newsprompt.coSOFTWARE PLATFORM
The Internet of Things (IoT) can’t function without software, including middleware, known as an IoT or IoT cloud platform. As a form of middleware, an IoT platform, sits between the layers of IoT devices and IoT gateways (and thus data) on one hand and applications, which it enables to build, on the other (hence why IoT platforms are also called Application Enablement Platforms or AEPs).
An IoT platform enables IoT device and endpoint management, connectivity and network management, data management, processing and analysis, application development, security, access control, monitoring, event processing and interfacing/integration.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are often important for advanced data analysis. The analysis, processing and transmission of some types of data can be critical and/or happen in a context where speed and fast actions need analytics and intelligence at the so-called edge (where the devices/assets and specific gateways are): this is what edge computing and fog computing partially are about and where edge platforms come in.
Ample IoT platform definitions which all point to differently named but similar capabilities and reasons why IoT platforms are important. The variety of types of IoT platforms, as well as their backgrounds/origins and how they work together in ecosystems matter so let’s first add a few more first.
Enterprises should evaluate AEPs based on requirements in four areas: a focus on the developer persona; having a flexible and scalable deployment model; operational sophistication; and a well-executed partnership strategy and platform ecosystem.
A multi-layer technology which is used to manage and automate the connected devices is known as the IoT platform. In other words, it is a service which helps in bringing the physical objects online. This platform will provide with the services to connect the devices for a machine to machine communication.
Internet of Things (IoT) is a software that connects the edge hardware, access points, and data networks to the other end which is usually the end-user application.
Types of Internet of Things Platforms:
- End to end
- Connectivity
- Cloud
- Data
Some facts about these platforms:
- The primary function of the IoT platform is to act as middleware or as plumbing to connect devices or applications to another end. IoT contains a mixture of functions like Sensors & controllers, a gateway device, communication network, data analyzing & translating software, and end application service.
- IoT cloud platform can handle huge data volume from devices, customers, applications, websites, and sensors and take actions to give a real-time response.
- How to select the best Internet of Things platform depends on the requirements of a company for hardware, real-time access, custom reports, budget, development skills, and the business model.
An enterprise IoT platform is a stack of technologies that enable internet-connected products and devices to send and receive data. IoT helps enterprises unlock new value from physical assets, using data to improve product offerings, generate new revenue streams, and better manage physical assets.
Enterprise IoT is a technical solution to a business problem. Depending on the use case and vertical, IoT can help control costs through preventative maintenance and asset monitoring, or provide new revenue models with subscription-based services that allow for recurring revenue rather than one-time purchases.
Any IoT solution made for enterprises should include the following:
- Hardware, including sensors, microcontrollers, on-device software, peripherals, and power management.
- An operating system, including OTA updates, user applications, a hardware abstraction layer, firmware libraries, and RTOS.
- Connectivity, including wireless network access, certifications, device provisioning, data plans, and SIM management.
- A cloud solution, including device management, data storage, REST APIs, application servers, and microservices.
An enterprise-grade IoT solution should also prioritize security and scalability, ensuring the safe transfer of data between endpoints and a centralized location as the number of devices increases.
Key features of IoT platform
Given the fact that the world of IoT is almost as fragmented as it is boundless, the Internet of Things platforms have evolved into many different types of solutions to address the heterogeneity and diversity of demands of specific IoT-powered industries. Therefore, IoT platforms can be characterised and assessed according to some general features that they represent. Taking into account the main factors that may affect the performance of a given IoT platform, such as scalability, ease of use, security or interoperability, the following categories can be distinguished:
Scalability:
The most advanced Internet of Things platforms allow scalability at any endpoint the client may need, offering the maximum performance of device connectivity regardless of the circumstances.
User-friendliness:
This criterion about the IoT Platform is often closely related to the flexibility of the integration APIs and the ability to control the code. This feature of the IoT platforms is essential for all those developers who need to customize some of the functions of the device and its applications or, on the contrary, develop additional modules.
Interoperability and Integrations:
Designed to work in heterogeneous real-life IoT ecosystems, every IoT platform by its very nature has to support hardware and software-agnostic features. In other words, inevitably it has to provide possibilities for an effective handling of multiple types of devices over multiple types of communication protocols to feed data into the cloud or in-house servers. Handling a variety of hardware and software communication protocols is essential in every professional IoT deployment.
Data Security:
This criterion includes the encryption of the information transmitted between the devices and the server via a variety of communication channels, the control of user access as well as the ownership of the processed data. What poses a great challenge nowadays in terms of IoT data security is the lack of over-the-air update functionalities in some older IoT systems.
