A 2016 IoT Snapshot

2016 was an exciting year in IoT for Wind River.  We introduced the latest version of Wind River Helix Device Cloud, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) IoT platform that enables manufacturers to proactively monitor and manage their devices in the field.  And we had excellent momentum last year on the customer adoption/usage front that is carrying over in 2017.

That wasn’t all that caught my attention during 2016…

The recent DDOS attacks brought home the reality that any device on a network must be secured and protected.  Companies considering a cloud solution for their devices must make the security of these devices a top priority.

The IoT solution landscape is becoming clearer.  Microsoft, AWS, GE are focused on Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS) for big data and analytics. Device Cloud focuses on remote device management so the devices (“things”) generating the data stay protected and operational. What Wind River is doing here is pretty compelling and unique.

Established companies dramatically increased their investment in IoT. Our parent company Intel for example, the world’s largest chip maker, is focusing much more of its efforts on IoT, and Wind River is a cornerstone of that effort.

The consumer market is still looking for the killer app, i.e., it’s still easier to get up and turn off a light switch rather than navigate an app to do it.  But the Industrial IoT (IIoT) market, which comprises many of our critical infrastructure customers, has seen many successes with use cases such as pay per use, consumable replenishment, and proactive service. These companies are embracing IIoT applications and are well-positioned to shake up business models and adapt their business for the opportunities IIoT presents.

I’m looking forward to seeing what 2017 will bring, and sharing some of my insights and predictions of what’s on the horizon at the IoT North America conference March 29-30 (www.iotna.com).  At the event, I’ll be discussing the value that remote device management brings to the IoT landscape. I hope to see you there!