Most IT organizations have embraced the concept of cloud computing and have started using it in some capacity. But it is being predicted that even the most advanced, distributed cloud architectures aren’t going to be able to handle IoT’s data and communication needs.

Most of the IoT forward thinkers see problems with the current cloud architecture. This argument is based on three major factors – (1) latency, (2) security and privacy, and (3) scalability. We discuss these problems and what they mean for IoT, and if there are any other ways possible.

Challenges

There are many red flags noticed in the association of cloud and IoT by IT departments. They are discussed in detail below.

1. Security and Privacy

Security is one of the major problems associated with IoT and cloud association for a long time. According to a prediction by IDC, almost all IT networks will have an IoT security breach by the end of 2016. This prophecy has made IT departments everywhere extremely tensed. Many recent successful attacks on clouds have brought up the issue of consumer privacy also into the picture. It has become hard for companies to continue using cloud for IoT purposes.

1. Latency

Latency is also a big issue when it comes to cloud services. It is less predictable and more complicated to measure. Most of the tools that are used for measuring latency, like trace route and ping work based on ICMP packets, which are not the best way to measure cloud latency. Latency requirements for IoT is high and cloud services are not able to these requirements in the best way possible.

1. Unreliable

As the control of cloud is never directly in the hands of an enterprise, leveraging a critical task on the cloud is risk prone. Its good enough for tracking sales pipelines but for critical tasks such as managing a fleet of vehicles or perishable flu vaccines can prove to be difficult.

A solution

The cloud architecture falls apart when there are billions of devices connected to it and microdata transactions are carried out, as they are incredibly latency sensitive. The answer to this problem that has emerged in recent times is fog computing. It proposes that devices have the opportunity to talk directly to one another whenever possible or needed, and handle much of their own computational tasks.

It was probably wrong of us to think of cloud computing as the pinnacle of infrastructure designs for the future. When there are billions of devices involved and instant communication is needed, cloud models will not be able to handle the load. Fortunately, a solution in form of fog computing has appeared in front of us to take over from cloud. Thus, as an enterprise, you should consider your IoT objectives while developing a cloud strategy and identify whether fog computing appears in your short or mid-term plans.

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