IoT Business Solutions: Everything you Need to Know

The Complete Guide to IOT (Internet of Things)

• What is IoT?

  First of all, what exactly is IoT? We know it stands for the Internet of Things, but what does that mean? Is it just an annoying buzzword that will soon go out of fashion?

  You probably know more about it than you think, and in fact, you’ve probably been using it for some time.

  It refers to smart devices that are connected to the internet. There were more than 10 billion active  IoT devices across the world in 2021 and that number is growing rapidly all the time.

  Click here to read more about What is IOT.

• Practical Example of an IOT Solution

  Do you have a smart doorbell that alerts you via your mobile phone when someone is at the door? Maybe you use Amazon’s Alexa smart speaker or Google’s version, Home? Congratulations, you’re part of the IoT generation.

• Why IOT is Important

  In short, IoT improves our lives in the home through the sheer convenience of remote doorbells, alarm systems and heating systems, for example. 

  Most IoT devices use sensors and machine learning to adapt perfectly to the user’s individual preferences on their own, although they can be controlled via your smartphone. Think: smart fridges, augmented reality glasses, smart security systems and even connected cars. We could go on. But it is in industry that IoT is making big waves. Which leads us to our next acronym: IIoT.

• IoT vs IIoT: What is the difference?

  Short answer: it’s the difference between your Amazon Alexa gadget in the home (IoT) and the technology Amazon uses in its warehouses to deliver shelves of products to workers (IIoT)

  IIoT stands for Industrial Internet of Things and it is revolutionising manufacturing and commerce.

  IIOT covers the application of IoT in commerce and manufacturing from remotely-linked vending machines that communicate with the supply chain to restock automatically or report mechanical faults to the completely mechanised automatic assembly plants used to build modern cars and everything in between. 

  IIoT in medicine and industry is radically changing the world by allowing remote monitoring of patients, overview of large-scale HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning) to the amazing advances in agricultural IIoT.

  If you want to improve your team's efficiency and productivity, IoT can complete mundane tasks automatically, leaving you more time to focus on your business. Similarly, IoT devices can automatically collect and retain customer data, so you can better anticipate the needs of your clients, as well as saving you time by automatically sending out follow-ups, reminders and so on. Offer a variety of services without breaking the bank, improve quantity without compromising on quality, and overall create a secure and high-tech environment that makes life easier for employees and impresses customers, all with IoT.

• What is IOE?

  Let’s round off this section with one last acronym: IoE.

  If IIoT is a subset of IoT, referring only to its use in industry, then IoE is a superset, referring to everything and everyone involved in any aspect of the internet: the data, the people, devices, even the communications network itself.

  If you’re interested, you can read more about the Difference Between IoT & IoE

• What is IoT Device Management?

  If you have a fleet of IoT devices, perhaps spread across multiple workplaces or venues, IoT Device Management allows you to remotely access, control, maintain and diagnose the entire fleet at the one time.

  Software updates and patches can be applied simultaneously to all the devices rather than plodding through each one individually. Diagnostic services can flag up impending problems, allowing you to fix them before they occur.

   

  Security

  IOT Device Management is important for providing security, making sure that only permitted devices are connected to your system and preventing unauthorised access from intruders.

  Sometimes overlooked but crucial for security is the decommissioning of devices at end of life: ensuring that all redundant devices are completely disconnected from the network before disposal and that all sensitive security information is deleted.

  Your Comms Group are experts in all aspects of IoT/IoTT Device Management.

• What is M2M Communication in IoT?

  M2M Communication: another acronym but a simple, yet critical concept. It refers to Machine to Machine Comms: devices talking to each other directly and cutting out the human.

  Communication between devices, without any human input, is clearly key to IoT operation. This is what allows an IoT vending machine to automatically replenish stock by communicating with the warehouse, for example.

  There is a slight difference between M2M and IoT communication. M2M devices can communicate in wired or wireless form, with or without internet, whereas IoT communication specifically refers to the interaction between wireless devices using internet connectivity.

