Best IoT Device Management Platforms

What are IoT Device Management Platforms?

Why Use IoT Device Management Platforms?

Who Uses IoT Device Management Platforms?

IoT Device Management Platform Features

The software solution offerings in this category each boast a unique set of features and capabilities designed to assist professional teams with device data management, real-time activity updates, and remote access or provisioning. The following are some common features across IoT device management products:

Device discovery — A typical IoT architecture can involve hundreds or thousands of unique devices, spread across an operation and customer environments. Once these assets are embedded with internet-enabled sensors, IoT device managers may allow for automated discovery and identification of each object, rather than requiring manual input of device identifiers. These tools may be similar to Bluetooth or network discovery tools on computers and mobile devices. Once a platform identifies the available devices within a network, users can choose to establish a secure connection and bulk-add devices into a central registry. This updated list of devices reflects the user’s connected fleet. As devices are discovered and synced with the platform, users can engage with and monitor them through the platform.

Device monitoring — A real-time device registry may provide any combination of details and data related to each device. This may include items such as product identification number, current location, active status, and battery life. Depending on the platform, there may be customization options for the way that device information is organized and which details are visible at a given moment. In some cases, a solution may offer data analytics for each device, such as utilization rates and resource usage.

When configuring a device dashboard, users may elect to set up various alerts and notifications. Examples include proactive warnings about battery health or alert messages about abnormal behavior or conditions. If a device experiences a period of unexpected downtime or experiences any performance issues, this information may be available through the device monitoring portal. If a solution offers advanced alerts or notifications, specified users may receive push notifications through SMS, email, or other channels during particular events. Using the various device monitoring tools offered by a device management platform, IT teams can ensure maximum uptime and performance of connected devices while collecting valuable data about the IoT project.

Remote provisioning — Just as laptops, smartphones, and network equipment require updates and technical support throughout their lifecycles, so do intelligent devices in an IoT framework. IoT device management tools will often provide assistance with remote device provisioning based on real-time information collected from each object. When the time comes for firmware upgrades, security patches, or other updates, device management tools may help facilitate individual or batch updates to the specified groups of devices. These remote actions may be referred to as over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Depending on the platform, it may take device provisions a step further with diagnostics and OTA repairs. While some physical issues may require in-person attention, there may be any number of technical issues that can be resolved through remote support. In these situations, users can leverage certain device management applications to identify and resolve issues from anywhere.

Remote device access — Outside of repairs and updates, administrators may benefit from basic remote access to connected devices. By taking control over device functionality, users can trigger events or perform actions without the need for physical intervention in the device environment. Examples can include the powering on of smart lighting systems and stoppages of factory equipment during unusual conditions. Different smart objects may allow for different remote-controlled actions; depending on a team's established IoT workflows, there may be more or less of a demand for occasional remote access and control.

Software and Services Related to IoT Device Management Platforms

As the IoT space evolves, vendors are offering a wide spectrum of IoT solutions to assist with the design, management, and optimization of a connected device infrastructure. Some solutions offer features across categorization, and may assist with certain aspects of device management while primarily focusing on other technical areas. With that being said, a business may desire a unified, end-to-end solution, or separate tools that focus on certain aspects of an IoT strategy. The following are some IoT solutions that may benefit a team’s IoT initiative and help form a comprehensive approach.

IoT platforms — IoT platforms allow for the rapid, simple development of internal-facing or customer-facing IoT applications, establishing workflows, event triggers, and data collection processes for a fleet of smart objects. Once a business has successfully embedded its desired assets with intelligent sensors, or connected preconfigured smart devices to its network, these devices can be instructed to communicate and work together in a number of ways. To create these relationships, internal teams or third-party developers need to build custom apps off which the devices will follow command flows and collect specific sets of data. While IoT development tools allow for more advanced application design using one or more programming languages, IoT platforms are designed for low-code or no-code IoT development. This allows for fast deployment of basic IoT solutions in any number of scenarios, from industrial IoT to smart homes.

IoT security software — Whether connecting a single device or a thousand, it is vital to ensure that devices, gateways, and connections are secure from unwanted access or activity. Each new connection is an added vulnerability for cyber threats, and a focused attack can compromise business data, system security, and even the safety of customers and employees. A number of IoT device management platforms include some security capabilities, but standalone tools with more robust protection are also offered. IoT security software is designed for various facets of IoT-related protection, such as vulnerability testing, data encryption, and incident response.

IoT analytics software — One of the most significant business benefits of intelligent devices is their ability to gather valuable insights across the operation, from resource utilization to worker efficiency to customer engagement with one’s products or locations. IoT analytics software can help facilitate this data collection and cleaning process, weeding through massive amounts of unstructured device data and sharing the most relevant findings with authorized users. Depending on the device management platform, it may offer some form of analytics related to device usage and performance. With that being said, teams may require a separate platform to unlock the full potential of IoT data. Certain tools in the IoT Analytics category allow for complex data gathering and filtering workflows, as well as queries so users can find the data that matters to them at any given moment. In many cases these platforms will sync with IoT device management tools, facilitating a seamless flow of information as it becomes available.

Internet of things (IoT) developers — Getting a complex IoT project off the ground may require outside assistance, depending on a team’s expertise and available resources. This is especially true for certain businesses or ambitious IoT strategies. Working with an IoT development firm, a business can alleviate internal teams from application development tasks, as well as various other challenges in the IoT project lifecycle. These developers will work closely with executives and IT department to understand a company's particular business needs, and how connected devices serve to benefit an operation and its customers. After this initial consultation, IoT developers will build and help deploy a custom application that connects devices and puts them to work in optimal ways. Even if a business has effectively deployed a fleet of smart devices, teams may enlist the help of IoT developers to uncover new benefits and maximize return on investment.