The relationship between IoT and cloud computing: why does it matter?

When enterprises and government agencies start connecting IoT to cloud computing infrastructure, it enables developers to distribute computing resources between remote services and edge devices, seamlessly.

So it doesn’t come as a surprise that we’re expected to have as much as 64 billion smart connected devices by 2025 (up from approximately 10 billion in 2018). But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s define it.

According to Gartner, IoT can be described as a network of physical objects (or smart devices) that contain embedded technology. These smart sensors and devices can be used to communicate, sense, or interact with their external environments or their internal states. 

With the rapid adoption of the cloud across industries, IoT business models and applications are now well-placed to be the catalyst of the fourth industrial revolution. 

The role of cloud computing in IoT is to provide a robust, secure architecture for a large number of solutions, services, and smart sensors to work in concert over high-speed communication channels, including 5G.

If you take a closer look at how IoT works, you’ll quickly see that it generates an enormous amount of data in real-time. So the cloud is critical to provide a route for data generated from multiple sources to travel to its final destination. 

Without the cloud, it will be difficult for organizations to embrace IoT technologies because it puts unprecedented pressure on them in terms of computing power. In other words, it provides a highly efficient platform to effectively analyze, manage, and store data generated from IoT devices.

In this scenario, it creates a wide array of opportunities for IoT cloud-based services that can enhance efficiency and help us accelerate everyday tasks. 

What are the benefits of integrating cloud and the Internet of Things technologies? 

The key benefits of cloud computing in IoT are as follows:

• The cloud helps companies achieve greater economies of scale which helps reduce overall costs
• You only pay for the computing resources you use (according to a variable expense model)
• Business can save money by not operating on-premise data centers
• As the cloud boasts agility and speed, it makes multiple resources quickly available to developers
• It takes the guesswork out of infrastructure capacity needs
• You can connect the whole world through IoT and cloud computing infrastructure

For IoT cloud-based services to thrive, providers need to enable more plug-and-play types of solutions to accelerate adoption. Cloud services providers also need to offer ready-to-use infrastructure to accommodate all types of smart objects that might not always be supported. 

Here’s what the future holds for IoT:

• Seamless integration across cloud platforms
• Increased performance (enabling rapid interactions in real-time)
• Improved security and privacy (to secure data in motion and at rest)
• Enhanced sensor networks (to ensure timely processing of sensor data)
• 5G technologies drive increased adoption

Connecting IoT to cloud computing infrastructure is what makes smart cities possible. While these technologies are different, they complement each other in multiple ways that enable innovation. 

With the right cloud computing platform, like Artmotion’s secure hosting offering, companies will be better placed to harness the real power of IoT. To learn more, schedule a commitment-free consultation today.