Three things you should know when connecting IoT devices

So, what are the important things to understand from a technical and business perspective, but also when it comes to security choices?  Telia's IoT device specialist, Magnus Hillerud, explore these three areas and shares what you need to know when connecting your IoT devices.   

1.  Technical considerations for long-term use and compatibility

The first thing is how to connect, as in choosing the right connectivity for your device and use case. There are many device types and IoT connections or radio access technologies available. We most often see three types of devices in IoT:  

• Battery-driven devices with sensors measuring variables like temperature or position. They usually use NB-IoT or LTE-M connectivity.  
• Routers and gateways that connect multiple devices or protocols. These mostly use LTE and CAT4, while some also support LTE-M or NB-IoT. 
• Edge devices handle intensive processing in more complex scenarios, like smart factories. They often require  5G and 4G/LTE.  

Are you interested in connecting your devices with an IoT gateway or router? Read more about our solution Managed IoT Gateway.

 

When choosing your device and connectivity, standardization is key to scalability, security and making the solution future-proof. For example, standards like Lightweight M2M (LWM2M) provide frameworks for device management, communication, and measurement payload, enhancing compatibility and reducing vendor lock-in. 3GPP standards for mobile networks ensures that devices operate optimally within the network infrastructure.  

But understanding and implementing standards not only extends the usability of your devices, it also simplifies future upgrades and replacements, making sure your IoT ecosystem remains scalable and adaptable.  

Effective device management and remote administration is also important, as we want to enable updates and maintenance without physical visits and ensuring optimal performance and security. Since no IoT system is perfect from the start, remote management helps the continuous improvement of device software through updates and patches. Increasing lifespan, but also minimizing downtime and operational disruptions, ensures a robust and adaptable IoT solution with enables you to control your fleet of devices.  

Remote management capabilities also have a business aspect to it, since sending people out to manually update solutions is time-consuming and costly, and not quite sustainable. 

2. Business considerations for cost-effectiveness and future-proofing  

When deploying IoT devices several business aspects need to be considered, to ensure longevity and cost-effectiveness. Again, standards play an important part, supporting interoperability and longevity. For example, consider the impact of changing out a device that is no longer in production. You'll want a device that’s easy to replace and integrate with your own systems.  

Compliance to regulatory standards is also important.  For example, the EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED) sets requirements for the design, manufacturing, and marketing of radio equipment to ensure safety and performance standards. Additionally, when a device is GCF certified  it ensures that it meet globally recognized standards for mobile network interoperability. There are also important requirements for storing and processing data.  

A well-planned IoT solution is not only designed to solve a challenge today. You should also be able to live with it for a long time. Your needs might change, or you have to adapt to technology changes. Therefore a modular design to the hardware can be valuable, meaning that components can be replaced if parts fail or an upgrade is needed. This can be more cost-effective than replacing the entire device, especially on a large scale. A modular approach can also provide easier recycling and refurbishing, contributing to a more sustainable lifecycle.  

For battery-driven devices, choices regarding network technology and setting the correct parameters for your use case will impact battery life. This in turn has consequences for how often you need to physically replace the batteries. These aspects impact your ROI and contribute to a more sustainable and durable IoT solution.  Also read: How to maximise ROI from your IoT solution.

3. Always have security in mind when connecting your IoT device 

Security is crucial whenever data is sent. It’s necessary to control the pathway on which the data is sent and prevent access from unwanted parties. Failure can result in unauthorized control of your device, making it possible to manipulate it. Even seemingly harmless connected devices could be used in a DDoS attack if not properly secured. Using encrypted communication channels combining VPN, APN and IPSec and to avoid public IP addresses minimizes exposure. Opting for connectivity through a network which uses a dedicated, license spectrum also comes with security benefits due to the security standards they must adhere to. Read more about Telia's IoT connectivity 

It’s also important to ensure device authentication.  Combining methods like cryptographic keys, device identity management and SIM-based authentication improves security. Other security measures, like inter-user equipment (inter-UE) blocking, can add an additional layer of security, making sure the device only communicates with the backend and never with other devices.  

Finally, remember that the security landscape is not static and will always evolve. Device management capabilities are crucial, such as the ability to perform over-the-air (OTA) updates and set alerts for abnormal device behaviour. This not only enhances device lifespan but also allows for quick implementation of security measures, maintaining the integrity and reliability of the IoT deployment. 

Ensuring success in your IoT deployment  

Taking time to evaluate these technical, business and security considerations when making decisions about your devices will go a long way to make sure you build an IoT solution that is not only the best for your business today, but also keeps performing and delivering ROI tomorrow.  

Does it sound complicated? Don’t worry! You’re not on your own. We have many years of experience guiding successful IoT deployments. Get in touch!