It is emerging as a strategic transformation agent for organizations to connect a wide range of technologies as they emerge and create value for their business. The world is increasingly becoming IoT-dominated to harness the power of data and analytics and drive decision-making. The foundation of IoT is connectivity; however, establishing the proper connectivity between various devices is a significant challenge for stakeholders.
Hence, to navigate the complexities of IoT-enabled transformation, you can outsource help from IoT service providers. These service providers offer solutions to industries to build and deploy IoT applications by following the IoT connectivity protocols and compliance guidelines. The architecture of your IoT network depends on various important considerations that will enable the interconnected IoT devices to collect, send, and exchange data seamlessly.
The expertise of your IoT service provider will enable you to avoid risks and challenges inherent to your IoT ecosystem. However, choosing the right service provider is in itself a daunting task. The pointers mentioned below will enable you to make the right choice.
Connectivity Requirements
Based on your organizational goal and use-cases, the connectivity requirements for the IoT ecosystem will tend to differ. Hence, the prospective vendor must work closely with you to help you select an optimal connectivity service option. There is a vast assortment of connectivity offerings. Companies need to typically select among four categories, which includes
-Unlicensed
-Low power, wide-area (LPWA), and
-Extraterrestrial
The stakeholders will also have to consider the range, power, and bandwidth to properly size up the IoT connection for both present and future uses.
Scalability
Ensure that the IoT service provider offers you scalable services. The current market is witnessing the emergence of new and advanced technologies rapidly. Hence, the IoT platform must consistently evolve to match the needs of the current market and remain continuously effective. The vendor should enable the IoT platform to embed new standards and protocols and accommodate the changes.
Pricing Structure
Consider the pricing structure as an essential parameter when selecting the right vendor. You need to determine your budget and accordingly plan the implementation of the IoT platform. Often the vendors provide you with low-introductory costs. Do not fall for such scams where they offer low-standard services or do not disclose the entire price quotation. Transparency in pricing structure is crucial. Hence, ask your vendor to provide you with the final quotation to reduce the risks of fraudulent attempts. Consider the price quotations across the few prospective companies on your list.
Security
Ensuring the security of your IoT ecosystem is imperative. The technological world is fraught with security risks that can put your data at risk. End-to-end encryption across your data network is paramount. The vendor must leverage comprehensive tools to authenticate, encrypt, and secure your IoT network. They should provide you with first-rate security to eliminate any vulnerable endpoint which can give cybercriminals access to the system.
To Conclude:
These are some important considerations you should not overlook when sourcing out the right IoT service provider. It will enable you to improve the value of your IoT platform to optimize your businesses bottom line.
Source-
https://startups.snapmunk.com/blog/four-tips-for-choosing-the-right-iot-service-provider
