What is IoT Device Management?

IoT devices are some of the most cutting-edge and useful technological advancements of recent years – but what is IoT device management, and what can it do for your Internet of Things devices? 

We’re sure you’re familiar with IoT, but we’ll break it down for you just in case: Internet of Things devices, in a nutshell, thrive off connectivity. Using the internet to communicate and gather data via highly advanced sensors, IoT devices are intelligent enough to function by themselves with limited need for human intervention – think smart fridges, smart home security systems and even some form of manufacturing equipment (IIoT)

This new form of technology is exciting and innovative, making life a lot easier for the majority of us. However, as with any new and complex tech, especially something as broad as the Internet of Things, there comes a need for a control infrastructure to ensure security and reliability. This is where IoT device management comes in. But what exactly is IoT device management?

The clue is in the name. With IoT device management, you can remotely access, control, maintain and diagnose your fleet of IoT devices. But why is this so important? 

Why we need IoT device management 

Regardless of how much you trust your employees and how good they are at their jobs, you still need to check on your workforce from time to time to make sure that they’re performing to the same high standards.

IoT device management operates on a similar principle. No matter how many devices you have, where they’re located or how reliable they appear, its still important to check in on your IoT technology and perform necessary updates and alterations. 

IoT device management is also needed to control the rate as to which these devices are growing and expanding, keeping human expectations in check. After all, nothing is perfect, not even some of the most advanced and expertly designed technology in the world. IoT device management stops these devices from spiralling out of control and cements the understanding that all tech fails sometimes – even the Internet of Things. 

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The ins and outs of IoT device management

In order to fully understand what IoT device management is and why it is so important, we need to take a closer look at a few of its fundamental capabilities. 

Provision & authentication

Using device management software as you onboard and authenticate your device is the best way to keep everything locked, loaded and perfectly secure. Ensure that only permitted devices are enrolled in your fleet and system, and establish settings such as security keys to make sure that intruders cannot gain access. 

Finely tuned configuration

Don’t just leave your IoT Communications to its own devices (pardon the pun). Instead, IoT device management allows you to configure and alter your tech beyond its pre-programmed settings, making sure that it acts exactly according to your wishes. Need to design a whole fleet at once? Device management makes this as easy as can be. 

Maintenance & diagnostics

No matter how perfectly you’ve configured your devices, there is always the chance that something could go wrong. IoT device management allows you to remotely monitor and update your tech, keeping it bug-free and operating at full capacity. Even better, diagnostic services are here to stop things from getting out of hand, generating insights into potential issues and preventing them before they occur. 

Decommission, replacement & deployment 

IoT device management provides appropriate end-of-life management for when your IoT systems have run their course, allowing for secure decommissioning that avoids downtime and data leaks, as well as effective on-boarding of new replacement devices. 

A case in practice

Now we’ve come to terms with what IoT device management is, let’s take a look at a few of its practical uses. 

IoT device management is great if your technology is in difficult to reach locations, be that somewhere more physically dangerous – such as a mine or plant – or, alternatively, somewhere far away. IoT device management allows you to make changes to your devices remotely, as well as allowing you to diagnose whole fleets at a time. Whether you have ten devices or ten thousand, device management lets you check on your whole fleet at once and configure them as a collective, saving a lot of menial labour. 

On the other hand, IoT device management is the perfect way to avoid potentially critical situations, be that security breaches or loss of revenue. If your device goes down, then management software will allow you to diagnose the issue and get everything back up and running as soon as possible. It can also offer key alerts, such as low battery notifications or access gained by someone outside of your inner circle. 

 

The bottom line

So, what is IoT device management? To summarise, IoT device management is a failsafe way to care for your Internet of Things devices in every aspect, easily and remotely. 

At Your Comms Group, we specialise in providing our customers with bespoke and secure IoT solutions. Our multi-network SIMS come with various tariffs to suit your business and IoT environment, with multi-card discounts available. Take a look at our prices online, or get in touch with an agent for more information. 

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