When it comes to IoT solutions, there are plenty of options for a varying array of needs and every decision you make impacts your closet. No, not the one that holds your clothing - but your IT closet.
Regarding how you approach technology decisions and what IoT solutions to deploy, look no further than your personal network setup for answers on why a scalable, dedicated network is a better alternative to point solutions.
Point solutions address the here and now, which can lead to long-term problems in the future. Consider this: many of us have smart devices for personal use (from smart thermostats to vacuums to refrigerators). When we purchase these items, we connect to one network – our home WiFi. Imagine if we had to buy a separate network - and a piece of hardware - to connect each device; you’d need a separate closet in your house to hold it all. If this approach doesn’t seem practical in your personal life, why then is it so commonplace in business settings?
When it comes to IoT, many enterprises turn to point solutions which, at face value, may seem less expensive or easier to implement because of their limited scope. What's worse, as the pile of hardware in your IT closet grows, so does the cost, risk, and complexity of managing these solutions at scale. This is a concept we refer to as "closet creep."
Here’s a look at why taking a more uniform, streamlined approach to control closet creep is an ideal option.
The effects of IoT closet creep: complexity, fees, security risks
A collection of point solutions presents several challenges for businesses – well beyond a cluttered IT closet – and has long-term impacts, including:
- Relying on multiple vendors for troubleshooting and network management creates more security risk from numerous “points of entry” for an enterprise.
- Struggling with data silos from disjointed, fragmented systems that do not communicate with one another impedes business intelligence.
- Managing and maintaining separate pieces of hardware results in higher capital expenditures (CapEx).
- Recurring network fees for each solution deployed leads to higher operating expenses (OpEx).
- Contending with long and complex security audits and network implementations for each new application delays speed to market.
Overall, the short-term philosophy of point solutions has more risks than rewards.
Future-proof your IoT investments: a new approach
What’s the best way to combat closet creep? The answer: to prevent it from happening in the first place. But enterprises need to re-think their IoT strategy early on to do this. Rather than addressing each business challenge in isolation, organizations can future-proof their IoT investments by using a scalable IoT network connectivity platform that supports multiple use cases. This platform can be added to over time while still providing a single view of all IoT solutions for better visibility and easier monitoring and management. It’s also a foundation for a uniform, holistic approach using a single vendor and less hardware, resulting in lower CapEx and an overall reduction in the total cost of ownership. And with it, the ability to scale up and add more IoT applications as an enterprise grows. The result is faster, easier, and more efficient IoT deployments today and in the future.
Protect your enterprise from closet creep
When it comes to IoT, sacrificing short-term gains for long-term pain is not viable. Enterprises need to plan for the long haul by starting with a platform that meets today’s needs and can scale up in the future while maintaining simplicity to keep IoT systems efficient and manageable. This platform approach delivers technical benefits like faster deployments, simplified management, and business benefits, including improved efficiency, reduced costs, and better ROI.
