IoT planning: Seven key questions for effective M2M deployments

If you want to utilise IoT and are preparing for a connected device deployment, you'll probably have worked through many scenarios and options. M2M IoT is a complex area. Each question can lead to more questions, resulting in a mind-stretching number of inter-related choices. How do you ensure your project is a business success throughout its lifecycle?

IoT continues to grow exponentially, with many new and developing projects and support services. To make sure you get your deployment right in the long-term, we would like to share some of our experience and expertise.

Here is a small selection of the headline questions you should ask. Many more will become important as you develop your project:

What are the best options for device connectivity: wired, WiFi, radio or Cellular?

If a wire or Wi-Fi, do you have control over the setting in which the device will exist? Do you know how much the installation of network cabling or infrastructure at each location will add to the cost of your project? Do you control the Wi-Fi? If you don't, but link to it, how will you ensure you stay connected at each location when something happens on-site?

If Radio and you're deploying worldwide, how will you ensure you adhere to local legislation regarding frequencies, transmitter powers and the approvals you'll need for each country? If Cellular, to what extent can you be clear about where devices will be located and whether they are fixed or moving? A general rule is: the more global and the more areas your devices are entering, the more you'll need to invest in the planning and the device.

How much money will lost connectivity and downtime cost me?

We advise you to calculate this carefully. You might be surprised at the speed at which the numbers escalate. For example, single network operators average around 80% coverage at the locations in which IoT devices are installed.

The more downtime costs you, the more you should invest in the build and in connectivity options. You should also estimate the cost of onsite maintenance visits and do everything you can to minimise these. Early procurement savings may have long-term negative results on the project if ongoing costs escalate.

How should I specify and build devices that will connect and stay connected, wherever they are deployed?

Do you fully understand the range of environments the device is expected to work in? This knowledge is crucial and has a significant impact on the hardware and software choices you will make.

For cellular connectivity, how can I contract and connect my devices in multiple locations, regions and countries?

If you plan to manage this in-house, you'll need to build expertise and capacity. For global deployments, you'll need to understand local regulations, which for example, can stop a standard roaming SIM card working in a number of countries. Nor is the legislation as light or simple as you might wish: different countries require different certification and are subject to local laws. In terms of contracting with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), if you engage in a multi-country deployment, be prepared to find their world fragmented.

There are around 800 MNOs worldwide (source GSMA), and individual contracts will result in you having to manage multiple SLAs, languages, customer support centres, data price points and billing formats. Plus, if your business case requires over 80% network coverage, you'll need to contract with at least two different network operators in each country. There are also in-country roaming rules you need to keep on top of.

Using customer support services, how can I make sure I get problems fixed quickly?

When you have issues, and there will be some, resolutions will be quicker and more successful if you can talk directly to IoT experts who understand the device and the way it might operate on the network. Not all MNOs deliver this, so make sure you check and get references on customer support from existing clients with similar scale deployments to your own.

 What cloud storage should I use and how will I make sure data can be reported and analysed effectively?

This is the essence and value of IoT: to be able to gather information from all devices and centrally view and manage them, in order to save or make money or to deliver some other kind of impact, such as social or environmental. There will be budget and benefit analysis to undertake, but you have two main routes to choose from: either build an in-house server and developer capacity or buy-in Cloud services and configure your project around their rules.

Your requirement may be so unique you have no choice but to retain a developer team and to build and manage in-house hardware and analytics software. However, for most, customisable off-the-shelf storage and analytics solutions will be fit for purpose and give better value and scope to scale.

Bear in mind that the bolt-on data analysis and security device management software that companies like AWS are developing will continue to add services; just as long as you are willing to configure by their rules, e.g. MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport).

How can I ensure my deployment is as secure as possible throughout its lifecycle?  

It is essential to consider the implications of someone getting into your system before it happens and to invest at the right level. We advocate and provide a range of advanced security features, which bring new, more affordable protection, and at the same time adhere to the security requirements of AWS Cloud.

As you prepare your devices and connectivity you should decide where your security boundary is and plan accordingly. Give serious consideration to contracting in third-party penetration testing experts and ensure your team is keen to encourage this.