Top Roles of Cloud Computing in IoT

Posted on November 13, 2017October 18, 2019 by Idexcel Technologies

Transformation is an ever going trend, which is becoming an absolute need of the hour in today’s fast paced world. With technology churning every bit of information in a refined new format, there is a lot of scope when it comes to data storage and manipulation.

As smart phones and social media begin to rule the roost, there is a lot of conversation happening around what’s coming next. The evident answer of the hour is, the Internet of Things or IoT. With the Internet churning out huge chunks of data every second, there is a pending strain on the data infrastructure, making it necessary to look for solutions to ease the use of data storage.

Since the rise of the Cloud, there is a massive shift towards using it as a means of storage for people and businesses alike. Given the scalability and the data dynamics, there is a lot of stress being given on the use of Cloud computing to make data available remotely.

Putting this scalability to use, the Cloud has proved to be an efficient tool for transferring data through the traditional Internet channels as well as through a dedicated direct link. The traditional method is not preferred extensively; however, at the same time, many businesses prefer to the use the direct link to transfer data to the Cloud, given the quality of the data and the security it ensures during the transfer phase.

This is not all; the Cloud has become an integral part of the Internet world. Simply put, the cloud can be termed as an enabler when it comes to IoT. The Cloud is undoubtedly an ideal solution to meet all data driven needs of businesses. As this technology is developing, it is providing an agile platform for developers to create meaningful apps to establish better data devices over the Internet.

How Cloud Computing Aids IoT?

The underlying idea behind IoT and the Cloud computing is increase efficiency in the day to day tasks, without disturbing the quality of the data being stored or transferred. Since the relationship is mutual, both the services complement each other effectively. The IoT becomes the source of the data, while the Cloud becomes the ultimate destination for it to be stored.

As we progress through the years, we will see a lot of changes happening; some of these changes will be gradual while others will be more rapid. Companies likes Amazon AWS, Google and Microsoft will become the undisputed leaders of Cloud IoT Services, making the challenge even more worthwhile.

As the Cloud gathers more attention and speed slowly, there are a multitude of Cloud service providers which are beginning to offer pay per use models to businesses. This way, businesses only need to pay for what the computer resources they use.

Some more Reasons which Highlight the Importance of the Cloud in the World of IoT are:

Reduced cost of ownership: Inflation is a never ending menace which every business has to face sooner or later. The Cloud technology provides ample resources to businesses so that they do not have to spend through the nose on setting up their infrastructure. In the absence of on-site systems, hardware and software, the IT department is more focused on their day to day up keeping activities, which are often an evident benefit with the Cloud.

Business continuity programs: The Cloud computing is capable of running businesses even in the midst of sudden disasters. Since the data is maintained on additional separate servers, there is no imminent danger to the private data, making the Cloud an indispensable part of Internet based firms.

How will the IoT and the Cloud Expand?

Startups: As more and more Cloud vendors pop up, startups will continue to evolve and become more efficient, making the technology flow stronger yet smoother. The transition from one source to another will become a cinch, making the Cloud a strong place to function.

Developing countries: The strongest and biggest source of revenue for the Cloud comes from the developing countries, as they are trying to play catch up with the times. However, this revenue will drastically dip, once these countries are able to adopt their technology to the Cloud, marking the adaptation as complete.

Has the Internet of Things gone too far?

Posted on March 25, 2016October 18, 2019 by Idexcel Technologies

The Internet of Things (IoT) – with its network of objects and computers that collect and distribute data on our lives – has all the promise of making those lives easier. But are we in danger of IoT overload?

We live in an interesting age where virtually everything we own can be connected to the Internet. Your phone, television, security system, and car are just the start. These devices may connect directly – through your home Wi-Fi router or via Internet-connected devices such as your smartphone or even your home thermostat. Continue reading

Promises and Challenges of IoT

Posted on October 31, 2014October 18, 2019 by Idexcel Technologies

Internet of things (IoT) is a phrase which is commonly used to describe a system where physical world is connected to Internet through ubiquitous sensors that communicate with each other without human interaction. Each sensor and control point generates data which can be collected, analyzed and acted-on in the real time. IoT has the potential to alter the way companies do their business by transforming the way they operate, making them more efficient and profitable. The sheer breadth of IoT knows no bounds, and is having a huge impact in enterprise, as well as consumer applications, transforming the way we live our lives. A practical example of Enterprise application is the inventory management on the production floor to save money, time and manpower. And few examples of consumer applications are health monitoring systems, home automation, beacons, wearable devices etc.

