization.
Over to You
IoT will continue to change and impact many industries and professions as an instrument that enables you to connect intelligent technologies with the universe of objects emitting data. The IoT infrastructure for your business will evolve as your company’s priorities and needs keep changing. The key factors we discussed will continue to guide your decision-making when designing an IoT infrastructure best suited for your business.
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