Why Engineers Need to Plan Ahead: How to Future-Proof Your IIoT Applications

In Amazon warehouses worldwide, autonomous robots zoom around the giant space retrieving items from shelves. The company made the decision to implement the robots, which collaborate with human workers to complete orders, in an effort to streamline their fulfillment process. It was a good move; in 2014, the robots, along with other Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies, helped the company cut operating costs by 20 percent. 

Amazon is just one example of Industry 4.0, a progressive movement to implement high-tech changes that, until recently, were figments of the imagination. Who knows what those robots might be able to do in conjunction with drones in the near future? Add in technologies like 3D printing and artificial intelligence (AI), and it is obvious that manufacturing has come a long way since Henry Ford’s assembly line.

To remain competitive, companies must embrace the idea that continuous adaptation and improvement is the norm rather than science fiction. The goal is to extend the industrial process in both intelligence and internet connectivity, all to help the bottom line and improve customer service. What specific steps must engineers take to stay relevant today and in the future? Let’s explore the three of the most pressing concerns in taking IIoT into the future: Cybersecurity, the use of open platforms, and taking connectivity into the cloud.

 Cybersecurity

The IIoT is full of shiny new “toys” capable of amazing feats, from regulating building temperatures to monitoring patient vitals in a hospital. The creators and users of these gadgets are always thinking ahead to new capabilities, but they have largely failed to consider an important factor: cybersecurity. The issue isn’t that engineers and companies have chosen poorly when it comes to designing security into their system; it’s that, in most cases, they forgot to design cybersecurity entirely.

Sensors, monitors, and all the other technological toys involved in the IIoT were placed and connected with almost no security built-in. Yes, these devices are completing their intended tasks of saving energy and time and money, but as Duo Security's Steve Manzuik put it, “……finding vulnerabilities is like ‘shooting fish in a barrel.’ They're easy to find, and they're easy to exploit. It's like we're just repeating the late '90s and early '00s all over again with those devices."

How could this happen? The IIoT market is cutthroat, and there is a pressing need to get new technology out to the public before competitors. Building security takes more time and money, and it’s not a big issue on the front end. Many IIoT companies are start-ups that don’t have a budget to devote to security. It’s not until a cyberattack occurs that all involved realize the damage could have been avoided with a little planning.

Experts say it wouldn’t take a lot more work or money to upgrade the inherent security of IIoT technology and encrypt sensitive information. There are standardization libraries that would secure devices and systems, helping companies develop these changes on their own before government regulations force them into action. Such preventative measures can protect IIoT-enhanced operations so they function without threat in the years ahead.

Open Platforms

Choosing the best platform for a business is a tricky proposition. In the IoT, platforms monitor, manage, and control connected devices. There are scores of platforms available, with no clear “winner” in the IoT market yet. And there isn’t one that meets the needs of every business right out of the box.

The future of IIoT platforms likely lies in open platforms. In an open platform in the tech sense, users have the ability to edit the code, tailoring it for their unique needs. To illustrate, think about how many sizes of boxes are in your favorite shoe store. Surprisingly, not many. Nearly all of the shoeboxes in the store are identical, whether the shoes inside are from different manufacturers or not.

These boxes represent a kind of open platform. Companies can just change the labeling on the box and use it for almost any shoe without much adjustment. If the boxes were all wildly different sizes and shapes and were difficult to customize, business would be much harder.

In the language of technology, this flexibility is interoperability, or standards and protocols that allow communication between systems and devices made by many different companies. Engineers tasked with designing applications for companies must stay current and involved in conversations about the future of the IIoT. They can allow for interoperability by prioritizing open platforms over other options, especially to stay connected and current as platforms evolve. 

Cloud Connectivity

More and more, IIoT data lives in the cloud. As things within IIoT move forward at the speed of light, its relationship with the cloud is changing too. The convenience of committing to a service that is accessed via the internet instead of investing in hardware and software has a surfeit of advantages; it is no wonder the cloud has become such a popular destination.

Cloud-based services are elastic, meaning they expand (or contract) based on that moment’s particular needs. Information can exist on one server, a series of servers—it makes no difference to the user. Employees working diligently on a time-sensitive project don’t know or care what cloud they’re in as they rush to meet their deadline. They just what the system to work.

The advantages of the cloud for engineers and the businesses they represent are numerous. Once a subscription service is chosen, all the management is done for the user: licenses, security, backing up files, the works. Cloud-based open source systems also benefit companies with offices in various locations. Staff can work collaboratively in real-time on documents and projects, a huge benefit that results in better time management and team building. This type of overarching connectivity and collaborative potential demonstrates the best of the Industrial Internet of Things.

Live for Today, Plan for Tomorrow

The future is now for businesses that want to remain competitive and relevant. But even as they fight to stay ahead of the game, IIoT engineers must plan ahead by future-proofing their creations. By integrating cybersecurity, open platforms, and cloud connectivity into their IIoT technology, these engineers ensure that the IIoT continues to make our lives better for years and decades to come.

Sources:

https://www.avnet.com/wps/portal/us/products/c/te-connectivity-industrial-iot/design-engineers-guide/

https://medium.com/@jonasschaub/paths-to-iiot-the-gateway-to-the-industrial-internet-of-things-1d4455473660

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/cloud-computing-introduction.html

https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/listing/amazon-robotics/

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/538601/inside-amazons-warehouse-human-robot-symbiosis/

https://www.iotworldtoday.com/2017/09/20/top-20-industrial-iot-applications/

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/making-sense-of-internet-of-things-platforms

https://www.zdnet.com/article/iot-devices-pose-bigger-security-risks-than-most-realize/

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/cloud-computing-introduction.html