The Role of Cloud Computing In the Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of Things (IoT) has gradually changed the way daily tasks are completed. IoT has spawned a network of interconnected devices and sensors, which is revolutionizing the way we perform daily tasks. Smart cities, smart homes, smart factories, smart retail, connected cars and wearable devices prove how connected devices can disrupt the status quo, creating an efficient, smart & automated planet. In addition to providing smarter solutions for families and housing communities, IoT is also used as a tool in the business environment of various industries. The IoT is booming, and predictions are promising – Statista estimates that by 2025, there will be 75 billion connected devices. Interestingly, these IoT devices themselves do not provide any major benefits, because the data they collect can be transformed into meaningful information, paving the way for the development of the IoT. However, due to the large amount of big data generated by the IoT, the Internet infrastructure is under great pressure. This makes companies and organizations look for a solution that can alleviate this burden.

Enter cloud computing as an on-demand delivery of computing power, database storage, applications and IT resources. It enables organizations to consume computing resources such as Virtual Machines (VMs) instead of building computing infrastructure internally or on-premises. No wonder 96% of organizations have adopted the cloud in one form or another. Today, cloud computing has penetrated mainstream IT and its infrastructure. Many technology giants such as Amazon, Alibaba, Google and Oracle are using cloud technology to build Machine Learning tools to provide a wider range of solutions for global enterprises. In this blog, we will discuss why cloud computing is essential for the growth of the IoT.

How Does IoT and Cloud Complement Each Other?

Based on the principles of scalability and agility, cloud is hailed as a global revolutionary technology. Cloud solutions can promote the mass adoption of IoT initiatives. Here are some key reasons why the cloud is essential to the success of the IoT.

Cloud computing and the IoT are dedicated to improving the efficiency of daily tasks, and there is a complementary relationship between the two. On the one hand, the IoT generates a lot of data, on the other hand, cloud computing paves the way for the transfer of these data. Many cloud providers use this advantage to provide a pay-per-use model in which customers pay for specific resources used. In addition, cloud hosting as a service reduces its overall cost structure by providing economies of scale. Cloud computing also facilitates developers to store and access data remotely and the cloud enables developers to implement projects without delay.

• Remote Computing Capability:

  Cloud technology enables the IoT to surpass conventional devices, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. This is because the cloud has such a large storage space that it eliminates the dependencies on on-premises infrastructure. With the rapid development of 5G and Internet speed, cloud technology has become the mainstream, enabling enterprises to access remote computing services with a single click of the mouse.

• Security and Privacy:

  The prosperous development of IoT devices may enable organizations to perform tasks automatically, but it also brings serious security risks. A cloud with a wide range of control can be a viable solution here. Cloud makes the IoT more secure through preventive, detective, and corrective control. By providing effective authentication and encryption protocols, it provides users with strong security measures. In addition, with the help of biometric technology, IoT products can also manage and protect user identities. All of this is possible because to the enhanced security provided by the cloud.

• Data Integration:

  With the continuous development of the IoT, companies have begun to try to use connected devices to extract real-time information about key business processes. Although these devices improve operational efficiency and optimize costs, they also generate huge amounts of data, which are too cumbersome to process even for their analytics platforms. Cloud-based solutions are very useful here. The cloud system has powerful data integration capabilities that can handle large amounts of data sent from multiple sources. As a result, data from enterprise systems and connected devices are stored, processed, and analyzed in the same location.

• Low Threshold:

  Nowadays, many innovations on the IoT are looking for plug-and-play hosting services. Therefore, the cloud is very suitable for the IoT. Hosting providers do not have to rely on large equipment or even any type of hardware that does not support the agility required by IoT devices. With the emergence of innovative cloud hosting solutions, barriers to entry for most IoT-based companies have been minimized, allowing them to seamlessly implement large-scale IoT plans.

• Business Continuity:

  Cloud computing solutions are known for their agility and reliability. Cloud services are located on top of a network of servers located in multiple locations. Their system stores copies of data in multiple data centers. Due to this redundancy, even if one of the servers goes offline for some reason or other reasons, IoT-based operations will continue to work. In addition, there is no risk of data loss as well.

• Communication Between Devices:

  In addition to communicating with us, IoT devices and services also need to be connected to each other. Cloud solutions facilitate seamless communication between IoT devices. They support many robust APIs, such as Cloudflare, CloudCache and Dropstr, and allow interaction between connected devices and smartphones, paving the way for the development of connected technology.

• When Paired With Edge Computing:

  In IoT-based solutions, edge computing or data processing near the edge of the network where the data is generated are usually used to shorten response time and speed up data processing. The deployment of the IoT usually uses a combination of cloud computing and edge computing for maximum utilization. Only the best combination of cloud and edge can help companies get the most value from their IoT plans. Even though the cloud can accelerate the growth of the IoT, there are certain challenges and shortcomings in deploying cloud technology. It is not because the cloud is technically flawed, but the combination of the IoT with the cloud is bound to bring in some obstacles for the users. If you continue to use IoT cloud solutions, it is best to know in advance the challenges you may face.

What are the Challenges That Cloud and the IoT Bring Together?

• Handling Large Amounts of Data:

  Processing large amounts of data can be overwhelming, especially when there are millions of devices. This is because the overall performance of the application is threatened. Therefore, following the NoSQL movement may be beneficial, but it has not been tried and tested for a long time. Therefore, for the cloud, there is no sound or foolproof way to manage big data.

• Network and Communication Protocol:

  Cloud and the IoT involve Machine-To-Machine communication between many different types of devices with various protocols. Since most application areas do not involve mobility, managing this change can be difficult. So far, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have been used as stopgap measures to promote mobility to a certain extent.

• Sensor Networks:

  The sensor networks enable users to measure, infer and understand fine-grained indicators from the environment. However, processing large amounts of such sensor data in a timely manner has always been a major challenge. Although the cloud provides new opportunities for aggregating sensor data, it also hinders progress due to security and privacy issues.

In Conclusion:

The integration of cloud computing and the IoT heralds the next major leap in the Internet world. The combined new application is called IoT Cloud, which opens up new avenues for business and research. Cloud technology can play a very important role in unlocking the true potential of the IoT in the near future. To know more about how cloud and edge computing coupled with IoT can help your organization in your digital transformation, contact us today!

Pratiti is an innovative Product Development company that possesses rich expertise in crafting and delivering software solutions using the latest digital technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, edge computing, data science, digital twin and AR/VR to name a few. The Pratiti team helps their customers realize value while working with integrity, certainty and insight; thus, becoming the trusted technology partner in their digital transformation journey.

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