IoT-enabled security solutions enable users to keep an eye on places or things from anywhere and at any time. Even when not armed, these solutions use sensors and devices to collect data and alert users in the case of unexpected events, like attempted entry.

Security

Cybersecurity is the software side of the protection of computer systems and networks from bad actors looking to commit cybercrimes and data leakage like information disclosure. It is often used to prevent interruptions of service and also hardware, software, and data theft or damage.

Cybersecurity

Privacy in the context of IoT is used to refer to the protection of individual rights to choose how and by whom their data is consumed, stored, analyzed, or monetized. Privacy is protected by law in many countries and is a prime mover of regulations like the GDPR. IoT is especially pertinent to digital privacy because of the potential for passive sensors to collect data without the knowledge or consent of individuals.

Privacy

In surveillance, IoT offers new visibility, even when stakeholders aren't nearby. Through IoT-enabled sensors and devices, surveillance systems can send alerts in the event of unexpected behavior or if the system goes down, even if a security system isn't currently armed.

Surveillance

Keyless entry systems use IoT-enabled devices and sensors to control access to buildings or spaces. Keyless entry systems can use key fobs, phones, or other devices to verify a user's identity and manage locking mechanisms.

Keyless Entry

In the information technology space, IoT can be implemented into new and existing devices to track performance and alert staff in the case of unexpected behavior or incidents, saving companies the time it takes to recognize and damage-control a problem. Additionally, IoT can be used to automate processes to reduce the cost of highly manual and repetitive tasking and processes, improving ROI.

IT and Security

Artificial intelligence (AI) enables machines and programs to analyze data and detect patterns, allowing machines to make decisions using real-time data. AI is said to unlock the true power of IoT and is a necessary part of many automated systems.

Artificial Intelligence

AIoT, or Artificial Intelligence of Things, is a developing term for the layering of Artificial Intelligence and other automated tools for statistical analysis onto Internet of Things infrastructure. The combination of these two important aspects of Digital Transformation is expected to lead to better execution and growth of IoT systems and projects. It is also tied to improved process automation and human-machine interactions.

AIoT

Deep learning is a subfield of machine learning that focuses on neural networks with multiple layers (or deep neural networks). Deep neural networks can learn from vast amounts of data and automatically discover complex features and representations of the data. This makes them well-suited for tasks that involve large quantities of data.

Deep Learning

Generative AI refers to a type of artificial intelligence that is designed to create or generate new content, such as images, text, music, and even videos.

Generative AI

Neural networks are a type of machine learning algorithm inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. A neural network consists of interconnected nodes (neurons) that are organized in layers. Each neuron receives input from other neurons and applies a nonlinear transformation to the input before passing it on to the next layer.

Neural Networks

Machine learning (ML) is an application of artificial intelligence that enables systems to learn and improve from experience without human intervention. The goal of machine learning is to create systems that can access and learn from data without explicit programming.

Machine Learning

Predictive Analytics is the use of analytical processes and statistical modeling to predict the behavior of devices, machines, systems, and even people within IoT. These analytics use historical data and patterns to make predictions about the likely responses to expected or ongoing stimuli.

Predictive Analytics

Consumer IoT is made up of all the publicly available connected technology that enhances the lives of people all over the world. Everything from smartphones, wearables, and smart thermostats to connected cars, personal medical devices, and personalized smart advertising can all be included in Consumer IoT. Consumer IoT is the face of IoT to most people, especially those outside the industry.

Consumer IoT

More than a fad, consumer IoT will reshape how we interact, not only with our homes and offices but with the world at large. Besides allowing even everyday consumers to automate processes and increase the efficiency of their own devices and environments, IoT is working behind the scenes to change the way we interact and experience the world around us.

Consumer Products

Home automation, also called Smart Home Management, uses a variety of consumer IoT sensors and devices to automate processes within the home. Home automation Applications can include access management, through smart locks, or energy conservation through smart thermostats and utility meters.

Smart Home

Besides tracking lost pets, IoT can help automate home processes to increase the quality of pet care, even when owners are not home, from turning on and dimming the lights when you're not home to ensuring that your pet gets their four meals a day.