  But while M2M allows a machine to talk to another machine, IoT links together unlimited amounts of devices via Cloud technology, allowing many-to-many communications.

  There are basically 2 levels of communication: between devices and from device to the internet. Usually, these connections are unwired but can be wired in certain circumstances.

  From start to finish, the protocol begins with the IoT device itself, be that a smart watch or an industrial machine. Next is the local communications, or how the device communicates with its fellow devices, and the application protocol that decides how the data will be moved to the next stage.

  Gateways (for example, a smart watch uses a mobile phone as a gateway to communicate with the internet) provide a link between the IoT device and the internet, transmitting the information. Network servers are usually located within the cloud and manage how exactly the data is transmitted, and cloud applications transform the IoT data into something useable by humans. Finally, the user interface allows us to view the IoT information, make any changes and send it back along the line to the device itself.

  Use of an IoT Cloud Platform makes an IoT-communicating system infinitely scalable, growing alongside your business.

  Maximum coverage and connectivity can be ensured by installing multi-network IoT SIM cards, so communications continue uninterrupted, 24/7.

   

  Multi-network IoT SIM cards are made available by Your Comms Group. We offer multi-card discounts and a range of tariffs designed to suit your IoT environment.

• What is an IoT SIM card?

  The obvious answer is that an IoT SIM card is a SIM card that connects an IoT device to the Internet. But how does an IoT SIM card differ from the SIM card in your mobile phone?

  Device-Device Connection

  Traditional SIM cards operate by connecting your device to a single network, but IoT SIMS can connect all of your Internet of Things items to each other, connecting primarily to a host network that transfers data between the whole of the IoT platform easily and efficiently.

  Multi-Network

  Also, most mobile phone SIMs are linked to just one single network. This is sufficient most of the time but will occasionally lead to temporary losses in communication as you move in and out of signal. A Multi-Network SIM overcomes this problem by linking to multiple mobile networks at once, ensuring that signal is never lost, no matter how mobile you or the IoT devices are.

  Aggregated Data Packages

  Aggregated Data means you are not faced with escalating data-usage bills from your mobile provider for multiple IoT devices.

  Our IoT SIM tariffs let all of your devices take data from the same source, regardless of the quantity that is used by each individual IoT device. Sharing data across your SIM cards lowers the chances of being charged for out-of-bundle data usage.

  Remote Moderation

  Your Comms Group supply IoT SIMs with fixed IP address, unlike the dynamic IP address SIM in your mobile. Why does this matter? It means all devices always keep the same address and allows remote access to retrieve information on demand, without having to wait for devices to contact base.

  More Robust – Longer Life

  The SIM in your phone is not designed for rough handling and it is expected to last around 3 years.

  Our IoT SIMS are much more robust, designed to last in excess of 10 years.

  Versatile

  We provide the appropriate type of SIM, according to your needs.

  • A standard UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) SIM is familiar in shape and size, as a straightforward removable plastic chip.
    
  • A MFF2 UICC (Machine-to-Machine Form Factor Universal Integrated Circuit Card) is vacuum-sealed during the manufacturing process, so it cannot be removed from your IoT once it is inserted. This increases your SIM’s lifespan and durability.

  • Or, an e-SIM or eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) is a digitised version of the typical SIM card. It is reprogrammable, and generally works out as cheaper, more secure, and makes it more straightforward to manage a large number of devices at one time.

  Want to know more about IoT SIM cards?

• What is Mobile IoT?

  Following from above, Mobile IoT, aka Cellular IoT, is IoT connected via a mobile phone network.

  There are two forms of technology used by IoT applications, LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) and NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT).

  LTE-M is most common in Western countries. It allows your IoT devices to simply and easily use the cloud to communicate, and is great for situations where urgent, real-time transfer of data is essential, including data in large amounts.

