The IoT and the Cloud have become two very closely affiliated future technologies with one providing the other a platform. Read on to know more…
Traditionally, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Cloud is viewed as set of technologies which is viewed in silo. Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices and digital machines that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network.
Today, Cloud Computing has penetrated mainstream IT and its infrastructure more than ever before. Several tech organizations such as Amazon, Alibaba, Google and Oracle are building Machine Learning tools with the help of Cloud technology to offer a wide range of solutions to businesses worldwide.
Cloud & IoT
Cloud Computing, as well as IoT, work towards increasing the efficiency of everyday tasks and both have a complementary relationship. On one hand, IoT generates lots of data while on the other hand, Cloud Computing paves way for this data to travel. There are many Cloud providers who take advantage of this to provide a pay-as-you-use model where customers pay for the specific resources used. Also, Cloud hosting as a service adds value to IoT startups by providing economies of scale to reduce their overall cost structure.
Another benefit of Cloud Computing for the IoT is that Cloud Computing enables better collaboration which is essential for developers today. By allowing developers to store and access data remotely, developers can access data immediately and work on projects without delay.
By storing data in the Cloud, this enables IoT companies to change directly quickly and allocate resources in different areas. Big Data has emerged in the past couple of years and with such emergence the Cloud has become the architecture of choice. Most companies find it feasible to access the massive quantities of Big Data via the Cloud.
Why Cloud is Necessary for IoT
Cloud as a technology empowers IoT to move beyond regular appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators etc. This is because the Cloud has such a vast storage that it takes away dependencies on on-premise infrastructure. With the rise of miniaturization and transition of 4G to higher internet speeds, the Cloud will allow developers to offload fast computing processes.
IoT’s role in harnessing mobility is immense. However, its prowess would be incomplete without security. Cloud has made IoT more secure with preventive, detective and corrective controls. It has enabled users with strong security measures by providing effective authentication and encryption protocols. In addition to this, managing and securing the identity of users has been possible for IoT products with the help of biometrics. All of this is possible because of Cloud’s security.
Cloud acts as a bridge in the form of a mediator or communication facilitator when it comes to IoT. Several powerful APIs like Cloudflare, CloudCache and Dropstr are enabled by Cloud communications, allowing easy linking to smartphones. This eases devices to talk to each other and not just us, which essentially is the tenet of IoT Cloud.
The Road Ahead
The integration of Cloud computing and IoT is indicative of the next big leap in the world of internet. New applications brimming from this combination known as IoT Cloud are opening newer avenues for business as well as research. Let us hope that this combination unveils a new paradigm for the future of multi-networking and an open service platform for users.
