getting smart with microsoft azure internet of things · 2020-04-26 · although there is a lot of...
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Internet of ThingsWhat exactly is the Internet of Things? Gartner’s IT Glossary describes it like this: “The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects that contain embedded technology to communicate and sense or interact with their internal states or the external environment.” If the whole idea of the Internet of Things is already overwhelming, this definition does not make it any easier. Another definition by Business Insider explains IoT as a “network of internet-connected objects able to collect and exchange data using embedded sensors.” This already clarifies the concept a little bit more. The simplest explanation, however, is found on Forbes: “simply put, IoT is the concept of basically connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet (and/or to each other).” That is a definition one can work with. The device - the “thing” - can be anything from mobile phones, ovens, lamps, wearable devices, cars, but also components
of machines, for example an airplane jet engine or an oil drilling rig. In fact, the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), which was first introduced in 1967, is considered one of the first IoT objects.
The ATM is considered one of the first IoT objects,
introduced as far back as 1967.
Spread and riseIn 2015, 4.9 billion connected ‘things’ were already in use and will reach the number of 25 billion by 2020, says Gartner. Looking ahead to 2025, IDC predicts that approximately
The Internet of Things, often referred to as IoT, is undoubtedly one of emerging technologies creating a huge buzz. Although ‘Thing’ was already a famous fictional character in the American TV series The Addams Family back in the 1960s, no one would have thought that five decades later a whole array of ‘things’, all connected through something called ‘the internet’ would be making our life easier. If ‘Thing’ only had known…
IT service providers (ITSPs), including hosting and managed service providers, might think that IoT is still too distant from their usual business. But is it, really? This white paper sets out to describe IoT in general, zoom in on IoT on Microsoft Azure, and highlight new business opportunities for ITSPs, as inspiration for their own IoT strategies.
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Getting smart with Microsoft Azure Internet of Things
80 billion devices will be connected to the internet by then. Gartner estimates that IoT will support total services spending of $69.5 billion in 2015 and $263 billion by 2020. Over the next two years, IDC forecasts worldwide spending on IoT to reach $1.29 trillion. No matter how bright the future ahead may be, the rise in connected devices and the colossal expansion of data will boost IoT’s economic impact, since many new and/or improved ways of using IoT technology will arise in almost every aspect of our lives. Also, many objects which are currently ‘passive’ are expected to be re-invented or re-designed to include digital sensing, computing and communications capabilities, opening up entirely new services, usage scenarios and business models.
IoT will be used everywhere: in manufacturing, healthcare, homes, cities, natural resources, transportation, retail. Just think of beer taps connected to kegs, keyless hotel room entry on smartphones, smart garbage and recycling bins, Bluetooth-connected digital stethoscopes. Gartner provides an interesting infographic on the basics of the Internet of Things with these examples.
Check out Gartner’s interesting infographic on the basics of the
Internet of Things
A typical IoT solution architectureThe Forbes definition of connecting devices with an on/off switch to the internet or to each other is useful for a basic understanding of the IoT concept. Switching on or off the home lighting or central heating system remotely is one thing, but a business handling massive amounts of data is another! Businesses will derive real value from IoT when two key components are incorporated in the IoT architecture, next to data gathering: analytics and visualisation. These will help them manage, improve or redesign business processes and results based on real-life and continuous data collection.
Four elementsBasically, the Internet of Things encompasses four elements: 1. Sensing: gather information through devices, sensors,
wearables or any other ‘thing’ that measures something. Sensing can be biometric, biological, environmental, visual or audible (or all of them).
2. Connectivity and communication: connect the device directly or through an intermediate gateway to the cloud for subsequent processing.
3. Data processing and analytics: process and analyse the data derived from the information gathered, combine with other cloud-based data, and store the information or act on the data in order to provide valuable information.
4. Presentation: visualise the data through a BI interface (Business Intelligence) to the end user in the simplest and most transparent way possible.
The diagram below shows a typical IoT architecture.
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Source: Microsoft
Device connectivity
IP-capabledevice
IoT client
Existing IoTdevives
IoT client
Low-powerdevices
Data processing andanalytics
IoT solution Backend
Clou
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tew
ay
Pre
sent
atio
n an
d bu
sine
ss c
onne
ctiv
ity
Presentation
Gateway
IoT client
Data pathOptional solution componentIoT solution component
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Where and how to start with IoT for IT service providersAlthough there is a lot of buzz surrounding the Internet of Things, it is an all-encompassing new technology, which will no doubt conquer and change the world as we know it. Just like the cloud was a couple of decades ago and is a fact of life today.
IoT will create huge opportunities for businesses to enable, use, analyse, and act on collected data. In this way, companies and organisations can improve their efficiency continually. However, businesses easily get overwhelmed and lost by IoT, causing them to move away from new business openings it represents. A missed opportunity, according to Barb Edson, General Manager of Marketing in the Cloud & Enterprise division at Microsoft: “Many people
are scared of IoT from a business standpoint, and they really shouldn’t be. It’s not about ripping out and replacing existing systems. It’s about looking at which business processes you can really impact. Start small and you can have a big impact.”
IoT: “Start small and you can have a big impact.”