Pets

Connectivity technologies, Bluetooth or LPWAN for example, enable devices to communicate and exchange data through the Internet. Connectivity technologies vary in what they bring to individual IoT solutions and devices, each with its advantages and drawbacks.

Connectivity

5G is the fifth-generation broadband cellular network technology standard, which is planned to eventually succeed 4G networks in consumer cell phones. In IoT, it is most prized for its low latency and high data transmission speeds. Cellular connectivity providers began deploying it worldwide in 2019.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a wireless technology standard able to exchange data over a short range. Because of BLE's low energy consumption, IoT devices utilizing it can operate for years on one battery's charge. BLE is ideal for devices that require small amounts of data exchanged over short ranges.

Bluetooth/BLE

eSIM (Embedded SIM) is a technology that allows devices such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches to connect to a mobile network. Instead of using a removable SIM card, an eSIM stores the user's mobile subscription information electronically within the device. This allows users to activate their devices and connect to a mobile network simply by downloading a mobile plan from their network operator. eSIM technology is similar to iSIM (Integrated SIM), however, the main difference between eSIM and iSIM is that eSIM is a separate chip that is installed in the device, while iSIM is integrated into the device itself.

eSIM/iSIM

Ethernet is a wired connectivity option that offers greater reliability and security to connected devices, but because it is costly to install and move, IoT devices using ethernet are typically part of a larger wired infrastructure, like traffic or street lights.

Ethernet

CBRS, or Citizens Broadband Radio Service, is a 150 MHz wide broadcast band of the 3.5 GHz band in the United States. In IoT applications, it is most often used to allow companies to create their own private LTE networks to be used in place of or to supplement Wi-Fi.

CBRS

Radio frequency identification technology (RFID) uses simple, low-cost tags to track and locate assets, typically indoors. RFID tracking systems typically use transponders, attached to the objects or people being tracked, and a reader, which obtains data from low-cost RFID tags.

RFID

Cellular connectivity technologies connect devices to the internet via the same mobile networks as smartphones. Because cellular IoT piggybacks on existing networks, it can be a highly accessible option for solutions that need to transfer moderate amounts of data in remote areas - especially if access to power isn't a concern.

Cellular

Mobile technology refers to portable devices like smartphones and tablets that are connected through wireless networks and allow users to communicate, access information, and use various applications from almost anywhere.

Mobile

LPWAN (low-power wide-area network) is a radio technology used for wireless data communication. LPWANs can transmit data in remote areas over networks often spanning many miles, with very low power consumption. Because of this, LPWAN is vital to IoT solutions in industrial settings like farms and mines.

LPWAN

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite navigation system used to determine the ground position of objects. Although GPS is typically accurate within about 16 feet, it can only be used outdoors and has a high power consumption, making it a great option when power is available, but otherwise costly and battery-draining.

LoRa is a proprietary, patented, Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) modulation technique, designed for IoT, and based on spread-spectrum modulation techniques derived from chirp spread spectrum technology. It was developed by Cycleo of Grenoble, France, and acquired by Semtech, the founding member of the LoRa Alliance.

LoRa

The LoRaWAN® specification is an LPWA networking protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery-operated devices to the internet in regional, national, or global networks, and targets key IoT requirements such as bi-directional communication, end-to-end security, mobility, and localization services.

LoRaWAN

LTE-M (Long Term Evolution Machine Type Communication) is a type of 4G cellular network specifically designed for the Internet of Things that comes in two main versions: Cat-M1 and Cat-M2.

LTE-M

Matter is an open-source communication standard launched by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in 2022. It enables secure communication between smart home devices from different manufacturers and on different protocols such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Thread.

Matter

A mesh network is a flexible and resilient type of network where each device can communicate with every other device directly, without needing a central hub. This makes them adaptable to changes and failures in the network and they are commonly used in wireless systems.

