What do IT professionals need to know about embedded systems? Plenty, if researchers are right about the growth in this area.
Embedded systems, typically sensors and tracking mechanisms embedded in various devices, are spurring on the Internet of Things. And IT needs to get ready for a fresh onslaught of data.
According to embedded systems industry group Artemis, the value of the embedded systems market worldwide is over US$94 billion, growing at an estimated rate of 14 percent annually.
Separately, the Canadian Alliance for Advanced Technology (CATA) this week predicted that embedded systems will be key to the "reindustrialization of Canada."
We've addressed this issue before on Internet Evolution. But given the growth predicted in this space, it looks like it's worth it to review. Just where will IT pros feel the impact of growing hordes of embedded systems?
Scanning the news and literature turns up the following partial checklist regarding the areas where IT needs to prepare for more information from embedded sensors in everything from toasters to medical equipment (specifics vary depending on your industry sector):
Cloud services. At least one source declares cloud computing to be ideal for working with embedded systems data, in part because the clouds can easily gather data from multiple single-function devices. Enterprises should keep an eye on cloud services that may fit their need for sensor data later on.
Mobile networking and connectivity. The fact that many embedded systems are also wireless-compatible raises the specter of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), in which gear formerly unrelated to the corporate network is required to be logged in. Get ready.
Real-time support. Since sensors in medical equipment and other connected devices will feed into analytics programs, it's vital that IT be ready to cope with real-time information flows. Selecting vendors with support for real-time analytics could be key to keeping ahead in your industry.
Open-source. Many embedded systems will be designed via open-source software and development platforms. Familiarity with these techniques could make it a lot easier to customize information gathering and applications that rely on sensor data.
Security. Always a priority for IT, security must become a specialty for IT pros who are involved with embedded systems. Control systems have become key targets for cybercriminals. Make certain you're prepared.
Hi Mary, very exciting article and great insights from drpitzer! I would also add to the mix the issue of private versus leased network infrastructure, and their traditionally different mixes between embedded/control systems and IT systems!
There are significant differences in the philosophy of "traditional" IT versus that used in the data acquisition and control world. This is a source of issues in many companies as they try to "do the right thing" for cyber security for these embedded systems (and other data collection/generation systems).
By "traditional" IT, I mean the group(s) that operate your corporate LAN, email servers, desktop deployment and support, web servers, etc. For them, they view their services in light of first protecting confidentiality, then integrity and lastly, availability. If a patch from Microsoft will keep you from disclosing your financial data, then you do the patch and reboot the server ... availability takes a back seat. In the data acquisition and control world, the order is not the same. In fact, it is the opposite: availability, integrity, confidentiality. The process being controlled is often continuous and might not be stable if the systems are not actively monitoring and controlling it. Also, you don't make money if your process is not running! So, availability is first on the list. Integrity is next. You need to have assurance that the data you are collecting is accurate and valid. Bad data might mean shutting down the process unnecessarily, or perhaps NOT shutting down the process when it should be. Confidentialty is last, because the information flowing from these systems is not normally proprietary (but there are exceptions).
Reconciling these differences between your traditional IT staff and your data acquisition and control staff is key in making headway.
Yes, the push will probably be more urgent in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, wherever sensor-based systems have taken firm hold. But IT pros everywhere would be advised to get ready.
Mary I agree with all of the areas you've highlighted on your list of things IT needs to pay attention to as we come upon the world of embedded sensors. The need for real-time support is going to be huge, and embedded systems will only further push the rush to the cloud.
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