Layers Of IoT That You Should Know in 2022 | UNext Jigsaw
Introduction
IoT has revolutionized modern technology with its seamless connectivity of devices under one umbrella. In this internet-driven world, which one is not an element of IoT? Our Smartwatches, mobile applications, laptops, iPads, Tablets, or electronic devices such as refrigerators, ACs, Digital locks, etc., are sending data to these IoT networks. These IoT systems are built upon various elements, features, layers, and their respective function. And at this post, we will take an in-depth look at the different perspectives of IoT layers in the IT infrastructure.
Curious to know how IoT works? Before further understanding the IoT layers, let’s start with a simple definition of IoT working.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Perception Layer
- Connectivity Layer
- Edge Layer
- Processing Layer
- Application Layer
- Business Layer
- Security Layer
What is IoT?
To understand how IoT works, you must know what it is. Internet of Things (IoT) is an interconnected system of physical devices embedded with software and sensors to streamline information across the network via the internet. These IoT networks have shown exceptional data collection, analysis, reporting, and prediction behavior for integration into future planning.
Though IoT is a trending technology with unlimited future potential yet, there are no single or particular set of rules for the components of IoT. Various organizations have adopted features of IoT in their premises as several benefits have emerged from their integrations.
Elements of IoT
There are many technological aspects, layers, applications, and Components of IoT networks. But most of these IoT architectures are built upon core fundamentals.
- Smarter Devices in a different form
- Network and Gateway that allows devices to be part of the IoT
- Middleware that includes data storage spaces and advances in predicting capabilities
- End-user applications
IoT Layers
These Elements of IoT define the fundamentals of almost every IoT system on the globe. Still, they are divided into multiple architecture layers to further refine the overall IoT network.
These IoT layers are :
- Perception Layer that manages smart devices across the system.
- Connectivity/Transport Layer allows transferring data from the cloud to devices and, vice-versa, different aspects of gateways and networks.
- Processing Layer that controls and manages IoT levels for streamlining data across the system.
- Application Layer that aids in the procedures of analytics, device control, and reporting to end-users.
With continuous changes in the IT environment, many organizations have added three additional layers to their infrastructure. Here is an IoT Block diagram showing the various stages of IoT architecture layers.
- The business layer derives information and decision-making analysis from data.
- Security Layer that covers all aspects of protecting the whole IoT architecture
- Edge Computing Layer that works at an edge or near the device information collection.
1. Perception Layer
These IoT layers form the components of the internet physical design of IoT, acting as a medium between the digital and real world. In the IoT architecture layers, this perception layer has the main function of transforming analog signals into digital form and vice versa. These come in a different multitude of shapes and sizes with:
- Sensors: They are very small devices or systems built to understand and detect the change in their environment and further streamline information in their system. Generally, these sensors are quite small and take even less power to perform their task. Sensors can detect physical parameters such as humidity or temperature and then transform them into electronic signals.
- Actuators: These represent a part of the machine that allows an electrical signal to be transformed into physical actions. These Actuators play a crucial role as components of IoT networks.
- Machine and Devices: The main devices have actuators and sensors.
In IoT architecture, there is no limitation of location or distance between two or more devices that can be spread across the globe.
2. Connectivity Layer
Here in the second Connectivity layer, communication takes center stage between the physical layer of devices and IoT architecture. This communication takes place via two methods;
First directly by either TCP or UDP/IP stack;
Second, gateways act as a link between Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN), thus providing a path for information to pass through multiple protocols.
So, which element is not IoT? Several network technologies are integrated across IoT systems that include:
- WiFi is the most popular and versatile technique used across data-driven technologies. WiFi modems are suitable for Smart homes, personal offices, and even corporate offices for seamless communication between LAN and WAN.
- Ethernet represents the hardware that supports fixed or permanent devices such as video cameras, gaming consoles, and security installations.
- Bluetooth is another widely used technology suited mainly for communication between devices within a short range. A perfect example would be headphones that can work on small power and simultaneously share fewer data over the network.
- NFC (Near Field Communications) allows communication between a very short distance of 4 inches or less.
- LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network), is designed and built to match IoT usage across long distances. These low-power WAN devices can last as much as 10+ years while consuming low power throughout. However, it can send signals to give precise information over a long periodic duration. These include devices for smart buildings, smart fields, smart cities, etc.
- ZigBee is another advanced wireless networking technology that consumes low power and can offer small data-sharing abilities. One of the unique features of IoT is its capability to handle up to 65,000 nodes on its premises. ZigBee is built with the main focus on home automation and also has shown remarkable success for medical, scientific, and industrial protocols.
- Cellular networks are ideally suited for communication on a global scale with more trust and reliability. For IoT, there are two broad IoT levels of the cellular network as
- LTE-M is Long Term Evolution for Machines that provides a very high-speed exchange of data and smooth direct cloud communication.
- NB-IoT a Narrowband that offers small data exchange using low-frequency channels respectively.
There are also messaging protocols present in the IoT system that allows seamless data sharing. Here is a list of top protocols present in the IoT architecture layers as of now.
- Data Distribution Service (DDS) represents a machine-to-machine real-time messaging framework in IoT systems.
- Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP) provides server protocols for servers via peer-to-peer data exchange.
- Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) defines the protocols for constrained devices that use low power and low memory, such as wireless sensors.
- Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) represents the messaging protocol standards for low-powered devices using TCP/IP for seamless data communication.
3. Edge Layer
In the early stages, with IoT networks gaining size and numbers, latency becomes one of the major hurdles. And when multiple devices tried connecting with the main center, it clogged the system delaying the procedure. Here edge computing offered a unique solution that accelerated the growth of IoT Systems overall.
