Smart networking is paving the way to 物联网 adoption

Heitor Faroni

2019年5月22日

的 hype surrounding the potential of 物联网 shows no sign of subsiding, and now it's morphing from a smart concept to reality - investment bank Goldman Sachs cites 物联网 as a $7tn opportunity by 2020.

的 'smarts' are now on parade: smart cities with their smart grids, smart transportation systems, all demonstrate the benefits of machine to machine (M2M) connectivity.

Consistent connectivity is critical to how effectively these devices perform, and this connectivity relies on having the right network infrastructure in place. As ALE has already been involved with the communications and networking backbone of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City in India，或 Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, smart cities that implement 物联网 at a fundamental level, our team is knowledgeable of essential network requirements for 物联网 readiness.

From their expert recommendations, we took out four key network requirements 让城市, their communities and businesses to take full advantage of the transformations that the 物联网 will drive:

1. Extend your network visibility

的 sprawling nature of 物联网 requires comprehensive management of the entire network, 有线和无线, 一直到边缘, as devices - smart and not so smart - seek access and transfer data to core network components. 的 exponential growth of connected devices and sensors transmitting data can be overwhelming, cause bottlenecks on the network, and impact the performance.

An intelligent network needs to extend functionality 一直到边缘, so data can be partially analysed and processed before any information is sent to a centralized system. This improves the scalability and the response time for any network enforcement. 例如, switches at the edge of the network will need to offer enhanced security and integrated analytics in order to manage the increased flow of 物联网 traffic.

2. 整合是关键

It is virtually impossible for a network that has been installed and upgraded on an ad-hoc basis - often with a separate solution for voice, data, 有线和无线 - to deliver on the promise of 物联网. 

A single converged network is fundamental to an 物联网 environment and guarantees a greater level of interoperability and support for 物联网 applications and devices. A converged network with unified management 提供成本节约, operational simplification, and a consistent policy enforcement everyw在这里, which are required for a successful 物联网 deployment. Convergence will enhance mobility across 有线和无线 networks, offering a fluid user experience everyw在这里 in the network.

3. Better insights for smarter decisions

物联网 brings an additional level of complexity to a network infrastructure that has already seen a tremendous increase in connected user devices and the utilization of new applications with unknown behaviors. Predictive analysis and reporting functions are vital in enabling cties to use big data and enable proactive, data-driven, decision-making. Analysis of traffic behaviour in the form of reports or KPIs can also provide valuable insights on how network operations can be further optimized.

This can be as simple as automatically prioritising 物联网 data traffic, determining whether a new 物联网 based service being rolled out will exceed current network capacity, or learning that every Thursday afternoon the R&D department needs extra bandwidth to support its data heavy processes.

4. Defending smart and less smart devices

Poorly secured 'smart' devices such as smart watches or activity trackers, as well as traditional 'dumb' devices such as door locks, pose a threat to essential network security. Monitoring and controlling the flow of packets to and from 物联网 devices and correlating with the applications they are supposed to interface with can guarantee a better security.

Conclusion: make a comprehensive preparation for 物联网

物联网 offers the chance for public and private organizations to deliver innovative applications and services. 支持ing deployments of millions of endpoints, it can provide real-time insights that help them capture, understand and make more effective use of device data. But it will also bring new challenges and expectations. 这就是为什么 holistic approach to 物联网 是必要的.

的 key to successfully support 物联网 is one converged network supported by state of the art switches that enable cities and organizations to remotely manage, monitor and safeguard all devices, giving IT departments an in-depth intelligence to make smarter decisions. Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss, if you agree or have a different view. I'd welcome the discussion!