IoT Numbers
The penetration for smart devices is sky-rocketing, creating a perfect base for exponential growth for the IoT. It is estimated that by 2020, there will be almost 26 billion interconnected devices (some even say it could be more than 100 billion). As per latest statistics, IoT offer $8 trillion worth of economic opportunity. According to CBInsight, IoT companies attracted over $1billion in 2013 in venture capital, which is 11% increase from the previous year. Purchase of Nest Labs by Google and Body Media by Jawbone has further accelerated the IoT buzz. However, it is not just hype, and the connections are already soaring, growing at the rate of 19% compounded annual growth for the past three years.

Some of the key technologies that are emerging for IOT are lightweight protocols so that devices can communicate and work together, cybersecurity, extensible and unique identifiers for billions for devices that involve remote sensing, intelligent monitoring, advanced analytics and real-time data processing. With the ease of connectivity through broadband internet, more and more devices with in built sensors, Bluetooth, IR and Wi-Fi capabilities are able to connect with each other with lower connecting cost.

IoT in Real Life
So what is the practical aspect of IoT, why we should bother about so many connected devices talking with each other? On the personal level, imagine a world where your car, house keys, television, alarm clock, microwave etc. are all interconnected, giving notifications and feedback when required, executing remote instructions, and improving the overall efficiency of your life. IoT can be associated with kitchen and home appliances, safety and security monitoring devices, lighting and heating products, health and fitness products, waste management systems, intelligent traffic management system and so on. Doctors can immediately analyze the heartbeat data sent from the intelligent devices to diagnose and treat. Real-time traffic data can be sent to the consumer’s GPS. Intelligent devices can quickly make changes in the production system based on the preferences of the consumers, producing a broader mix of differentiated products all across the globe and just in time. From the global perspective, IoT can help us understand how we work and live, and improve the processes, and reduce waste.

There are currently more than a billion Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices at work in smart meters, sensors, mobile healthcare assets, industrial control systems, smart building, video surveillance, telematics solutions and much more. These are definitely a lot of connections, creating a massive IoT network between people-people, things-things and people-things. Several open standard projects are supported by free open source software and hence this combination works quite well. Giant technologies can further build on the open projects, encouraging widespread use and adaptation.

Challenges
IoT has potential to impact the way we live our lives, however it has lots of complexities and challenges associated with it. Security is one of the most talked about concerns of IoT, mainly due to billions of connected devices. Another important concern could be the massive amount of data that will be produced. Companies will have to find a way to store, analyze, track and interpret vast amounts of data in real time. Some other challenges are connectivity, security, power management, complexity, rapid evaluation without common standards, quality of services, lack of shared infrastructure among players in the IoT eco systems, fragmented M2M and system vendor landscape, and interoperability and easy of deployment. Extensive number of systems are required to manage all the data, enforce access control and enable all the interconnected devices to communicate with each other. This issue can be addressed by using big data analytics which is a process of collecting, organizing and analyzing large amount of data to extract useful information, get fresh insight into data, analyze patterns and identify data which is important in business decision making.

Existing Internet and software methods are modular, highly distributed and loosely coupled. For Internet of Things, we need an open system which is easy to join and transparent to review, open source for quick iterations and easy contributions for rapid development, and stringent IPR rules, neutral government and balanced participation.

IoT offers endless connections and opportunities to take places, however, as of today, it is not possible to comprehend and understand its total impact. There must also be a strong foundation to address the growth challenges in terms of talent gaps, open standards, technology complexities and data policies. When evaluating an IoT solution, the businesses needs to consider four major enabling technologies- Cloud computing, wireless connectivity, Big Data and IT security. For now, we can just educate ourselves, and find innovative ways to reduce loss, waste and cost with the help of IoT.

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