Now with the edge IoT layers, systems can process and analyze the information close to the source as much as possible. Edge has now become the standard for the 5th Generation of mobile networks (5G), offering systems to connect with more devices at a lower latency than the prevailing 4G standards. All the procedures for the IoT networks take place at the edge. Thus saving time, and resources and further resulting in real-time reactions and improved performance.
4. Processing Layer
IoT systems are designed to capture, store, and process data for further requirements in this layer. In the processing layer, there are two main stages.
- Data Accumulation
Every device sends millions of data streams across the IoT network. Here data comes in various forms, speeds, and sizes. Separating the essential data from these large streams is a primary concern that professionals must prioritize in this layer. Unstructured data in raw forms, such as photos and video streams, can be quite enormous and must be done efficiently to gather intelligence factors for the business. Professionals must thoroughly understand the business procedures to pinpoint data requirements precisely and help procure future benefits.
- Data Abstraction
Once the data accumulation stage is finished, selected data is taken out from the large data for application to optimize their business procedures. Here the data abstraction follows the path as:
- Collecting all the data from all IoT and non-IoT systems (CRM, ERP, & ERM)
- Using data virtualization to make data accessible from a single location
- Managing raw data in multiple forms
Interoperability among devices and architecture plays a crucial role in the processing layer. Once data accumulation and abstraction are complete, it is easy for data analysts to use business acumen in fetching intelligence factors.
5. Application Layer
In this layer, Data is further processed and analyzed to gather business intelligence. Here, IoT systems connect with middleware or software that can understand data more precisely.
Some examples of the Application layer include:
- Business decision-making software
- Device control and monitoring services
- Analytics solutions built with Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Mobile Application for further interactions
Each IoT system is built with its particular goals and objectives to match business specifications. At present, most IoT Applications are working at varying complexity and operate a multitude of technology stacks performing specific tasks for businesses.
6. Business Layer
Once IoT data is procured, it is valuable only if it applies to business planning and strategy. Every business has specific goals and objectives that it wants to accomplish by gathering intelligence from data. Business owners and stakeholders use data from past and present data to plan precisely for the future.
Today Data analysis has become the new oil for industries to enhance their productivity. Businesses compete to get more data into their business for analysis and decision-making. Here software, CRM, and business intelligence programs have gained a lot of popularity in industries for superior performance.
7. Security Layer
With modern challenges, security has become one of the primary necessities of IT architecture. Data breaches, tracking malicious software, and hacking are the main challenges with Security Layer in integrating IoT systems.
- Device Security
The first point of security in the IoT layers starts with the devices themselves. Most manufacturers follow security guidelines to install both firmware and hardware for IoT integration. Some of the essential measures are:
- Secure boot process to avoid any malicious code running on a device
- Using Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chips in combination with cryptographic keys for devices endpoint protections
- Extra physical layer to avoid direct access via the device
- Regular updates for security patches
- Cloud Security
Now Clouds are taking over the traditional server for data storage and communication. Their data security is of paramount importance, especially for IoT systems. Mechanisms include multiple authorization factors and encryptions to avoid any data breach. Here the process of verifying any new device is an essential crux that must have strict regulations for
device identity management.
- Connection Security
While transferring data across the network must be encrypted from an end-to-end point across the IoT system. Here messaging protocols such as DDS, AMQP, and MQTT are integrated to secure sensitive information from any breach. The use of the TSL cryptographic protocol is recommended industry standard across IoT architecture for data communication.
What are the 6 layers of IoT architecture?
We define the six layers of IoT architecture as described below. Note that in some cases, layers are made up of sublayers. This is a common characteristic in complex architectures, such as that of IoT.
- Physical/device layer: this includes all the physical devices. They include sensors, actuators, etc., which either capture data, take actions, or sometimes fulfill both requirements.
- Network layer: Here, all the communication types, network devices, and protocols are included. Although many IoT architectures rely on general-purpose network layers, there is an increasing trend to move to dedicated IoT-specific networks.
- Data/database layer: This also includes the database platform layer. There are a variety of databases utilized for IoT architectures. Organizations often need time to select and architect the correct IoT database.
- Analytics/visualization layer. This layer comprises the analytics layer, visualization layer, and perception layer. It means the main task of this layer is to focus on analyzing the data provided by IoT and aiding its users in understanding the same.
- Application/integration layer: Here, the application layer, platform layer, and integration layer provide the business value from the IoT infrastructure. The processing and business layers are part of the larger application/integration layers.n layer.
- Security and management layer: This layer includes both security and management. Ideally speaking, this is not a layer as it is connected with all other layers to provide security and management.
Conclusion
IoT is one of the emerging technologies in the global IT industry, as more businesses are shifting towards these futuristic solutions. Though elements of IoT form the core fundamentals for a comprehensive IT system, the IoT Layers lay down the path for the overall network’s success. Each layer has a specific scope and role that caters to solving the IoT complexity across the network.
The Perception layer is responsible for converting signals from analog to digital and vice-versa, the Connectivity layer for easing data transformation, and Edge for lowering system latency. While the Processing layer refines the data, the Application layer analyses the data, the Business layer delivers intelligence solutions, and the Security layer makes sure to protect the data at any cost.
Working with IoT layers of systems can be quite challenging for a small business. But, most of the top global organizations, such as AWS, CISCO, IBM, Microsoft, etc., offer end-to-end solutions for businesses to integrate features of IoT in their premises. They offer comprehensive device control and management, data encryption measures, and seamless transformation to future IoT systems. IoT is applicable and finds application everywhere. Check out here 12 Major Applications of IoT to understand the wide usage of this emerging technology
