Is IoT becoming M2M again?

Do you remember M2M? Back in the day before IoT we were using the term videly. Nowadays, not so much, yet I feel that in some aspects IoT is befoming M2M again. So what, you may think, they are basically meaning the same thing, right? Not so fast, they may appear to be the same thing, but have significant differences.

M2M vs. IoT: Understanding the Differences

M2M is a traditional system setup used to manage a specific process’s monitoring, control, or optimization. ATM is a great example. An ATM has a computer that constantly communicates with the bank, allowing requested transactions to be completed. However, the information is not shared with other parties. The same goes for a lot of other complex systems with high security, they are built to only exchange information within that system or its part of the bigger process. If you want to monitor a machine you have delivered to a customer abroad they never let you access the production system, you will have to build an external process in parallel to solve your problem.

IoT on the other hand is all about sharing data with other systems. Data can be reused and combined freely with other systems, at least that is the thought.

M2M: Connecting Machines, but Not Processes

Although M2M is excellent at connecting machine to machine, it is challenging, and often impossible, to share data between two different processes. In cases where this is possible, unique solutions are required. An M2M architecture means an industrial building can have separate systems with varying communication structures for ventilation, security, and fire protection. Therefore, there are often parallel systems where each system has its sensors connected to a proprietary hardware solution with an operator panel for each system. Each system communicates internally with its protocols and standards. M2M is silos of information that do not share data with other silos.

IoT: Sharing Data to Optimize the Ecosystem

IoT, on the other hand, involves systems publishing their information without the systems needing to know which programs, processes, or users will use it. Thus, data is available to multiple systems in a way that can be expanded and revised if new needs arise. Even with IoT, we connect a machine, but this time, the information ends up in a database where multiple processes can retrieve it. Control Room A can subscribe to data to display on the operator panel, but the maintenance company can also subscribe to the same operational data.

In both cases, one end of the chain is a machine. In the case of M2M, the other end is another machine, while in IoT, it is a database. Therefore, IoT systems can scale up and down without changing the infrastructure. However, with M2M, infrastructure or networks must change for almost every change.

IoT optimizes not only a single process but the entire ecosystem. Data can be reused and combined freely without defining everything one wants to do on the first day of the project. The initially intended use case may justify the investment in the system, but one can learn how to expand the system in the future. Unlike traditional M2M systems, IoT architectures provide flexibility.

In conclusion, IoT and M2M are not the same, and they have significant differences. IoT is like a news agency’s newsfeed but for machines, as it publishes data without considering its use. IoT systems offer greater flexibility than traditional M2M systems, making it easier to optimize the entire ecosystem.

IoT’s Open Structure: Security and Privacy Concerns

However thera are changes coming in the IoT world working against the idea of an open structure, so I am afraid M2M and IoT are growing closer again.

1. Firstly, there’s the issue of security. When you put your data in a cloud service, you give up control of it. This is a popular argument, and there are calls for laws to regulate this.
2. Secondly, some people think that data is like gold, and sharing it for free is like giving it away. However, sharing data can help make progress in critical areas like the environment and healthcare.
3. Lastly, you must be careful whom you share your data with. Some providers might share your data without permission, so choosing a trustworthy one is essential. This is another reason why we need laws to regulate the market.

The Value of Data Sharing: Progress!

Let’s protect essential data and information, but remember that sharing data can have a meaning and that M2M is a dated term we do not need to revive.