Challenges in Internet of Things Implementation

The Internet of Things is a new connected world of billions of smart devices, sensors, and applications. Since the diversity of applications and demand for a smart network of devices increases, the complexity also grows accordingly. What are the major challenges in the implementation of the Internet of Things?

Major Technology Challenges in IoT

Smart Sensors

One of the most important components of major IoT systems is smart sensors. Industries such as food processing, smart farming, retail, storage, healthcare, and smart city applications are using smart sensors for data collection. These sensors have to be developed to support specific requirements and reliable real-time operation.

IoT sensors may vary from simple temperature sensors to complex sensors, which extract information from their surroundings. Design, development, and successful implementation of a wide range of smart sensors are often challenging tasks.

Security Challenges

Another major challenge of IoT is the security aspect. As the IoT system grows, the significance of security also becomes a big concern. Simply hacking a household device does not cause much harm compared to the shutdown of a power grid, which causes power outages in a large geographical area.

Security upgrades are usually implemented by including additional security patches to the OS. IoT devices and systems should support future upgrades/updates as well.

Fatal security failure could happen due to insufficient security measures of IoT devices and gadgets when competitors within the industry try to secure their position in the market. Since IoT technology has not been standardized, many small-scale and medium-scale startups will try their part to become a player in the IoT business without enough security measures.

Privacy Challenges

Personal privacy is a significant factor in any system which collects user information. IoT devices collect personal information and transmit it via a wired or wireless network. Collected information is stored in a centralized database and used for future needs.

The personal information of the consumer must be protected to avoid any chances of unauthorized access and hacking. Sensitive information regarding a user’s habits, lifestyle, health, etc, could be misused if unauthorized access to data is possible.

IoT systems should meet the privacy requirements of each country’s regulations and make sure user privacy is protected.

Connectivity Challenges

Majority of the IoT devices would be connected to a wireless network for its specific requirements and convenience. There are many wireless transmission technologies used IoT system like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa WAN, SigFox, Zigbee etc… Each of this system has its own advantages and specifications.

Implementation of multiple technology platforms is challenging for developers since information has to be shared between devices and applications.

Compatibility Challenges

Like any other emerging technology, IoT is also growing in different areas to support wide variety of applications. As it grows faster, competition also increases and companies try to standardize their technology as an industrial standard.

Any extra hardware requirement for compatibility will cause additional investments to the service providers and consumers as well.

IoT devices and networks must be compatible with all conventional transmission technologies. Compatibility of devices is an important and challenging topic while dealing with a wide range of devices, applications, transmission technologies, and gateways.

In order to have an efficient IoT infrastructure, technology has to be standardized, and network protocols, transmission bands, data rate, and processing need to be defined and monitored.

Other challenges

• Complexity: IoT is complex due to the wide area of applications. Every system has to be designed, tested, and implemented according to its specifications.
• Power: like all other smart systems, IoT also requires power for its smart sensors, wireless transmitting devices, and gadgets. It must be efficient in terms of power consumption.
• Cloud access: most of the IoT will be using a centralized cloud-based process control system. In order to reduce latency and maintain real time connectivity in a cloud base system are challenging.

Conclusion

IoT will have to face many other challenges on the way to the future as our requirements and technology get more complex every year. The demand for a smarter and more efficient connected world will have to overcome all the challenges to emerge and sustain in the advanced technology era.