How can your business benefit from the merger of the Cloud and IoT?

The recent pandemic has accelerated the world’s ongoing digital change, which was already inevitable. The Internet of Things (IoT) has given rise to a network of connected gadgets and sensors that are redefining how we go about our daily lives. 

Businesses have now transferred their operations online, where a wide range of customers’ demands can be met. It elevates IoT to the status of the go-to solution for all businesses pursuing continuous consumer contact. The estimates for the Internet of Things are optimistic – it is predicted that by 2025, there will be 75 billion linked gadgets.

It’s interesting to note that these IoT devices don’t provide any significant advantages on their own, rather, the data they collect can be transformed into useful information and help advance IoT. Cloud computing is one element that can help the Internet of Things succeed.

Cloud computing services enable the rapid, on-demand delivery of databases, computing infrastructure, storage, and applications required for the processing and analysis of data points produced by hundreds of different sources. Users can complete computing activities using services made available through the internet, thanks to cloud computing.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing are two very different concepts currently prevalent in our daily lives. They will be significant elements of the internet of the future when their adoption and use become more widespread. 

It is anticipated that a unique paradigm combining cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT cloud-based service) will be disruptive and enable a wide range of application scenarios.

When the capabilities of the IoT and cloud computing tech stacks combine, it creates significant value for both consumers and businesses. This combination is often referred to as an IoT cloud platform. 

In this article, we will dig deeper into the cloud and IoT platforms to understand the benefits of merging the cloud and the Internet of Things for businesses.

IoT 

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the collective term for the billions of physical objects now linked to the internet and actively collecting and exchanging data. You can make everything a part of the Internet of Things (IoT), from a tablet to an airplane, thanks to the development of incredibly affordable computer chips and the widespread use of wireless networks. 

By connecting various objects and attaching sensors to them, it has become possible for these objects (that would otherwise be unintelligent) to transmit real-time data without requiring a human. The world around us is becoming smarter and more proactive thanks to the IoT, which combines the digital and physical worlds.

According to IoT Analytics, global business Internet of Things (IoT) expenditure reached $128.9 billion in 2020, up 12.1% from 2019. It increased by 24.0% in 2021 and is anticipated to increase by 26.7% every year after 2021.

IoT Cloud Computing Platforms

IoT cloud computing platforms combine the functionality of cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) and offer it as a full-service solution. Other names, including Cloud Service IoT Platform, are also used to refer to them. 

With so many devices connected to the Internet nowadays, there is an increasing opportunity to collect large amounts of data from these sources and analyze it effectively using various applications. 

In order to power the various IoT tools and applications, the IoT cloud platform offers a practical, flexible, and scalable architecture for tackling all the services and infrastructure needed by businesses with constrained resources. 

IoT clouds enable organizations to scale up quickly and affordably without having to build the necessary infrastructure and services from scratch.

How does the merger of IoT and cloud computing benefit enterprises?

There is endless potential for businesses to grow exponentially, thanks to the merger of 

cloud computing and Internet of Things. IoT serves as the data source, and cloud computing provides the means to store the data. 

But how precisely do these two collaborate to bring about the business’s digital transformation? Let’s explore.

Effective data integration

Businesses started using IoT as part of their data strategy to give current reporting systems real-time data, more context about how the business is working, and better visibility into business sectors that were not previously available.

Companies are discovering that IoT data differs from traditional enterprise data in terms of features as a result of the integration of data from traditional business applications with data produced by sensors and linked equipment. 

Organizations not ready for this kind of data could be overwhelmed by its velocity and volume. As it represents various information categories that might have not been included in the earlier design, it also necessitates a little re-architecting of data models.

Cloud computing can help in this situation. Companies can process and store data from both their corporate systems and IoT devices in the very same location, thanks to the cloud’s capacity to hold enormous amounts of data. Businesses can scale up by using the cloud as a wonderful aggregating point for all different systems. By storing their data jointly rather than individually, organizations can do away with the requirement for system integration and audits.

Better security and reliability

Although there are still plenty of people who worry about cloud security, recent moves by the top cloud providers have begun to change these views. While the majority of businesses have one or more dedicated security professionals, IoT cloud providers like Amazon and Microsoft have thousands. These enormous security teams are also obligated to follow best practices, adhere to industry-specific standards, and earn the necessary certifications.

You can rely on the security of a cloud solution if you want to use it with your IoT deployments. As the integrity of the cloud itself is more established, it also enables businesses to communicate with their IoT devices more effectively and securely.

Similar to that, cloud systems are continuously audited so that the cloud providers can give clients easy access to performance and security data. Businesses can guarantee optimal performance and security across thousands of IoT devices, thanks to this data access.

Time to market

An IoT cloud platform typically needs less time and effort to implement, and its overall cost is also much lower, but platform customization is sacrificed in order to do so. 

Although the Internet of Things systems that are installed on-premises can more easily be customized for the project’s needs, they require the time-consuming implementation of data management and analysis functionality as well as upgrades to the business’s existing network framework due to increased data traffic. 

Overall, when the time to market is a critical business component, cloud-based IoT infrastructure proves to be more profitable.

