IoT platforms are an integral part of the IoT ecosystem and rapidly growing market. They offer businesses a great deal of benefit, helping them reduce development costs and expedite launch.
Unfortunately, there are countless options out there and selecting the ideal one can seem overwhelming. To help you narrow down your choices, let’s take a closer look at some of the essential capabilities of an IoT platform and what qualities to look for when making your choice.
Cost-effectiveness
A cost-effective iot platform is essential for organizations to be successful with their IoT project. Not only does it save organizations time and money on development costs, but also resources by eliminating the hassle of connecting devices to the cloud.
A reliable iot platform should offer a comprehensive suite of capabilities, such as device integration, data analysis, visualization and decision making. These features can be leveraged to increase operational efficiency, boost quality of service and enhance customer experience.
Many iot platforms provide professional engineering services to assist businesses in getting their IoT products connected and operating quickly. This can be especially helpful for organizations lacking expertise within their own organization.
Additionally, an iot platform can help cut costs associated with maintaining and repairing connected assets in the field. This saves businesses money in the long run as it reduces downtime and boosts productivity levels.
Additionally, an iot platform can save money by offering access to cloud computing resources that can be rented. Prices for this service differ between vendors and it’s essential to understand what they charge per computing hour.
For instance, Ian Skerrett’s Cloud Computing Calculator can assist you in calculating how much it would cost to operate in the cloud for one hour. This gives an accurate cost estimate when using a cloud-based IoT platform and helps determine which provider best meets your requirements.
Another cost-effective iot platform feature is the capability of integration with different networks, including WiFi, LoRa, satellite and cellular. When selecting a WiFi or cellular network for your devices, make sure it can support them and provides enough bandwidth to handle the volume of data they generate.
Connectivity costs vary based on the network type and pricing plan you select, as well as how many devices utilize it.
Scalability
Scalability is paramount when creating smart cities or an IoT infrastructure for your business. The capacity to handle an ever-increasing amount of devices and data is necessary for any successful IoT venture, yet there are numerous scalability issues which could prove a hurdle if not addressed early on.
Scalability of an IoT platform is determined by its features and functions, as well as how many devices and data need to be managed. While this factor is critical for any system, it’s especially essential when working with IoT platforms.
Scalable IoT infrastructure must take into account various elements such as network connectivity, storage and communication protocols. A reliable iot platform will guarantee your infrastructure’s scalability and ability to expand in line with your company’s demands while remaining secure.
Scalability is an integral element for any technological project, but especially so with IoT due to the vast number of devices and data it generates. Having a reliable, scalable IoT platform that’s simple to deploy and operate will be key to your project’s success.
Scalability should be a top priority during the planning phase of any technological project. To test and verify that your project’s features and functionality function as expected, set up a Proof of Concept (POC). In order to do that, contact the IoT Worlds team.
You must also decide how your iot platform is going to be managed and deployed. Selecting a platform with excellent onboarding and support features is essential for making the most of your system and avoiding any potential issues down the line.
It is essential to select a platform that enables seamless integration with other business applications and IoT devices. Doing so will boost productivity, reduce operating expenses, and enable you to reach your objectives with ease.
Scalability of an IoT network is dependent on the mesh protocol you choose. Some protocols have limited radio range, making scaling up difficult. Therefore, if you plan on adding more devices to your IoT network, make sure you select a mesh protocol which can easily and efficiently expand.
Flexibility
IoT platforms offer businesses many advantages, but one of the most significant is their flexibility. By providing a framework that scales and adapts according to each business’ individual requirements, these solutions have become essential tools in the digital transformation of industries.
Healthcare and industrial organizations can both benefit from IoT platforms that collect data to streamline operational procedures. Furthermore, they could use the platform for asset monitoring and predictive maintenance, helping reduce downtime and avoid large losses.
In addition, IoT platforms can also be employed for tracking and managing devices located remotely. This is particularly advantageous in areas like asset management, as you get a real-time insight into your assets’ health and performance.
Furthermore, IoT platforms can be integrated with other devices and sensors to collect data that can be used to make informed decisions for your business. This is an efficient way to boost efficiency and productivity while cutting down on costs.
A powerful IoT platform should provide all the functions needed for connected devices and smart things, including connectivity, device management, data management, core features, applications and analytics. Furthermore, it must offer various options for device deployment as well as integration with multiple clouds and services.
Flexibility is another essential feature of an IoT platform, enabling you to customize it according to your organization’s individual requirements and maximize all the advantages that IoT technology can provide. This ensures that the platform meets your organization’s specific requirements, allowing for maximum benefits from this emerging technology.
To achieve this goal, you must first determine what problems your product will solve for customers and how you plan to market it. Doing this is essential before selecting the technology used in creating the solution.
With a clear understanding of these issues, you can choose an IoT platform that meets your business objectives and produces the results desired. Additionally, make sure the provider you select provides assistance from start to finish as well as flexibility to customize it according to individual preferences.
Several IoT platforms exist out there in the market. Choosing the right one can be challengine and expensive. IoT Worlds team has a strong experience on selecting and developing flexible IoT platforms. Contact us to book the first call.
Security
IoT platforms are vulnerable to various cyber attacks and security vulnerabilities, so they need to be well-protected. Organizations should take proactive measures with risk awareness in mind as well as employ enterprise-grade practices for maximum protection of IoT devices and data.
IoT security can be a challenging issue that necessitates the collaboration of multiple teams within an organization. It encompasses physical, network and application security as well as software integrity measures to safeguard data within systems and devices.
Authentication is one of the most critical security concerns an IoT platform must tackle. This involves a process that only permits verified users to issue commands to an IoT device. Authentication methods must be robust and secure in order to reduce the potential for password hacking or phishing attempts.
It is recommended to regularly change default passwords, especially for sensitive data. Doing so will prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to your network and taking advantage of any personal information you may have shared.
Another step to increase security is implementing a device management solution that will monitor and control IoT devices. This can detect any infected device with malware and guarantee its safety, while alerting you about breaches in security so you can take immediate action.
Furthermore, it will enable you to enforce password changes on a regular basis and guarantee only authorized personnel have access to the IoT network. Doing so reduces the risk of data loss and identity theft significantly.
A comprehensive IoT platform will offer visibility to all connected devices and protect them through context-driven classification, risk assessment, segmentation, and access control at IoT scale. Furthermore, it helps encrypt your IoT devices to protect them from threats such as rogue networks, bots, and other security risks.
The IoT platform can safeguard data transferred between IoT devices and cloud services. This includes both data exchanged through APIs as well as that stored at endpoint devices.
