The number of devices connected to the Internet is expected to explode next year. Among the various figures predicting its growth, Gartner said that the automotive and corporate Internet of Things (IoT) market alone is expected to reach 5.8 billion endpoints by 2020. Good As statistics vary on the exact number of IoT devices in use today, we know that the adoption rate of IoT is incredibly high, and that it will continue to transform the way we work, today and in the future. Connectivity has been around since the creation of the Internet, which means that IoT is by no means a new phenomenon. However, the level of data generated by connecting devices to the Internet is new, as is the way in which we access that data. Essentially, by leveraging rich data sets and gaining insight through reporting and analytics, companies can tailor their processes, deliver personalized user experiences, and identify new opportunities to drive competitive business advantage.
About the author Thomas Di Giacomo, President of Engineering, Product and Innovation at SUSE. We don't have to look far to see evidence of the rapid adoption of IoT and the benefits it can bring to a business. That being said, to ensure IoT success, companies need to keep a close eye on some of the biggest and most crucial trends, including the evolution of advanced IT and the advancement of 5G.
Move to edge
Edge computing refers to every device that collects data outside of a large data center. Traditionally, devices did not have the compute level or storage capacity to store and analyze data, so they were sent to the cloud for review. More often though, these devices are now built with built-in functionality, allowing them to apply machine learning and analytics to gain useful insights from the data. Ultimately, since information and insights through business intelligence are accessible almost instantly, these new features allow companies to process data in faster, more cost-effective, and more streamlined ways. Additionally, local storage of data on devices reduces the need for low latency and bandwidth, which reduces stress on the network.
The need for global standardization
Various problems arise in industries today due to disjointed IoT supply chains, including sensors not programmed to "talk" to each other. On the other hand, a connected supply chain provides a global view of the entire operation, since sensors can understand each other and, in turn, work together. This means that all providers can contribute to the process. Creating a connected supply chain requires eliminating supplier foreclosure. This can be achieved through global standardization. In this way, organizations can establish interoperability between products and services to allow information to flow freely between sensors. Simply put, creating a standardized and interoperable platform will be key for companies looking to optimize their IoT network. Global standardization initiatives have been the subject of discussions among standardization and regulatory bodies for several years. However, we can expect to see real changes here in the coming years as more and more companies rely on IoT.
IoT security challenges
Although the advent of IoT offers a variety of business benefits, it has also resulted in a number of complex security issues. With more devices connected to the Internet every day, the cyber attack surface is becoming larger and more diverse than ever. Many access points are now available to malicious actors seeking to infiltrate a corporate network. To use a tangible example, building a connected car now involves several different manufacturers, vendors, systems, and sensors. Therefore, it is difficult to determine who or what is responsible for the safety of the final product. With that in mind, we're starting to see IT leaders use innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and machine learning to overcome device security challenges. However, there is still a long way to go, and until then monitoring the network with security processes still in place will be vital.
5G and IoT innovation
The introduction of 5G for smartphones and tablets is transforming a variety of areas beyond mobile connections. In fact, the high-speed connections, lower latencies, and extended slots that come with 5G connectivity enable new IoT use cases. For the future, with 5G promising to enable organizations to collect and analyze data in real time, IoT applications will grow and become even more innovative. It is important to note that we are still in the early stages of a 5G revolution. Although it currently does not have the ability to completely reshape the IoT industry, over the next year we should expect it to make significant progress in the industry. ; IO. IoT does not exist in a vacuum: To reach its full potential, industry leaders need to be aware of the big picture. And by keeping a close eye on existing challenges and developments in the technology sector, they will be better able to push IoT applications and services forward at a rapid pace.