Maximizing Success: Challenges and Solutions for Satellite IoT Projects

According to consulting firm McKinsey the Internet of Things (IoT) could have a significant global impact – between $3.9 trillion to $11.1 trillion, annually – by 2025. Specifically focusing on IoT applications in business-to-business (B2B) settings, the report highlights several key areas where IoT can drive value; including improving operational efficiency, optimizing supply chain, and enabling new business models.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has already connected more than 14 billion devices globally. However, being a relatively new technology, it faces its fair share of challenges. According to a recent survey on IoT deployments, 58% of companies considered their projects unsuccessful. It’s worth noting that 50% of the surveyed companies were in the trial or pilot phase, providing valuable insights into identifying barriers to success. Encouragingly, the 2023 survey results show a significant 28% increase in success rates compared to the 2020 survey. Additionally, research from ABI indicates that satellite IoT projects have a slightly higher success rate, with approximately 50% of participants considering their projects successful.

As the adoption and success of IoT continue to accelerate, demonstrating a positive return on investment (ROI) becomes increasingly crucial. At Ground Control, we have the privilege of working on various IoT deployments across different industries. Our projects range from operators in the Oil and Gas sector seeking to minimize downtime, to utilities handling mission-critical data, and even those involved in telehealth through medical drone deliveries and remote nurse tracking. Drawing on our experiences, we have created this article to highlight the common challenges we often encounter and provide potential solutions to guide you toward success. But first… How to define IoT project success?

Defining IoT project success involves aligning project goals with overall objectives, setting specific and measurable key performance indicators (KPIs), and quantifying expected benefits and ROI. It is crucial to establish baselines, set targets, track progress, and analyze data against the defined metrics. In our experience, customers often focus on immediate challenges and short-term gains, which can result in scalability issues and difficulties in adapting to future needs. When embarking on an IoT installation, regular iteration and improvement are essential for achieving success. In short, for many IoT projects, success depends on companies taking a proactive approach.

Potential solutions: Secure network design and data encryption

Addressing the security concerns in IoT deployments requires a multi-layered approach to IoT security. Implementing secure network architectures, employing data encryption, practicing best access control practices, and leveraging private network solutions, all strengthen organizations overall security posture in IoT deployments.

Secure Network Architecture: A robust and secure network architecture is crucial in addressing IoT security concerns. Companies should design their networks with measures such as network segmentation, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. By dividing the network into segments and implementing firewalls and intrusion detection systems, the impact of potential breaches can be contained, and real-time threat identification and mitigation can be achieved.

Data Encryption: Protecting IoT data through encryption is paramount. Strong encryption algorithms and secure key management practices should be employed to ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information. By encrypting data at rest and in transit, organizations can significantly enhance the security of their IoT deployments.

Best Practice Access Control: Implementing best practices for access control and identity management is a simple yet effective way to strengthen IoT security. Regularly reviewing access privileges, promptly revoking access for former employees or compromised accounts, and monitoring for suspicious activities all contribute to an enhanced security posture, mitigating potential risks.

Private and Secure Networks: Depending on the nature of the data handled by an IoT application, a completely secure and private network may be necessary. Solutions like SCADASat provide secure, private networks for handling sensitive data, ensuring end-to-end security and protecting against unauthorized access.
 

Potential solutions: APIs, middleware and gateway devices

Despite the presence of promising and exciting developments, achieving seamless interoperability – encompassing both device and connectivity aspects – is likely to take between five and ten years. As a result, many companies will still need to rely on the use of multiple SIM cards and/or devices to establish a functional network for their IoT deployments. However, open standards and protocols play a vital role in addressing the challenges of interoperability and integration today. By embracing open standards, organizations can ensure compatibility and smooth communication between different IoT devices and systems.

Moreover, the implementation of robust APIs facilitates seamless integration by enabling efficient data exchange and interoperability across diverse components. Additionally, the utilization of middleware solutions and gateway devices serves as a bridge between incompatible technologies, enhancing the overall interoperability and integration capabilities of IoT systems.
 
 

Potential Solutions: Prioritise scalable architecture and leverage edge computing

Scale often exposes the limitations of in-house server infrastructure for IoT applications. Cloud infrastructure for IoT encompasses not only traditional data processing and storage services but also gateway services that facilitate data collection and device interaction. These gateway services include HTTP/MQTT servers and WebSocket servers. When designing cloud infrastructure for IoT, scalability becomes a crucial factor. As the device count increases, the cloud infrastructure must seamlessly scale alongside it. IoT cloud platforms offered by leading providers such as AWS, Azure, GCP, or Macrometa deliver robust and scalable solutions.

Implementing edge computing can alleviate the burden on centralized cloud infrastructure and enhance scalability. By performing data processing and analysis at the network’s edge, closer to the IoT devices, latency can be reduced, bandwidth requirements can be minimized, and overall system performance can be improved. Devices such as the RockREMOTE are able to accommodate this, but not all terminals boast this functionality.

Furthermore, it is essential to evaluate network providers that can support your scaling requirements and ensure seamless connectivity across your IoT ecosystem. Consider solutions like low-power, wide area networks (LPWAN) or satellite connectivity, as they offer extended range and scalability.

To address the challenges of increased power consumption, companies can explore energy-efficient IoT devices, implement power-saving features such as sleep modes, and employ power management techniques to prolong battery life. Moreover, alternative power sources such as solar (in which case, the Iridium Edge Solar could be a good fit) or kinetic energy can play a crucial role in achieving long-term sustainability.

Security should always be a top priority, but it becomes even more crucial when scaling IoT projects. Companies can strengthen security by adopting a multi-layered approach. This includes incorporating encryption techniques, implementing secure authentication protocols, and conducting regular security audits. Secure coding practices should be followed, and ongoing training should be provided to enhance security awareness and ensure compliance with industry best practices.
 

 
While the list provided above is not exhaustive, it serves to emphasize the importance of maintaining a proactive approach. Recognizing the dynamic nature of IoT and the valuable insights gained during pilot phases, organizations can overcome obstacles and fully leverage the vast potential offered by IoT deployments. By remaining adaptable and embracing the evolving landscape of IoT, businesses can position themselves for success and unlock the numerous opportunities presented by this transformative technology. And as ever, if you are facing challenges in your own IoT deployment and would like some no pressure advice, simply contact our team sales@groundcontrol.com.