Systems that are capable of delivering useful solutions require more options in the world today – from data acquisition and initial processing at the edge and IoT to big data, correlation analysis, and more on the cloud. In this article, we’ll go through some of the major trends and advancements in cloud computing and how IoT can fit into and enhance developments.

The extreme growth of cloud computing technologies and capabilities has opened the door to opportunities and advancements in every step of the data lifecycle. Demand is growing at an accelerated pace. While breaking into the market is still (and will likely always be) a challenge, growth in all fields, including IoT, will continue for years to come.

IoT Elevates Serverless Cloud Computing

The serverless model of cloud computing features a common structure that employs a ‘pay-as-you-go’ structure. These plans are more flexible than the standard model of renting entire servers which allow companies to have more control over their expense on cloud hosting. A few examples of this that we’ve seen take the lead over the past few years are AWS, Azure, and Google – others are sure to join.

Depending on what kind of devices and sensors are being used, IoT data doesn’t always deliver data at a constant rate. A project that uses something like this PFM-M2351 from Nuvoton could be set up to deliver data at specific times or only when certain triggers occur. Projects using similar devices are a perfect match for serverless cloud computing. Irregular data streams should have a ‘pay-as-you-go’ counterpart in the cloud, it just makes sense.

Improved Hybrid Cloud Computing with IoT

Additional flexibility for companies to maintain their cloud-based system is a priority for many. It can be a deciding factor when hyper controllable network security is required. The ‘hybrid’ definition in this cloud computing type stems from the use of both public and private cloud within one architecture. Companies can manage their private cloud for sensitive applications and data, and use the public cloud for other computing tasks.

Considering how important data security is these days, being able to use specific IoT devices or send x data to a public cloud while using different devices or send y data to a private cloud gives customers and users more control when they need it. Depending on the project scope, IoT devices using boards like the IoT-M263A for private cloud purposes while other devices use something more like the PFM-NUC472 for public cloud could be a good solution. The nice thing about the hybrid solution is that it opens up the door to using so many different IoT devices together.

Kubernetes for Mass IoT

Kubernetes have gained a lot of interest as well as use in recent years. Kubernetes are a cloud computing technology used to manage container-based systems. It is an open-source, Linux-based platform that clusters groups of containers and provides management for the cluster. These clusters are extremely scalable and can cover public, private, and hybrid clouds.

This is ideal for systems that use a massive amount of IoT devices. Projects slated to work with systems like this could benefit by using varied or customizable IoT devices. Having a board like the PFM-M487 in your project would ensure options remain open.

Cloud Computing Needs More IoT Solutions

Without IoT, cloud computing would not have many of the things which make it great – it wouldn’t have accurate and useful data for one.

How many projects and IoT devices now use cloud computing? Which kind of cloud computing is it? Take a minute to check who your target audience is and how they plan on using your product. It’s almost guaranteed that connectivity to some type of cloud computing is somewhere in their list of needs. The chances are also high that one of those types was listed above. It’s your job to deliver as many answers and solutions to them as possible – and ensure that your product can fit into whatever they have planned. It takes a lot to put together a project and having an expert, or a team of experts, in your corner can be the deciding factor in how successful your project is.

TechDesign works with makers, creators, innovators, teams, startups, and more to ensure that IoT and other technologies have a bright future. With any project, understanding scope, scalability, and current market trends is vital to success. Even if it’s only in the pre-planning phase of your project, talking with an expert is always the best choice.