Improved collaboration

With IoT device data saved in a cloud and made available to registered employees from anywhere, an organization’s divisions can work together seamlessly. As a result, the employees’ interest, efficiency, productivity, and sense of teamwork will also rise.

Disaster recovery

Data deletion and other IT-related disasters are also probable. For all types of emergency events, including natural disasters, human errors, and power outages, cloud computing and the Internet of Things, in general, provide quick data recovery. 

A survey found that 20% of cloud users reported that their disaster recovery procedure was completed in 4 hours or less, compared to 9% of users who did not use the cloud.

Reduced barrier to entry

IoT innovators look for hassle-free hosting options. In such circumstances, cloud hosting options are highly suitable. IoT players can utilize the power of distant data centers using cloud hosting solutions without having to set up onerous on-premises gear and software. Additionally, some cloud services adopt a pay-as-you-go business model, in which the user is charged for the resources they use. Therefore, businesses can avoid incurring significant upfront fees.

The entry barrier for the majority of IoT-based enterprises is decreasing as a result of the advent of cutting-edge cloud hosting solutions, enabling them to seamlessly launch large-scale IoT initiatives.

Efficient data mobility

Your data won’t be bound by any infrastructure or networking limitations if it is processed and stored on a cloud server that can be accessed practically anywhere in the world. 

Mobility is crucial when it comes to IoT projects, including the real-time administration, monitoring, and management of linked devices. A cloud platform will give you the ability to deploy, control, and update your devices and sensors. It allows businesses to further analyze the incoming data remotely and in real-time, in contrast to on-site servers that can only be used inside the company walls.

High scalability

Scalability is one of the biggest benefits of putting your Internet of Things system on the cloud. Scaling up calls for additional hardware purchases, more time investments, and more configuration work when dealing with complicated on-premise network infrastructures. 

On the other hand, with a cloud-based IoT system, adding new resources typically involves renting an additional virtual server or more cloud space, both of which typically have the added benefit of being swiftly implemented.

Additionally, cloud internet of things platform services give you additional flexibility if you wish to scale back on the number of IoT-enabled objects or reduce your storage needs.

Reduced costs

It can be challenging to adopt an internal Internet of Things system because of the high initial upfront costs and higher deployment risk. Additionally, there is the problem of continuous expenses for IT staff and hardware upkeep. 

Things appear far better when viewed from the cloud internet of things. IoT-based businesses are encouraged to migrate to the cloud with significantly reduced upfront costs and a flexible pricing model based on usage. With this business model, expenses are simpler to estimate, and you won’t have to worry about equipment failures, which may result in significant additional costs and economic losses with internal Internet of Things systems.

How can Appinventiv help your business grow?

The combination of IoT and cloud computing offers enterprises a world of limitless opportunities. IoT and cloud computing services provide enterprises with greater connectivity, on-demand solutions, enhanced collaboration, and better security facilitating digital transformation. Therefore, in order to maximize benefits, firms should deploy these technologies as soon as possible in their workplaces.

Also read how cloud computing helps telecom companies to grow and sustain. 

Your company can stay adaptable to the constantly shifting IT landscape by selecting the correct cloud strategy partner. Appinventiv makes sure that organizations make use of all of the benefits of the cloud, like reduced cost, faster delivery, enhanced productivity, high dependability, security, and more, by providing quality cloud consulting service.

We have successfully developed an IoT application for Actidrive – an intuitive gesture-recognition application that enables drivers to drive hassle-free. The application also works as a tracker by recording the user trips and routes taken with time duration and distance covered. The result? Over 50K app downloads in a few months!

As a cloud managed services provider, we help our customers transition smoothly to the cloud ecosystem by working with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform as our committed cloud partners.

Let Appinventiv be your partner in success. Contact our experts!

Wrapping up!

In conclusion, the Internet of Things and cloud computing will fundamentally alter human life, especially in terms of how data is managed. Depending on the deployment strategy, the cloud is the sole technology that can evaluate, store, and retrieve IoT data. 

Given the nature of on-demand data, cloud computing is accessible whenever and wherever there is an Internet connection. Many businesses are becoming aware of the advantages of hybrid cloud adoption and the necessity to adopt it. Cloud computing will keep creating new possibilities for IoT.

FAQs

Q. What is the importance of the IoT cloud?

A. IoT devices can communicate with each other seamlessly, thanks to cloud computing. As a result, smart devices and connected devices can communicate with various reliable application programming interface (APIs). In this manner, networked technologies are made possible via cloud computing.

Q. Do all IoT solutions need to be cloud-based to function?

A. Although the Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity might function without the cloud, it’s logical to believe that cloud computing makes it possible for many IoT devices to operate with a lot more strength and efficiency.

Q. What does IoT cloud storage mean?

A. A cloud provider who manages and runs data storage as a service provides cloud storage that saves data on the internet. It eliminates the need to purchase and manage your own data storage infrastructure because it is offered on-demand, including just-in-time capabilities and pricing.

Q. What kinds of cloud infrastructure are employed in the Internet of Things?

A. IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) are three approaches to using the cloud for IoT. ( SaaS ).

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director