What is the IoT?

If you are reading this book, you are probably somewhat aware of what the IoT is and have been tasked with an IoT project. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to look at the common components of IoT systems. The IoT is a network of connected computing devices with embedded sensors that can transfer the sensor data to the cloud for centralized data processing. These devices run the gamut of wearable devices, such as Fitbit, that track your steps and vitals to smart cars and appliances.

Once you begin planning an IoT solution, you will find that it is a complex task. Both the device side and the cloud side involve complicated implementations that provide hundreds of required features, and the security of these devices is of the utmost importance. This is where Azure comes into play. It provides a set of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) offerings that make creating IoT systems easier, more reliable, and secure.

Now that we know what the IoT is, let’s look at some use cases before we dive into further details.