IoT is the extension of Internet connectivity into physical devices and everyday objects. A few examples include security cameras, medical devices like infusion pumps, intelligent lighting systems, smart building systems, and programmable logic controllers and sensors.

Beyond just the smart devices used every day, IoT is revolutionizing the way companies do business – allowing them to become faster, smarter, safer and more efficient. Commercial IoT adoption is growing at an explosive rate. According to a Microsoft report called IoT Signals, an estimated 85% of IoT decision-makers are currently adopting IoT into their organizations. As table 1 depicts, this applies across various countries and vertical industries.

_{Table 1: IoT Adoption rates, IoT Signals report, Microsoft}

IoT systems are generally not complicated but designing and building them can be a complex task. There are two broad categories:

Industrial IoT, where the local network is based on any one of many different technologies. The IoT device will typically transmit data over the global Internet.

Commercial IoT, where local communication is typically either Bluetooth or Ethernet (wireless or wired ). The IoT device will typically communicate only with local devices.

The wired and wireless network – the central nervous system that connects various devices – ensures that on-boarding of data and security is guaranteed while transferring data to a central repository system hosted in a data center for further analyzing and processing of data.
Data center modernization is a key initiative for businesses of all sizes, and it continues in importance when it comes to the collection of IoT data.
For the data center network, the following key elements are critical:

1. Build an agile data center network infrastructure that is easy to setup with Fabric Automation technologies and guarantees easy adds, moves and changes during operations
2. Build a data center with an underlying fabric network infrastructure that enables segmentation and provides the first step to a secure IT infrastructure.

In fact, we find that innovations are made by data.  Many of our customers are working diligently to harness the power of data in order to leverage its power and realize returns.

Support converged infrastructures with cross-domain automation that goes beyond the network and integrates workflows across compute, storage and services, going across multiple cloud deployments and deal with structured and unstructured data needs.
However, IoT growth and related sensor data can be stunted by complexity and technical challenges, as well as lack of resources and inadequate knowledge.
Hitachi Vantara enables better storage and protects customer data, enriches that data with metadata and activates and analyzes that data for better monetization.

• Unify data with cost-effective object storage software to organize, preserve and govern vast data repositories through intelligent policy-based management
• Deliver differentiated cloud storage services and securely incorporate hybrid cloud to react faster to change and reduce costs

Hitachi Storage Platform

• Synchronize, share and protect user data with a mobility platform that increases employee productivity without compromising business requirements
• Gain new levels of visibility and control of user data so you can eliminate risk and concerns of data loss, regardless of endpoint device use.

To reduce risk, Hitachi Vantara and Extreme Networks have worked together to provide turnkey solutions, with all the hardware and software required for rapidly deploying large-scale, modern data center solutions. We look forward to meeting you at the upcoming Hitachi Vantara NEXT 2019 event in Las Vegas from Oct 8-10, 2019.

 This blog was originally posted to HitachiVantara.com on August 26, 2019.