IoT device management fundamentals

IoT Device Management is the ability to remotely access, diagnose, and manage the functionality of deployed IoT devices. In this article we explored IoT device management process and also explored remote monitoring with cloud and remote manager.

IoT is transformative because it enables organizations to take a data-driven approach that helps them create new business models and improvise existing operations and processes. But since IoT is all about collecting data from multiple, scattered devices, the demand for IoT device management software grows as more devices come with networking capabilities.

According to the Cisco Annual Internet Report (2018-2023), there will be 29.3 billion connected devices by 2023. This equates to 3.6 devices for every person on Earth. IoT device management is required here. You need to manage, monitor, and maintain the security of your connected devices.

The way we manage connected devices still needs improvement. Each iot device has its app to help with managing the device. You can set up different security rules for each app based on your needs. This allows you to protect your data and control your electronic devices’ access to your accounts. Many apps also allow you to monitor and control your devices remotely. Plus, most have alerts if someone tries to break into your account or tamper with your device settings. This is IoT device management. We are going to see how IoT device management is done. 

Table of contents

• What Is IoT Device Management?
• Why use IoT Device Management Platform for IoT devices management?
• Process of IoT Device Management 
• Remote management: IoT device
• Conclusion

What Is IoT Device Management?

IoT device management refers to the registration, configuration, provisioning, maintenance, and monitoring of connected devices. For example, all major cloud providers, Azure IoT Hub, AWS IoT, or Google Cloud IoT, include IoT device management services.

The company’s device management products enable IoT solution providers to authenticate, deploy, control, configure, maintain and monitor IoT devices.

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Why use IoT Device Management Platform for IoT devices management?

Simplified integration

 Device data often need to be transferred to another location and parsed by other software. When investing in device management software, you must ensure interoperability between the devices you deploy on your platform.

Automation

Seamless integration of IoT solutions with existing business systems requires automation, as manual work fails. From the secure onboarding of new devices to problem detection and classification to the retirement of old devices, an IOT device management platform automates all processes, making the entire IoT solution more efficient.

Optimized device security

IoT device management platforms provide timely updates and successfully patch IoT device bugs. With an IoT device management platform, you can remotely update applications, firmware, and configuration files per device. You can also run it in batches of devices. This way, we can use thousands of devices in different locations.

Lower costs and faster time to market

 IoT device management platforms help IoT developers reduce development and testing time. Additionally, the future-proof architecture allows you to perform large-scale deployments and drive future growth of your IoT solution. Emphasize core competencies and reduce costs by automating and simplifying device and network management tasks.

Simplify troubleshooting and network monitoring

As IoT deployments can scale to hundreds or thousands of geographically dispersed nodes, manual approaches to troubleshooting can seem costly or inefficient. After deploying your IoT solution on your IoT device management platform, you can see a top-down view of network traffic, registered nodes, and the real-time status. Gain real-time visibility into incoming data, keep-alive messages, and battery status from individual nodes.

Note: You can get an IoT device management platform as a paid service.

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Process of IoT Device Management 

1. Provisioning

The implementation, or process, of authenticating new devices and allowing them to connect to the network and backend databases is critical to the security of IoT systems. Each new device must go through a certification process. In this process, the device presents its credentials to the server.

2. Configuration

IoT configuration management is a way to customize the functionality of IoT devices. This is important because your needs change over time and may require adding new features or changing device settings. IoT device management tools help you manage all aspects of configuring devices and gateways on your network. 

3. Control

All devices’ successful authentication, configuration, and installation on the network can automatically communicate with peers. Device behavior is defined during the provisioning and authentication phases.

However, there are times when you need to control your IoT device. Useful for short-term needs to control automated processes, reboot devices, change device settings, and optimize device performance.

4. Continuous monitoring, alerts, and diagnostics

Continuous monitoring, alerting, and diagnostics are critical to maintaining security and reducing the impact of device downtime due to operational issues or firmware bugs. The goal is to monitor your network to quickly identify security breaches continuously, prevent outages, and fix problems before they damage your network. Make sure alerts are enabled to notify you of specific detected events.

5. Maintenance and updates

Software and firmware updates and maintenance are another necessary part of device management for IoT ecosystem security. Vulnerabilities can threaten your network, and the necessary changes can cause problems that require troubleshooting and remediation.

Also Read: What is the Future of the Internet of Things (IoT)?

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Remote management: IoT device

Cloud

1. Automatic localization

Take action or troubleshoot using a combination of attributes such as device status, device ID, and type to quickly search your entire fleet of devices or find the IoT device.

2. Remote management

Remote IoT device management allows you to remotely manage or update your devices and maintain the health of your device clusters. You can also remotely perform fleet-wide operations such as reboots, security patches, and factory reboots.

3. Security

Internet of Things devices such as routers and base stations are at risk of being hacked. Therefore, security updates are essential to protect your network. Continuous monitoring detects anomalous data traffic behavior or configuration change attempts and triggers alarms.

4. Scalability

The ability to scale your deployment depends on your organization’s ability to remotely monitor and manage IoT devices through a centralized management interface or on-premises mobile devices.

5. Optimization

Organizations need tools to deploy software changes to optimize data usage, battery life, and functionality of devices at the network edge.

6. Cost reduction

IoT device management helps detect device failures and predict maintenance. This prevents minor incidents from escalating and shortening maintenance windows, resulting in lower operating costs.

IoT vendors/remote manager

IoT Remote Manager enables engineers and administrators at device manufacturers and service providers to remotely and centrally manage IoT devices deployed in the field. View and control device status at any time. For engineers, device administrators, and service providers, this means central remote maintenance capabilities, including device configuration, software and firmware updates, monitoring, diagnostics, and troubleshooting, such as device configuration backup and restore. 

What does a remote manager do?

• Regular updates with new systems and applications
• Easy access to networks and systems
• 24/7 monitoring for added security
• Better time and resource management
• Track all vital information about each device
• Track connected mobile devices and device geolocation

Conclusion

Whether you’re planning an IoT project or upgrading a deployed device network, IoT device management is an important part of your planning. An IoT device management platform’s capabilities save time, reduce costs, improve security, keep devices online and up to date, and provide the key capabilities needed to optimize for specific application needs. Provides monitoring and management tools. If you liked this article please like it and share it with your friends too.