Mesh Networks

Mioty is a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) technology designed for massive industrial and commercial IoT deployments. It stands out for its ability to provide reliable, scalable, and efficient connectivity even in challenging or densely packed environments. Utilizing a unique telegram-splitting technology, Mioty ensures robust data transmission with minimal interference, making it ideal for applications like smart city infrastructure, industrial monitoring, and agricultural technology. This technology supports long-range communication with low energy consumption, making it a compelling choice for IoT scenarios requiring wide coverage and long battery life.

Mioty

MQTT is a standards-based messaging protocol, or set of rules, used for machine-to-machine communication. Smart sensors, wearables, and other IoT devices use MQTT for data transmission, as it is easy to implement and can communicate IoT data efficiently. MQTT supports messaging between devices to the cloud and the cloud to the device.

MQTT

NB-IoT, or Narrowband Internet of Things, is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radio technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services. The specification was frozen in 3GPP Release 13, in June 2016. Other 3GPP IoT technologies include eMTC and EC-GSM-IoT.

NB-IoT

Understanding network standards and protocols is vital to choosing the connectivity technology to power your IoT solution or device. Some of the common IoT protocols to know are BLE, Cellular Connectivity, LPWANs, Mesh protocols, and RFID - each has its advantages and disadvantages and which one to use will be determined by your particular Applications.

Network and Protocols

NFC (near field communication) is a wireless technology that short-range communication between devices and can send data without requiring access to power, though only powered devices can receive and process data. Because NFC does not require manual pairing, it can quickly exchange data between devices that are within a few inches of each other.

Satellite LPWAN is a low-powered connectivity option that enables a direct connection between IoT devices and a telecommunications provider. Although satellite constellations used for satellite LPWAN are typically made up of smaller, cheaper satellites, the resources required to launch a satellite can often be cost-prohibitive.

Satellite

Thread is a wireless networking protocol that enables low-power and low-latency connectivity between IoT devices. It uses open standards to create reliable and secure mesh networks, making it suitable for a range of applications in smart homes, industries, and commercial environments.

Thread

Ultra-wideband (UWB) is a radio technology that can use very low energy levels for short-range, high-bandwidth communications over a large portion of the radio spectrum.

Ultra-wideband

WiFi is a low-cost connectivity option for IoT devices, as most buildings are already equipped for it. It's ideal for deployments that require high bandwidth and low latency but isn't always the best for Enterprise deployments due to a lack of reliability.

WiFi

WiFi HaLow is a technology that extends the capabilities of WiFi by using a frequency below 1 gigahertz. This allows it to provide longer-range connectivity and use less power, making it ideal for devices such as sensors and wearables. It can also penetrate walls and other obstacles more effectively than other IoT technologies, providing a more reliable connection in challenging environments.

WiFi Halow

Z-Wave is a wireless protocol used primarily for home automation and is managed by The Z-Wave Alliance. Operating on a low-frequency band, Z-Wave allows for a better device-to-device signal range, though it isn't the best when a large amount of data needs to be exchanged.

Z-Wave

Zigbee is a low-power low-data network protocol that is ideal for home automation, or other applications where devices communicate infrequently at a short range. Zigbee is ideal for allowing interoperability between devices in a Smart Home environment, where devices from different manufacturers need to communicate and exchange data.

Zigbee

Technology

Sensors are the data collection engine for most IoT systems. They detect environments, activity, and changes in state and then transmit the information to servers, the cloud, or other storage, where the data can be analyzed for use. Some common IoT sensor types include Temperature, Humidity, Location, Pressure, Fill Level, Proximity, Speed and Velocity, Chemical, and Light.

Sensors

IoT gateways enable short-range communication between different devices on the network and, through edge computing, can act as the first filter for data being transferred to the Cloud. IoT devices use gateways as a central hub for all communication with external networks.

Gateways

IoT enables drones to gather and utilize real-time data to make and execute decisions, even in critical environments - like a search and rescue mission. By communicating with other devices on the network, drones can gather information on their environments, existing needs, and their performance enabling drones to, for example, water only the dryer parts of a field or automatically respond to a dispatch.

Drones

Augmented reality (AR) combines a user's view of the real-world with a computer-generated image, often to provide contextual information. Through the integration of IoT, AR systems can request and relay data in real time.

