NEXT GEN COMMS IOT DATA
Asking the right questions and defining
the queries for the datasets is also
important. There is little value in
collecting increasing quantities of data
if you don’t ask the right questions
to gain the most insight from it.
Benefits of utilising an IoT platform
to process data include powerful
analytics and visualisations that
deliver trend analysis and even return
on investment (ROI). These tools and
visualisations can be customised and
personalised to individual departments
and stakeholders.
Securing data flows
When it comes to implementing
a network infrastructure for IoT,
security is a priority. For many IoT
deployments, a combination of public
and private data sources will need
to be used, but how will the data
flows be securely managed? Some
of the data will be related to mission
critical infrastructure and operations
(such as traffic flows, energy and
water infrastructure). Public domain
or ‘open’ data published by central
government, local authorities and
public bodies includes environment
(weather, flooding, air quality),
transport (airports, roads, electric
vehicles, parking, buses), towns
and cities (housing, urban planning,
leisure, waste and energy), education,
health (hospitals, medicine
performance) and others.
This is where middleware is
required that can effectively segment
the data network and prioritise
appropriate traffic, enabling data to
be routed correctly and efficiently to
the right repositories and analytics
engines. The more data that is
amassed, the more the challenge
will increase. A comprehensive data
strategy is required that not only
encompasses the variety of sources
of data but also the routes and
collection methods whereby the data
is brought in.
Addressing cultural concerns
Culture continues to be a significant
barrier to adoption when it comes to
IoT deployments. The idea of 24/7
monitoring or corporations accessing
our personal data makes people
nervous. This is primarily due to the
unknown facts about what happens
to that data and the question of who
ultimately owns it? Without insight
into this, and how data can be used
in a positive way, the automatic
response to data being recorded
and used is an initial degree of
scepticism.
The good news is that IoT data
is collected and delivered in an
anonymised, secure format. This
data is decrypted, collated, analysed
and integrated with other datasets
as part of a tracked process. The
data composite is used primarily to
provide an overall picture and to track
trends and changes, as compared
to personal data collected by an
eCommerce site. Privacy by design
is an inbuilt feature of an IoT system
solution, mitigating privacy concerns.
As IoT continues to become a part
of our everyday lives, we will likely see
an evolution in this setup, perhaps
even at a granular level where
permission is granted for particular
data to be used for specific purposes.
Education is therefore crucial to
overcoming cultural concerns, to
communicate the benefits of IoT
data use. For example, within smart
buildings, how IoT can have a positive
impact on elements such as energy
usage, not just in terms of lowering
bills but in turn reducing the impact
on the environment and many more
subsequent benefits.
There is currently a lack of
legislative framework around how
data should be shared and it is
something the industry has been
crying out for. In the meantime,
GDPR is the only universal
mechanism around data sharing
and data processing, but it requires
augmentation and localisation. We’re
now in the early adopter phase of
data sharing, where organisations are
looking to mirror best practice and
consultancy, replicating what others
are doing in terms of data mining and
management in order to identify the
best strategies, but are also trying
new methods and innovations to see
what the effects are.
The evolution around the use of
IoT data is one that is continuing
to develop at pace, but can also be
challenging for those organisations
that are amassing growing volumes
of data from initiatives and projects.
Combining IoT data with other
sources, mining and making it
available in ever more flexible
and tailored ways to a variety of
stakeholders is a complex task,
requiring expertise and teamwork.
Organisations who wish to make
effective use of the new data utility
should look to create an ecosystem
of complementary experts and
providers, capable of guiding the data
collection, mining and distribution
through the complexities, addressing
all the necessary hurdles including
infrastructure, security and cultural
barriers.
The potential prize contained in the
use of data is great – better, safer,
more efficient living for all.
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