- Stage
- Now · 2026 to 2027
- Area of work
- Reinnder Networks & Space
- Used in
- Buildings · Farms and the environment
Figure · Illustration
Four layers of an IoT system
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Sensors and machines measure something or carry out an action: a temperature, a movement, a valve, a meter.
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A radio or cable link, such as Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth or a low-power network, carries the readings.
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Software collects the data, manages the devices, updates them and stores the results.
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Dashboards, alerts and automatic actions turn the data into decisions that people or machines act on.
The four parts of an IoT system#
Most systems have four parts. Things: the sensors, meters and machines that measure or act. Connectivity: the radio or cable link, such as Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth or a low-power wide-area network. A platform: software that collects the data, manages the devices and stores the results. And applications: dashboards, alerts and automations that people use. The International Telecommunication Union describes IoT, in its Recommendation Y.2060, as a global infrastructure that interconnects physical and virtual things using information and communication technologies.
Why connect things#
A reading taken automatically, all day, in many places, shows patterns that visits and clipboards miss. A cold store can raise an alarm before food spoils, a pump can report that it is vibrating more than usual, and a farm can see which field is dry. The value comes when the data changes a decision or saves a trip, not from the number of devices.
The risks to plan for#
Every connected device is a possible way in for an attacker, and many are installed and forgotten for years. Common weaknesses are shared default passwords, no way to update the software, and unencrypted links. The European standard ETSI EN 303 645 sets baseline security rules for consumer devices, such as no universal default passwords and a way to receive updates, and the same ideas apply to industrial ones. Batteries, coverage and the cost of looking after thousands of devices matter just as much.
Where it is used#
- Buildings Tracking temperature, air quality and energy use floor by floor.
- Farms and the environment Reporting soil moisture, water levels and weather from the field.
- Factories and utilities Watching vibration, pressure and meters on machines and pipes.
- Logistics Following the location and temperature of a shipment.
Why do so many IoT projects stall?#
The pilot is easy; the thousandth device is not. A pilot of ten sensors can be watched by hand, but at scale someone has to replace batteries, update software, handle lost connections and decide who owns the data. Costs that were invisible in the pilot, such as connectivity plans and installation visits, can outweigh the sensors themselves.
Projects that last start from one decision the data will improve, count the lifetime cost of each device, and plan from the start for security updates and for what happens when a device or its supplier disappears.
IoT compared with ordinary networks and with edge computing#
An ordinary network moves information that people create or read. IoT adds machines that create it on their own, in large numbers, on tiny batteries and tight budgets.
Edge computing is a design choice inside IoT: do some of the thinking close to the devices, so less data travels and a failed link does not stop the work.
| Compared on | Wi-Fi | Cellular | LoRaWAN | Bluetooth LE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Tens of metres | Kilometres, where there is coverage | Kilometres | Tens of metres |
| Power use | Higher | Moderate, with sleep modes | Very low | Very low |
| Data rate | High | Low to high | Very low | Low |
| Needs | An access point | A SIM and a plan | A gateway | A nearby phone or hub |
What should you ask before connecting a device?#
Ask how the device is updated and for how long the maker promises updates. Ask whether it has a unique password or key, whether its traffic is encrypted, and what data it sends and where to. Ask how long the battery lasts in real use, what happens when the link drops, and whether the data can be exported if you change supplier.
A short, specific answer to each is a good sign. If the answers are vague, treat the device as a risk, however cheap it is.
Key terms#
- Sensor
- A device that measures something, such as temperature, motion or light, and turns it into a signal.
- Gateway
- A device that collects data from nearby sensors and passes it on to a network or the cloud.
- LPWAN
- A low-power wide-area network: a long-range, low-data-rate link for battery-powered sensors.
- Firmware update
- New software installed on a device, often over the air, to fix faults and security flaws.
Common questions#
What is the difference between IoT and the internet?
- The internet connects the computers and phones people use. IoT connects sensors and machines that report and act by themselves.
Does IoT need a lot of bandwidth?
- Often not. Many sensors send a few bytes now and then, which is why low-power networks exist. Cameras and audio are the exceptions.
Is IoT the same as edge computing?
- No. IoT is about connected devices. Edge computing is about where the processing happens. They often go together, with devices doing some of the thinking locally.
Sources and further reading#
Independent pages we checked while writing this guide. They are not Reinnder products, and Reinnder is not affiliated with them.
Reinnder’s angle
How Reinnder looks at the Internet of Things
Reinnder Networks & Space is planned to connect remote sensors and machines, including where no ordinary network reaches.
This guide explains the technology in general terms. It is not advice, and it does not describe a Reinnder product on sale.