Augmented Reality

Embedded systems are networked or otherwise connected computer systems made up of processors, memory, and input/output peripheral devices that have a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electronic system.

Embedded Systems

Data analytics is the result of the process of data analysis in which raw data is inspected, cleaned, transformed, and processed into more useful and organized formats. The goal is to find useful and new correlations and information that can inform tactical and strategic decision-making.

 

Data Analytics

Big Data is about managing large data sets, and sets of data sets, that are too large or complex to be analyzed with traditional data management methods and software. It is often made up of a combination of structured and unstructured data that can grow in size and scope at exponential rates.

 

Big Data

Low-code development is a way to make software without needing to write lots of code. You can use a platform with easy-to-use visual tools and drag-and-drop features instead of complicated programming languages.

Low Code Software

Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that allows records to be stored globally across many participating computers, ensuring that it cannot be forged or altered without changing all subsequent blocks. Blockchain technology can enable IoT devices to transfer and store data in a tamper-proof format.

Blockchain

Cloud software leverages data or programs over the Internet, enabling programs to utilize remote systems or components. Through cloud computing, IoT deployments can utilize resources remotely to simplify on-site installation and maintenance.

Cloud Software

Virtual reality (VR) immerses users in a virtual environment and enables them to interact with it, typically, in a physical way. Applications integrating IoT and VR include simulating control of something in the physical world, like a remote surgical robot, or enabling users to connect remotely in a virtual space.

Virtual Reality

Location technologies are vital to any IoT applications that require monitoring the location of assets or people. Which location technology is best for your solution depends on your needs - your access to the Internet and power, the range at which you need to track assets, and more.

Location Technology

Through the integration of IoT, wearables provide a new way for users to communicate and interact with the world. Wearables can track a user's location, provide stats for exercise, or ensure that users can be found in the case of emergencies. They can provide health information both to users and their doctors or they can provide relevant information on their environment, including weather or dangerous conditions, such as on a construction site.

Wearables

Mixed reality (MR) uses components of both virtual reality and augmented reality to create environments where both real and virtual objects coexist. Through integration with IoT, MR systems are able to access real-time data and connect with other devices to create more immersive and robust systems.

Mixed Reality

Application

Boat tracking solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and devices to track the location and performance of boats to prevent theft, manage fleets, and enable rescuers to return stranded boats to safety.

Boat Tracking

Edge computing allows data to be processed at the source, rather than the cloud. Edge computing is especially useful in situations where Internet access is intermittent or where latency is a concern.

Edge Computing

Digital transformation is the adoption of digital technology to digitize non-digital products, services, or operations. The goal is to increase value through innovation, invention, customer experience, and efficiency.

Digital Transformation

Equipment tracking is a subset of asset tracking that monitors the location of equipment through IoT-enabled sensors and devices. Equipment tracking is useful in a variety of environments, from construction sites to hospitals, to prevent theft and loss and improve operational efficiency.

Equipment Tracking

Remote management utilizes IoT devices and sensors to enable users to check in on and interact with people, equipment, or animals from anywhere. Remote management solutions may range from patient health monitoring to remote equipment and process management.

Remote Management

Smart factories are manufacturing facilities that are leveraging the power of IIoT, manufacturing analytics, predictive maintenance, and any other IoT-enabled operational and statistical tools to improve operations and outcomes.

Smart Factories

Automation is the use of technology to control processes, systems, or machines with little human intervention. It can improve efficiency and accuracy and reduce costs by eliminating manual work. It is widely used in different industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and finance.

Automation

Livestock tracking is the monitoring and management of animal movement and location using technology to gather information about their whereabouts, health, and behavior. The goal is to improve management, productivity, and animal welfare.

Livestock Tracking

Animal tracking solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and location technology, like GPS, to track the location and health of animals for applications from wildlife conservation, to consumer pet tracking, to commercial livestock health monitoring.

Animal Tracking

Route navigation uses location technologies to track people or vehicles and guide them along a predetermined route. Route navigation may include outdoor applications, like the consumer navigation applications we're familiar with, or indoor route navigation through buildings like malls, museums, or warehouses.

