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When we think of fleet management our thoughts tend to turn towards the major transport and logistics companies, and the enormous fleets of vehicles they must keep a track of across the supply chain. But even the world’s biggest trucking company, United Parcel Service (UPS), that operates more than 340,000 vehicles across some 200 countries[1], has a miniscule ‘fleet’ compared with the 17 billion[2] or so connected IoT devices that are currently employed in countless different industries, including in UPS’ own trucks.
Billions of these devices are also deployed in fleets by the companies that service them, in practically limitless applications. It might be vending machines, medical devices, EV charging stations, or any of the smart sensors, actuators or monitoring devices installed in smart cities around the world. But deployment is just the first step, these fleets of IoT devices can’t just be launched into the wild and then forgotten about. Any IoT device fleet must be managed throughout its lifecycle to ensure effective and secure operation as well as adequate maintenance and updates, and to achieve that they require robust, stable IoT device management from the Cloud.
- Read more: The Power of Cloud Services
IoT device data management and security
Throughout the lifecycle of an IoT device—from provisioning to decommissioning—various management tasks are essential, and chief among them is data management. A fleet of IoT devices are essentially an army of data collectors, and while local processing can be efficient, it has limited scope. Sending data to the Cloud enables that data to be analyzed at scale and in near real time, driving value to the IoT device fleet owner. Cloud-based device management also ensures the data continues to flow without any problems.
The second reason IoT devices need Cloud device management is for security. On average, every week 54 percent of organizations suffer from attempted cyber-attacks targeting IoT devices[3]. It’s an alarming statistic and highlights the need for vigilance to protect devices and data from unauthorized access and attacks. Regular firmware updates make it easier to keep devices secure, bug-free, up-to-date with new features, and capable of adapting to evolving requirements throughout their lifecycle. For the majority of IoT devices this can’t be performed via physical access or manual intervention, so the ability to execute firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates from the Cloud is essential.
Performance, scalability, and compliance
In addition to data management and security, Cloud-based IoT device management can assist with performance, scalability, and compliance requirements. Identifying and addressing performance issues remotely and as quickly as possible not only ensures devices are operating at their full potential, but it can also greatly reduce the cost of ongoing maintenance. And as the number of IoT devices grows, deploying and managing large fleets can become a significant challenge. Certain operations for masses of devices should always be done simultaneously and a Cloud device management platform simplifies this process across different devices and applications.
Finally, IoT device operators must ensure all ongoing regulatory and compliance requirements have been fulfilled, and a Cloud device management platform can ensure compliance by enforcing policies, maintaining audit trails, and facilitating reporting and documentation as may be required.
One-stop solution for the IoT
This growing demand for a flexible and scalable Cloud device management platform was behind the expansion of Nordic Semiconductor’s Cloud Services offering earlier this year to include nRF Cloud Device Management alongside the existing location and security services provided in the nRF Cloud suite. The launch marks the first time IoT developers and businesses have had a one-stop solution (hardware, software, and Cloud services) for the deployment and management of IoT devices at scale.
nRF Cloud Device Management provides tools for onboarding, configuration, monitoring, and FOTA updates, as well as for comprehensive management of IoT device fleets across their lifecycle. The tools also facilitate sensor data collection services and enable technicians to ensure that fleets remain up-to-date and operate at peak efficiency. Together with the complementary location and security services, it promises developers the perfect quartet of IoT deployment requirements – reduced time-to-market, scalability, future proofing, and cost savings.
References:
1. UPS shares results of strong investment in alternative fuel. Fleet Equipment Magazine, January 2024
2. Global IoT Forecast Report, 2022-2033. Transforma Insights, May 2024
3. The Tipping Point: Exploring the Surge in IoT Cyberattacks Globally. Check Point Research, April 2023