Extend beyond connectivityIT service providers (ITSPs) will find major opportunities in helping their customers or end users implement and benefit from IoT. The main advantage for ITSPs will be exploiting scale and scope economies through their platforms in a
secure and highly reliable manner, which is hard to achieve for individual companies, if not impossible.Customer requirements will extend well beyond connectivity to include security, privacy, applications, analytics, cloud and managed services, as well as big data management. This is where ITSPs will find new business opportunities, based on their extensive knowledge and years of expertise on the provisioning of managed services.
Hosting providersTraditional hosting companies might still consider IoT as too remote from the hosting services they are currently offering. However, it is highly recommended to start thinking about ways of provisioning IoT to end users now. Hosting providers will find new business opportunities in providing end users with the appropriate hosting services to run IoT on Azure, with a special focus on licensing, for example. In addition, new opportunities will arise in data gathering, data management and data interpretation. It might be interesting for hosting providers to also think about adding data science to their portfolio or team up with managed service providers to start new alliances.
Managed service providers Managed service providers offering applications, data, storage, or other services through Azure, are perhaps more familiar with IoT. Relying on the data they are already collecting, storing or analysing, they can probably identify new business opportunities more easily.
New, challenging business opportunities with IoT occur if both hosting and managed service providers can help end users:
• Save money. ITSPs can leverage new cloud technologies to help end
users utilise data from IoT sensors in order to improve strategic and operational decision making within their organisations.
• Improve customer understanding. ITSPs can help end users gain better insights into what
customers do, want or expect by gathering and analysing the data collected on IoT sensors and devices.
• Start new services. With all the data available, ITSPs can help end users
develop new services and create new customer value propositions. Just think of offering remote monitoring or predictive maintenance services or go as far as tractor manufacturer John Deere, who is greatly immersed in precision agriculture, offering customers spot-on information on when to harvest, which fertiliser to use, and more, all based on the data their devices and sensors are collecting.
• Drive revenue or increase efficiency.
ITSPs are in the position to help end users collect, store and analyse data generated by IoT devices into valuable insights in order to improve and optimise business operations and procedures.
A step-by-step approachAs said above, ITSPs can get the best value from IoT by starting small and taking a step-by-step approach towards an IoT strategy which will lead to a key corporate value proposition: help end users make better decisions.
These five steps are an initial set-up for ITSPs to get started on leveraging IoT:1. Start with an inventory of services which are already
in place in the fields of data sensing, gathering, management, analytics, troubleshooting, and more.
2. Make an analysis of how these services connect to IoT.3. Gain insight into what end users really want and need to
leverage their Internet of Things.4. Identify one or two core business segments, verticals,
or areas to focus on in order to differentiate from competitors.
5. Partner with other ITSPs to deliver connected products and processes across different ecosystems, hardware, software, technologies, and applications.
Microsoft Azure CloudMicrosoft Azure is the ideal, ready-to-use cloud platform to connect IoT and release new business opportunities ranging from increasing process efficiency, delivering better customer experiences, to generating new revenue streams. It covers all elements of the typical IoT architecture described above:• Device connectivity and management• Data processing and analytics• Presentation and business integration
Azure IoT offers several options, each appropriate for different sets of customer requirements:• Azure IoT Suite is an enterprise-grade collection of
preconfigured solutions built on Azure Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that enabling ITSPs to accelerate the development of custom IoT solutions. Examples of preconfigured solutions include remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and connected factory.
• Microsoft IoT Central is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that uses a model-based approach to enable ITSPs to build enterprise-grade IoT solutions without a minimum of cloud solution development expertise.
Azure IoT Hub is the core Azure PaaS that both Microsoft IoT Central and Azure IoT Suite use. IoT Hub enables reliable and securely bidirectional communications between millions
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of IoT devices and a cloud solution. IoT Hub helps ITSPs meet IoT implementation challenges such as: • High-volume device connectivity and management.• High-volume telemetry ingestion.• Command and control of devices.• Device security enforcement.
How Insight can helpKnowing that the cloud offers huge opportunities for ITSPs is one thing. Understanding the cloud business and knowing how to capitalise on it is another! In cooperation with Microsoft, Insight offers a whole range of consultancy services, tools and support to help ITSPs to onboard smoothly and maximise their cloud business.
Our advice is to take it step-by-step. First of all, contact us at Insight. We have a team of experienced consultants to discuss business opportunities. Together, we will go through all the following relevant issues in order to formulate your needs and wishes:• Scenarios applicable to the business in a Discovery
Workshop• Opportunities to differentiate and build the best-fit
‘package’ offering• Licensing, Program details & program pricing• Technical Support• Managing and Provisioning
Blue Metal – an Insight companyAt Insight, we have our own specialist and dedicated team of digital innovators and masters of IoT. Acquired in 2015, Blue Metal is an Insight division with deep expertise in digital innovation and IoT solutions. Blue Metal received the 2016 Microsoft IoT Partner of the Year award and has many years of experience in implementing IoT solutions in various industries, including financial services, health and life sciences, manufacturing, and the travel & hospitality sector. Especially for IoT scenarios, their great expertise and extensive knowledge is at hand for the benefit of all our partners.
• Scenarios applicable to the business in a Discovery Workshop
• Opportunities to differentiate and build the best-fit ‘package’ offering
• Licensing, Program details & program pricing• Technical Support• Managing and Provisioning
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