Route Navigation

Process automation uses IoT-enabled sensors and devices to gather information and make real-time decisions to streamline processes and remove humans from repetitive, menial tasks. By utilizing process automation, companies can eliminate human error, improve operational efficiency, and increase ROI.

Process Automation

IoT can be extremely valuable for quality management, as it can eliminate human error on production lines and take humans off of menial, repetitive tasking. Quality management solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and devices to gather real-time data on production and can instantly identify discrepancies or errors in processes.

Quality Management

Through IoT, wayfinding can become a more personalized experience for users. IoT in wayfinding relies on behavioral trends and real-time data to optimize routes and make suggestions to help users get where they're going, both indoors and out.

Wayfinding

IoT enables field services companies to automate dispatches and track their fleet to collect performance metrics and identify operational inefficiencies, as well as to monitor the status of equipment and prevent unscheduled maintenance or downtime.

Field Service

Inventory management solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and devices, like RFID tags, to tag and track inventory, typically in warehouses. Inventory management solutions improve operational efficiency, prevent inventory loss or theft, and reduce the cost of manual processes, which can be extremely time-consuming and laborious for employees.

Inventory Management

Sustainability in IoT is about leveraging connected technology to reduce emissions and drive more energy-efficient operations. Sustainable strategies can benefit almost any vertical industry but are especially impactful in the Industrial IoT (IIoT) and at the enterprise level, where economies of scale can result in exponential reductions in emissions and waste. IoT Sustainability strategies are becoming ever more important to the growth of Digital Transformation.

Sustainability

Integration services help you get the most out of your existing infrastructure while upgrading with new IoT solutions or devices. IoT integration helps to lower the cost of integrating new IoT devices by allowing you to utilize existing infrastructure, rather than replace it.

Integration Services

Research and development activities by companies, organizations, governments, and people to develop new IoT products and services and improve existing ones.

Research and Development

Factory automation is how an industrial process can be automated by using IoT-enabled devices and sensors to find efficiencies and remove humans from menial or repetitive processes in the smart manufacturing industry. Factory automation helps reduce human error, improve efficiency, and give managers greater visibility into critical processes in industrial settings.

Factory Automation

Fill-level monitoring measures and tracks the stores of a liquid within a container. Applications cover a range of applications and industries, from monitoring fuel levels within equipment to chemical or fuel tank storage on-site.

Fill Level Monitoring

Asset tracking solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and devices to track a huge variety of assets large and small, including hospital and lab equipment, individual vehicles in a fleet, or products along a manufacturing process.

Asset Tracking

Industrial automation utilizes IoT-enabled devices and sensors to remove humans from menial or repetitive processes, often in the manufacturing industry. Industrial automation helps reduce human error, improve efficiency, and give managers greater visibility into critical processes in industrial settings.

Industrial Automation

Device management is a vital part of an IoT solution's installation and continued maintenance. Device management is the process by which devices are added to a network, monitored, and maintained. This process includes provisioning, configuration, diagnostics and regular software maintenance and updates.

Device Management

Fleet management solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and devices to remotely monitor the location and performance of individual vehicles in a fleet. Fleet management solutions allow managers greater visibility of their deployments on the road, including fuel and route efficiency, and the condition and safety of cargo.

Fleet Management

Contact tracing is the public health term for the process of tracking and identifying people who may have, are, or are known to have, come into contact with a person who is known to be contagious or infected with a medical condition that can be transferred to others. It is most often used in cases of epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) to limit the spread of infection by notifying at-risk individuals and encouraging them to quarantine.

Contact Tracing

Manufacturing analytics is a specific analytical discipline that uses sensor and historical data from operations and events to improve quality and efficiency while reducing or preventing unexpected downtime events. This can lead to reduced costs, new profit centers, and more efficient supply chain operations.

Manufacturing Analytics

Smart utility meters and utility management uses IoT-enabled sensors to increase the efficiency of delivering utilities to commercial and residential spaces. These solutions can detect leaks or issues in equipment and send instant alerts to building managers to prevent damage and loss of products.

