The IoT represents a unique set of challenges that pose a real threat to its utility as an engine of economic growth. Fortunately, the problems encountered so far are solvable, although it will probably take some time to determine exactly how to handle them and what level of optimization is needed for the multiple IoT services that are certain to arise.
The IoT Edge
The IoT requires an entirely new layer of data processing and storage on the edge, and this will be neither easy nor cheap. Not only will micro data centers handle much of the load that would otherwise overwhelm centralized resources, they will push results back to users at high speed. But these won’t simply be smaller versions of large data centers. Instead, they will feature new designs, new technologies, and new ways to handle functions like power and cooling.