The Internet of Things (IoT) involves the creation of smart atmosphere around us, by using modern networks and the ability of sensors to share information with each other to automate various tasks. The latest technology in IoT solutions is edge computing, although most solutions available today use the conventional cloud computing with processing and data storage both occurring on datacenters.

Here, we compare them as technologies that place the concepts of security and simplicity against one another in IoT applications.

Cloud Computing (Security Vs Simplicity)

Cloud computing refers to using the large processing power of datacenters. Companies can choose to get services that do not have to be placed on local computers. Services, software elements and database storage can all be present on a remote resource and available to the clients over a dedicated network connection.

The problem with cloud computing is that currently, sensor devices do not enjoy a dedicated networking solution. They have to rely on crowded network connections to send information of IoT sensors to the cloud computing backbone. With standards like 5G and other low-power networks still under development, cloud computing solutions can often become difficult to create in environments, where the number of smart devices can get scaled.

The security of cloud computing is certainly better, when it is compared to onsite solutions. Since human intervention is not possible, IoT solutions that employ cloud computing can often use multiple security levels to ensure that information theft or damage is not a possibility anymore. Cloud computing is certainly an excellent choice with most solutions that are currently available. However, edge computing may offer improved security benefits.

Edge Computing (Security Vs Simplicity)

Edge computing refers to the processing of data in IoT solutions near the sensors. It is designed to reduce the workload of the datacenters and can significantly alter the required network resources to host a large set of smart devices. A key advantage of edge computing is the physical addition of security layers. It certainly offers the use of better authentication and eliminate the need for sending simplistic data over the public networks.

Each node in edge computing can also serve as authentication points. This eliminates the errors that are present in the transmitted data, as well as ensuring the security of the information, which is finally used to create the all-important data analytics. The hardware layer, the communication layer and then the cloud layer is involved with cloud computing. A good IoT solution now must have the security of edge computing.

Edge computing also brings simplicity, since it allows the automation of mundane tasks. There are no technical experts who are required to manage the system. This results in the creation of a simple system, which is easy to manage and can produce dedicated results. However, the simplicity is further enhanced, if a dedicated IoT solution like IoTSense provides an efficient data transfer mechanism.