Cloud computing has significantly changed the data management during the last 10 years. Most of the companies have already implemented IoT solutions thanks to the power and reliability of cloud computing. Many people talk about scalability, low maintenance and cost-effectiveness, but cloud is much more than that.
Cloud-based systems are optimized for storing large volumes of data and sharing it with minimum latency. Here we present the main benefits of using a cloud-based IoT platform:
1. Quicker time-to-market
If you decide to install an IoT platform onsite you are permanently involved in network infrastructure upgrades, capabilities analysis and high maintenance costs. Alternatively, cloud-based platform offers simple and quick deployment at a lower cost and maintenance.
2. Data integration and mobility
For years, enterprises have invested in traditional data projects, combining local data collection with software on premise solutions. These systems alone can generate a lot of data, and the velocity and volume of this kind of data can overwhelm systems that are not prepared for it. In addition, it also requires data filtering to avoid information that may not have been part of prior planning.
Here is where cloud computing comes in. One of the main benefits of cloud is the ability to store, process and filter large amounts of data in the system. Cloud-based IoT platforms provide a unified vision of all your IoT devices in the same place. The perfect aggregation point for all the data of all your facilities, accessible from almost anywhere and free from infrastructural or networking constraints.
3. Security and reliability
In the past, big companies have called into question the security of the cloud because they felt it as losing the ability to touch and view their data “at home”. Similar situations lived years ago like moving savings to a bank account, changing from office suite to Office 365 or just changing the ERP to an online solution. Last years, these companies have rejected cloud computing in favor of on-premise technology.
One important thing has to be taken into consideration: cloud vendors like Microsoft, Amazon and Google have hundreds of security professionals compared to one (or several) workers in charge of IT security. These companies follow best practices and industry standards to ensure proper security and performance across server, networks and IoT devices. It’s time to view cloud as a reliable, trusted and secured service.
4. Device lifecycle management
Creating applications through cloud services (SaaS) facilitate remote device registration, updates, diagnosis in minimal time and reduction of operational and support costs. As more and more devices get connected, the challenges with data security, control, and management become critical. This is the main reason why cloud platforms play a key role in enabling a 360-degree data view of the device infrastructure.
5. Analytics and edge computing
Combining analytics and edge computing into a cloud solution offer benefits in different kind of environments. Introducing fog and edge computing process is critical to reduce the number of direct connections and to act faster than if the data had to travel to the cloud and back. Normally, industrial processes must be real-time evaluated on the equipment itself.
On the other side, historical data is stored, compared, aggregated and analyzed on the cloud. That is the best combination for your IoT project, analysis on the cloud, edge computing on the field.
If you are interested in learning more about topics related to Internet of Things, Big Data, Industry 4.0 and Analytics, do not hesitate to continue reading our publications in the News section.
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