Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the billions of devices around the globe that are now connected to the Internet, all accumulating and sharing the data. Thanks to the high demand for super-cheap computer chips and the omnipresence of wireless networks, it’s possible to turn anything, from as small as a pin to something as big as an airplane, into the part of the IoT. Adding RFID tags to high-priced pieces to help track their location was one of the first IoT applications.
What is the IoT Device
An IoT device is not a computer or server but a kind of Machine that stores and sends the data to a centralized server and operates through the Internet. Today there are billions of IoT devices like Hand watches, mobile, TV, even autonomous cars.
Connecting up all these different objects and adding sensors adds the level of digital intelligence to devices that would be otherwise dumb, enabling them to communicate in real-time data without involving the human being.
The Internet of Things is making the foundation of the world around us smarter and more responsive, merging the digital and physical universes.
IoT Devices can receive, store, aggregate, and transmit the information to the server. They are always in touch with the Internet and do as we command through an application or web platform.
The data can be stored on the dedicated server or cloud, but the device should be interacting with the server to work correctly.
So from your mobile phone, you can operate your home’s TV, Fridge, lights, or even a car. Almost anything you can operate remotely through IoT devices.
What is Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has entered the mainstream of information technology, providing scalability in delivering enterprise applications and Software as a Service (SaaS).
Companies are now migrating their IT operations to the cloud. Many cloud providers can allow the data to be transferred via your traditional internet connection or a dedicated direct link.
The benefit of the direct link into the cloud will make sure that your data is uncontended and that the traffic is not crossing the Internet, and the Quality of Service will be assured.
IoT Devices and Cloud Computing
IoT devices need backend servers, where cloud computing enters the chat ;P.
What if we store all our IoT device data on the cloud, and that device interacts with the cloud.
Sounds cool, right. Let’s see how cloud computing and IoT work together. IoT and cloud computing is data production and what you are doing with those data. IoT devices need to respond to the cloud server’s response.
For example, Multi-Rotor Drone transmits the information it gathers to a central computer that sits on a cloud. In addition, the drone captures images and videos which need to communicate to the server to analyze later.
IoT Device Data
An IoT device deals with two types of data.
- Local storage (Limited to the device)
- Remote storage (Cloud storage)
Local storage
If we take an example of a drone, then the drone has its code store inside the Machine, which operates within the drone and performs the activity like capturing images or doesn’t collide with other objects.
Also, some data does not need to transmit to the cloud servers, but instead, we need to store it inside the device; that is where local storage comes in.
Remote storage (Cloud storage)
For example, we can save the videos and images on AWS S3 storage. So the drone captures the videos and images, sends them back to the S3 storage, and saves all the content in that storage.
Also, the cloud providers provide the cloud database, which stores the device’s other notable information. Also, cloud databases are easy to scale up as per our requirements.
So, the combination of cloud computing and IoT devices are unavoidable. IoT devices need a secure server that can handle any amount of traffic and is robust in performance. Only cloud computing can provide all kinds of in-demand services to IoT devices.
IoT and Business Analytics and Machine Learning
After we get the data from IoT devices, we need to analyze and interpret that data and send back the response to the IoT devices. The meaning of Machine Learning means the Machine learns itself based on the information it gets.
To get Machine learning capability, AWS and Azure provide robust support for the machine learning models. You can quickly analyze and train the model and then implement the model in the drone so that drone learns itself.
Applications of IoT, Business analysis, and Machine learning is limitless. You can do whatever based on the collected data, and without cloud computing, you can not easily integrate all these different pieces in one roof.
IoT and Cloud Usecase
- Healthcare services
- Financial services
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Law enforcement
Difference Between Cloud Computing and IoT
Cloud computing, in simple terms, means accessing the data and programs from a centralized pool of computing resources that can be ordered and consumed on-demand.
Meanwhile, the Internet of Things(IoT) refers to a connection of devices other than the usual such as computers, to the Internet.
Cars, kitchen appliances, and other sensors can be connected through the IoT. The IoT is an enabler for change. It enables systems and devices to be automated in a cost-effective, intelligent manner supporting real-time control and monitoring.
In Cloud computing, the cloud is nothing but a remote storage location. Cloud computing refers to storing and retrieving any data over the Internet from data centers. The data can be application data, videos, photos, documents, audio, and more.
IoT refers to connecting specific devices to the Internet. But not regular devices like computers, laptops, and smartphones. If we connect some devices to resolve any particular issue under the Internet of Things.
IoT-related Cloud services.
Many cloud service providers have identified this need and started giving IoT-specific services to companies to create better IoT solutions.
Microsoft has Azure IoT, Amazon AWS IoT, SAP Hana, IBM Cloud, etc. This extends the functionality of building IoT applications in the cloud.
Conclusion
In truth, cloud computing and IoT are tightly coupled. The growth of IoT and the rapid development of associated technologies create a widespread connection of “things.” This has to lead to large amounts of data, which needs to be stored, processed, and accessed.
In conclusion, with the help of cloud computing, IoT will dramatically change the way we live our daily lives and what and how information is managed.
Thanks to its on-demand nature, cloud computing is available for use anytime and anywhere so long as the device is connected to the Internet based on the Software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or infrastructure as a service (IaaS) service model.
