Technology
Here Are the Architectural Implications of IoT Data.
Architectural and Design Considerations
Introduction
From architectural and design perspectives, it is evident that IoT devices generate massive amounts of data on an ongoing basis. These voluminous data sets growing rapidly go to the full data management life cycle; for example, storing, processing, re-building, transforming, analyzing, and archiving.
In this article, I provide key architectural and design considerations with an innovative approach based on guidelines provided in my recent book for IoT solution architects.
IoT (Internet of Things) is one of my favorite technology domains. Since smart objects and sensors were invented, I have been learning and practicing IoT solutions in modernization and transformation programs. When dealing with IoT in digital transformation programs, it has been my responsibility to address data management requirements and innovation at the program and enterprise levels.
There are many considerations for architecting IoT solutions, especially in the strategy, architecture, and design phases. The key critical architectural considerations can be scalability, capacity, performance, usability, availability, security, and privacy of streaming Big Data, as described in one my recent books titled A Practical Guide for IoT Solution Architects.
For scalability, capacity, performance, usability, security and privacy requirements and use cases for digital transformations, we must carefully consider the amount of data produced by the IoT devices consisting of sensors as embedded objects, actuators, gateways, Edge and Cloud storage.
The voluminous data in business organizations require careful architectural, security, performance, and governance measures enhanced with innovative approaches. For example, one of the innovative approaches is to simulate the actual workload models based on functional and non-functional requirements.
Another innovative approach is to consider historical data and future growth as part of the requirements analysis for performance and develop comparative models and frameworks.
After careful consideration, consensus, and approval of architectural and innovation points by key stakeholders, we also need to consider design constructs for dealing with Big Data generated and distributed by IoT solutions. The design phase for IoT solutions is as important as the architecture phase.
Key Design Considerations for IoT data
Due to potential implications for enterprises and our transformation programs, we must plan data collection via IoT sensors carefully. Data sources for IoT solutions can be diverse and complex. As a first design activity, we must determine the type of physical signals to measure.
Then, we can identify the number of sensors to be used. We need to calculate the speed of signals for these sensors and document in our data acquisition plan. Digital transformation architects need to closely work with the IoT Solution Architects and solution designers to create stringent governance and innovative measures around streaming data collection plans.
In addition to the architectural, design, and innovation challenges of massive data, application usage patterns are also essential factors for the performance of IoT solutions particularly in the enterprise modernisation and digital transformation initiatives. For example, minute details such as the processors and memory of the servers hosting the IoT applications matter and must be considered carefully using benchmarks.
By using benchmarks for application, data, and infrastructure, we can create an exclusive IoT performance model and a set of test strategies to use in our digital transformation solutions.
The IoT performance model require more data storage capacity, faster processes, more memory, and faster network infrastructure compared to traditional models. While, in the traditional performance models, we mainly consider user simulations, in the IoT Performance models, we also consider the simulation of devices, sensors, and actuators across the enterprise.
From a data management perspective, it is paramount to be aware of data frequency shared among devices. We need to consider not only the amount of data produced and processed but also accessed and shared frequently by multiple entities of the IoT ecosystem.
The monitoring of these devices also creates a tremendous amount of data. If we always add the alerts and other system management functions to keep these devices well-performing and available, we need to have a comprehensive performance model, including the system and service management of the complex IoT ecosystem.
Conclusions
IoT solutions for enterprise modernization and digital transformation initiatives span multiple architectural domains such as data, security, application, network, storage, and integration architectures.
An end to end architecting approach, design principles, innovation, coupled with use of powerful tools and technology stacks, are essential success factors to deal with substantially growing IoT data.
IoT devices produce and disseminate an enormous amount of data. Most of the IoT initiatives are integrated with Big Data Analytics. Therefore, understanding the Big Data lifecycle and architecting Big Data solutions with pragmatic rigour is a compelling capability for IoT professionals and IoT business stakeholders.
Sample Health Improvement Articles for New Readers
Defeat Metabolic Syndrome and Slim Down Waistline with Three Tips
Why 442 Million People Live Diabetic and What We Can Do About it
Six Tips to Prevent Brain Atrophy and Lower the Risks of Mental Disorders
What Can We Do About NCDs Killing 41 Million People Yearly?.
Reduce the Risks of Neonatal Disorders to Prevent Infant Mortality.
Reduce the Risks of Major Diseases with Healthy Lifestyle Habits
I also write about valuable nutrients. Here are the links for easy access:
Boron, Urolithin, taurine, citrulline malate, biotin, lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, CoQ10, NADH, TMG, creatine, choline, digestive enzymes, magnesium, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and other nutrients that might help to improve metabolism and mental health.
About the Author
I am a technologist, postdoctoral researcher, author of several books, editor, and digital marketing strategist with four decades of industry experience.
I write articles on Medium, NewsBreak, and Vocal Media. On Medium, I established ILLUMINATION, ILLUMINATION-Curated, ILLUMINATION’ S MIRROR, ILLUMINATION Book Chapters, Technology Hits, SYNERGY, and Readers Hope publications supporting 15,500+ writers on Medium. You can join my publications requesting access here. You may subscribe to my account to be notified when I post on Medium. I share my health and well-being stories in my publication, Euphoria.
If you are new to Medium, you may join by following this link.
I publish my lifestyle, health, and well-being stories on EUPHORIA. I wrote several articles on major diseases and valuable nutrients for health. My focus is on metabolic, cellular, mitochondrial, and mental health. Here is my collection of Insightful Life Lessons from Personal Stories.
You might join my seven publications on Medium as a writer by sending a request via this link.
You might find more information about my professional background.