  NB-IoT transfers data on a smaller scale than LTE networks, only using a small amount of bandwidth and it is suitable for transmitting smaller amounts of data every now and again. This form of network is more common in certain areas of Europe and other developing areas.

  LTE-M excels at handling IoT in motion, able to create new connections between cell towers smoothly and without interruption. Thus, LTE-M is ideal for tracking valuable items in transit, such as shipping containers being sent overseas. The high capabilities of LTE-M allow for updates regarding the location of the item in real time.

  NB-IoT provides great extended coverage, and is perfect for a back-and-forth communication at regular intervals from static locations. The bandwidth is smaller, but the system is nevertheless highly reliable and perfect for handling less expansive and smaller-scale IoT operations. For example, in the hospitality sector, NB-IoT is great for keeping an eye on smoke, fire and toxic gas detectors, sending periodic updates to a backend system.

• How IoT Can Be Used in Healthcare?

  IoT is a complete game-changer in many fields of medicine. Until not so long ago, a doctor had to be in the room with the patient in order to conduct any form of physical check-up.

  Now, wearable sensors can continuously monitor and record vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc., submit reports regularly and on demand and even immediately alert the doctor in the event of any sudden change or emergency.

  A special benefit of wearable heart monitors is that they can detect occasional anomalies in cardiac activity, occurring just once or twice in any 24-hour period, that may be missed in short ECG checks Of course, monitoring patients outside of traditional healthcare settings reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections, such as Covid.

  Depression and Mental Health

  The benefits of IoT even extend into the field of mental health medicine. The development of IoT devices that are mood aware has been a game changer, analysing physical data (e.g. heart rate) to paint an emotional picture.

  If you're working in the healthcare sector, Your Comms Group provide workforce solutions that allow you and your team to offer your patients the best help possible. We also offer a range of bespoke, multi-network IoT SIM cards with multi-card discounts that are designed to suit you and your environment. For more information, take a look at our online prices or speak to an agent today.

• How to Protect IoT Devices

  Now that we know more about IoT and the value of an IoT network to our business or even to save lives, it is time to look at how to protect it.

  Specifically, we need to know How to Protect IoT Devices. Clearly, exposing even just one IoT device to a malicious third party could be disastrous, allowing access to the entire network.

  However, there a few simple but highly effective measures you can implement to protect your network.

  Strong Passwords

  We know we shouldn’t use easily guessed words or numbers such as birthdays or names. Random collections of numbers and letters, frequently changed – every 1-3 months or so – are much more effective. We should also change the name of the network itself at the same time.

  But how will we remember them if they don’t mean anything to us? We certainly want to avoid keeping them somewhere written down.

  The answer is a password manager. Store all your passwords safely and change them regularly without the risk of forgetting one at a crucial moment.

  MFA

  MFA - Multi-Factor Authentication ups the ante even further by adding an extra step of authentication to the login process. This might be a code sent to your mobile device to input or a key installed on a USB stick that must be physically inserted to gain access.

  WPA2 
  It goes without saying that your router should feature enhanced security such as WPA2. If not, upgrade.

  Network Segmentation 

  You can segment your network into isolated sub-networks. This minimises the damage if one part of your network is compromised. It means you can sink more security resources into the network areas that need it most.

  There are endless ways you can protect your IoT devices; how you choose to implement these methods, and which you choose, are entirely up to you! Don’t let security fears put you off investing in the future of your business. Talk to one of our friendly agents about How to Protect IoT Devices and IOT for your business.

• Why IoT Needs 5G

  As the usage of IoT devices increases, so does the range of IoT equipment available, which translates to hundreds of millions more IoT devices in use, year on year.

  5G allows health conditions to be monitored remotely, industrial manufacturers to use robots to save on human labour and turning on your living room lights to be done with a simple voice command. 5G has caused a similar impact on efficiency and productivity, allowing for more stable connections that are continuing to advance all the time - even as you read this article.