Utility Management

IoT enables waste management companies to track the fill level of individual receptacles and vehicle performance to improve operational efficiency, create more streamlined routes, and prevent unscheduled maintenance in vehicles.

Waste Management

Trailer tracking enables new visibility into the location and performance of trailers. Through IoT-enabled sensors and devices, stakeholders can see the condition and location of trailers, as well as measure the stress their cargo is put under - including temperature, shock, tilt, and impact.

Trailer Tracking

Tank level monitoring measures the fill level of liquids within tanks, and uses a variety of technology dependent on the type of liquid being measured. Applications may include fuel level monitoring for equipment or chemical storage, and help stakeholders track usage levels and monitor for leaks or theft.

Tank Level Monitoring

Building automation is the practice of streamlining and automating operational processes in a building, including adjusting temperature and controlling access. Building automation utilizes IoT-enabled sensors and devices to reduce operational costs, improve energy efficiency, and reduce repetitive tasking in office buildings, and residential and commercial spaces.

Building Automation

Predictive maintenance is the method for using statistical analysis and historical data about a machine or IoT system in order to derive from its current condition when it will need maintenance or improvement. It relies heavily on Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence for these decisions.

The goal is to save money and time over scheduled maintenance because service is only performed when needed, resulting in less waste, and also in less downtime.

Predictive maintenance is different from preventive maintenance because the true current condition of the equipment is the basis for automated decision-making, rather than based on service period estimates.

Predictive Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is work done regularly, on a schedule, to decrease the likelihood that equipment experiences malfunctions or downtime. This maintenance work is done while machines are working properly to avoid the need for putting them offline. The schedule usually is set based on manufacturer guidelines and experience and contrasts with predictive maintenance in that it does not require the use of IoT-enabled sensors or analytics. It can, however, result in greater expense through early replacement of parts or unnecessary dispatch of workers.

Preventative Maintenance

Indoor positioning is valuable for applications where an object is moving solely within one building or campus, for example, tracking equipment within hospitals or tracking valuable inventory in a retail store. Common technologies used for indoor positioning include RFID, BLE, and WiFi.

Indoor Positioning

Indoor navigation uses indoor location technology to enable wayfinding and routing inside buildings. Indoor navigation can be used for indoor asset tracking or to guide users through a complex space.

Indoor Navigation

IoT testing involves conducting a series of tests - including functional, performance, regression, integration, security, privacy, and usability tests - on an IoT solution to ensure it is suitable for real-life applications. The objective is to identify and rectify any weaknesses in the solution to ensure it functions as expected when deployed in the real world. IoT testing can happen on the device or an emulator.

Device Testing

In emergency services, every second is vital to saving and protecting lives. IoT offers ways to drastically improve operational efficiency and track performance to identify places for improvement. By automating the dispatch process, IoT can reduce the amount of time it takes for an ambulance to respond to a dispatch, or smart city devices can help guide respondents to the exact site of an emergency.

Emergency Response

Facilities management uses IoT-enable devices and sensors to gather data and automate the processes involved in managing a commercial space. Applications may include occupancy monitoring and space utilization, or strategies to reduce energy costs and improve operational efficiency.

Facilities Management

Points of sale systems utilize IoT to track inventory and give managers additional visibility into sales trends and customer behavior to help stores better appeal to customers, prevent theft, and improve operational efficiency.

Point of Sale

Leak detection solutions measure the pressure inside pipes or other closed systems to send instant alerts when a leak has been detected. Leak detection solutions eliminate the need for manual inspection, and lower the cost associated with the damage caused by undetected leaks.

Leak Detection

Outdoor navigation uses IoT-enabled sensors and devices to track objects outside of buildings. GPS is one of the most common technologies used for outdoor navigation and is useful for applications that require wayfinding and routing.

Outdoor Navigation

People management solutions use IoT-enabled sensors and devices to track and monitor the performance or health of people, rather than just location. People management solutions may include wearables that monitor staff members' performance, the health of patients both in the hospital and at home, or performance metrics associated with sports or fitness.

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