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The Synergy of IoT and Cloud Computing

AI, Cloud Computing | 14th Aug 2024

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The Synergy of IoT and Cloud Computing

Several studies show that plants can communicate with each other. This might not surprise you and me much because, after all, plants are also living beings. But did you ever think that one day even the lifeless objects would communicate with each other?

Welcome to the world of IoT where devices communicate!

What is IoT?

IoT (Internet of Things) is a combination of many technologies that help devices communicate with us and each other. It is a connected system of devices that uses software, the cloud, and sensors to make this communication possible.

How are IoT and Cloud Computing Connected?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is like a city filled with tiny smart devices, all chatting away like neighbors in a neighborhood. These devices collect data and communicate with each other. Cloud computing can be called the city library, where all this data is stored.

Instead of each device having to remember everything, they send their info to the cloud, which is equipped with memory and a lot of processing power. This partnership allows smarter decision-making, whether adjusting your home’s temperature or tracking your fitness goals.

Skills Required to Work with IoT and Cloud Computing

If this new world is exciting for you and you want to learn everything about it, you will have to learn a few skills. Here is how you can begin your journey in the world of IoT and cloud computing.

Learning programming languages like Python and Java should be your first step. These languages make your technical foundation strong.
It is essential to understand how devices communicate to work in this field. So, you need to learn the concepts of networking.
Data analysis is an emerging field in itself. With the digital footprints rising exponentially, you need to have a fair knowledge of data analysis tools.
Cybersecurity knowledge is as crucial as knowing about coding, networks, and data analysis.

What is the difference between IoT and Cloud Computing?

IoT and cloud computing are two different technologies. They have different problems to solve and different purposes to serve. Let us consider the following points of difference to understand how exactly these two technologies differ!

Purpose:

IoT is about connecting devices to collect and share data the devices connected through a network while cloud computing is about providing resources and services over the internet.

2. Data Flow:

IoT generates and transmits data obtained from the connected devices. On the other hand, cloud computing processes and stores that data for further analysis and application.

Does IoT require Cloud Computing?

If I have to answer in one word then my answer would be a NO.

However, the story doesn’t end here. There are always two sides to a story. IoT does not strictly require cloud computing, but the two often work together to enhance functionality and efficiency. We will take both scenarios one by one to understand the bigger picture.

IoT Without Cloud Computing

As mentioned earlier IoT can work without Cloud Computing as well. Let us see how it exactly does!

IoT can make use of edge computing, where data processing and analysis occur on the device itself instead of being sent to the cloud. This is useful in cases where low latency is required for better operations such as autonomous vehicles or real-time industrial monitoring.

As far as storage is concerned, some IoT systems can store data locally and perform processing without relying on cloud services. This can be beneficial in cases where internet connectivity is a major issue.

IoT with Cloud Computing

Now let us learn how cloud computing can provide immense benefits to IoT by making its work easier and faster.

Scalability: Cloud computing provides the resources needed to handle large volumes of data from numerous IoT devices. This data requires a scalable platform that is provided by the cloud.
Data Storage and Analysis: The cloud offers virtually unlimited storage and advanced analytics capabilities, allowing organizations to derive insights from large datasets generated by IoT devices.
Remote Access: The cloud offers remote access to IoT devices. This makes it easier to manage and update them without physical presence.
Cost-Effectiveness: Using cloud resources is more cost-effective than investing in extensive on-premises infrastructure.

Cloud computing provides an added advantage to IoT. Though IoT has the ability to survive on its own, the cloud computing service can significantly boost its performance many folds.

Future IoT Trends

The incredible technology of IoT has the ability to revolutionize the entire world. It has the potential to change the way we live today by completely modifying our present-day devices to make our lives easier than ever before. Here are some top IoT trends that we may encounter in the coming future.

With a lot of data being generated by IoT devices, it will give exponential rise to two technologies – Blockchain for the security of this huge data and Machine Learning for finding the hidden pattern in the unstructured pile of data

Apart from this, IoT will crawl its feet in many industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. Smart cities, for a sustainable future, will finally begin to transform traffic and waste management by making optimum use of IoT devices.