  This places massive pressure on mobile networks to handle demand, which is where 5G comes in.

  5G IoT technology goes beyond just another technological advancement; it's transforming the way we communicate globally, combining unrivalled speed with ever-expanding bandwidth and an extraordinary efficiency of power.

  Let’s look at some specifics about Why IoT need 5G.

  Reduced Latency

  Latency is the time lag between issuing an instruction to a device and the device responding. While it is may be just frustrating to wait a few seconds after asking Alexa to play a song or turn down the lights before anything happens, it can be crucially important to have an instant response for functions such as remote interventions in surgical procedures or transport systems.

  With 5G you can say goodbye to lags with a ten times lower latency than that of 4G. This means such tasks and systems can be performed in real time, running much more quickly and smoothly.

  Specifically, 5G with IoT can increase transmission speed all the way to 15-20 Gbps, and added emphasis on using the cloud means that there will no longer be a need for the installation of processors in your IoT devices. Instead, you can speedily and seamlessly execute commands from the cloud itself.

  INCREASE IN CONNECTED DEVICES

  One of the biggest selling points of IoT is its unusual capacity for connectivity. So, for example, via 5G industrial plants could potentially have thousands of IoT devices installed and connected, all operating smoothly and effectively, able to exchange data at super-fast speeds.

  MORE RELIABLE CONNECTIONS

  The result of a decrease in latency and an increase in connected devices and speed means connections that are much more reliable overall. Reliable connections are important for IoT in every form, but especially for purposes such as home security systems, medical equipment and other devices that need real-time updates in order to be fully valuable.

• Why You Need Multi-Network Resilient SIMs

  Losing network signal can be potentially detrimental to your business operations, which is a perfect example as to why you need multi-network resilient IoT SIMs. There is no point investing resources in IoT if you are at constant risk of signal interruption bringing everything down at the worst possible moment. In the case of a loss of signal to your IoT device, multi-network SIMs will save the day by switching to another network with a stronger signal.

  Multi-network IoT SIMs let you stay connected on the move - literally. Use your roaming service and stay on top of your IoT devices when you're in moving vehicles, or even abroad. They're also a great solution for GPS tracking in the case overseas cargos, being much more likely to maintain a reliable signal than single-network SIMs.

  And it’s not just IoT devices on the move, moving in and out of signal, that need Multi-Network Resilient SIMs. Occasionally, one mobile network will go down in certain areas, due to necessary maintenance, system upgrade work, or simply because of a localised fault.

  Multi-Network IoT SIM Cards are available with Your Comms Group, with applicable multi-card discounts. Various Tariffs are available to suit your IoT Environment, with prices online. Speak to an Agent about our best price now.

• Which Cloud is Best for IoT?

  The famous English poet Wordsworth may have written about a single, lonely cloud, but in IT terms there are a lot of cloud platforms to choose from.

  Having come so far on your IoT journey to propel your business in the direction of growth and success, it is imperative to make sure that you choose the right cloud platform for you.

  Cloud IoT platforms are commercial versions of a cloud platform, built for business. Scalable, with commercial-level maximum security, and ready to handle anything a growing business might throw at it.

  Capacity

  What’s the benefit of a Cloud IoT platform? One big difference is the cloud platform's capacity. The software has the ability to deal with processing high quantities of data generated by multiple devices, all in real time.
  

  No matter what you throw at it, you have the ability to access any and all data from absolutely anywhere.

  Secure

  Cloud IT platforms offered by Your Comms Group offer the highest level of industrial security against intruders and malware

  Scalable

  They generally work out as a cheaper option, with a lower cost upfront, flexible pricing options and the lack of maintenance costs that might come with on-site hardware. Added advantage is peace of mind when you need to scale up, that it’s all taken care of. Instead of building the underlying infrastructure and services from scratch, you just hire more cloud space or another virtual server. No additional hardware to install, integrate, maintain and keep secure.