Having many options seems nice in many cases, but with the freedom of choice comes the responsibility to take the right path. And with more than 200 mobile router and gateway manufacturers, your choice really matters. To find the best option for you IoT solution To choose, you must of course be sufficiently informed about various aspects of available hardware and software and all other supporting factors. Let's start with the big picture and limit ourselves to the best individual ones device choices. First determine what applies to your situation:
- Hobbyist: various do-it-yourself solutions, mainly small-scale projects that do not require much investment.
- Consumer electronics: smart home solutions, wearable technology, small to medium solutions.
- Industrial IoT: smart factories, automated tracking and control systems, remote maintenance for industrial-scale projects.
- Industry driven: includes an entire industrial infrastructure such as logistics, smart cities, agriculture and very large-scale solutions.
Once your niche is selected, it will be easier to plan your solution and calculate all the costs and labor required. The next step is to look at the crucial factors that could affect your project.
Reliability
Reliability means more than just knowing that your supplier has an excellent track record with other customers. It is also about the technical side of things. Can you trust that the hardware has all the necessary protections so that your IoT project functions properly even if something unexpected happens? Now let's take a look at some of the essential features that increase the reliability of the product you are planning to buy.
Automatic restart
You may have heard that "turning it off and on again" is a great way to solve many problems a device may encounter. However, you can't always be there in person to press the restart button. A regular restart of the device is a great preventive measure for any minor issues it may encounter. An auto-reboot feature does just that. Ping Reboot performs periodic restarts of the device or restores its connection to the Internet. Be sure to look for this feature if you want to ensure your solution minimizes system downtime and maintenance needs.
The watchdog
Another great tool that increases the reliability of solutions is “the Watchdog”. It can be an electronic component or a software timer that monitors the work of software and hardware. If an error occurs and the watchdog timer does not restart the ongoing monitoring loop, the Watchdog can perform many corrective actions. Such a mechanism further automates problem-solving steps and reduces the need for human interaction. So check if the device already has a Watchdog installed or is compatible with such a failsafe mechanism.
Failover
Failover is a vital feature that can ensure uninterrupted connectivity. If your primary connection fails, the device will automatically switch to another available option. This way your installation has an uninterrupted connection and stable speed. You can also set up a failover so that the change takes place when a connection starts to slow down.
Teltonika Networks has a selection of professional routers with up to three failover options depending on the model. So make sure you check the available features of the IoT device and choose according to your needs.
If you want to dig deeper and learn more about reliability options, be sure to check out the Teltonika Networks article on RutOS reliability.
Ease of use
Ease of use is another crucial factor to consider. Again, depending on your needs, you may need a way to efficiently monitor and control IoT equipment. Look for options that allow you to remotely troubleshoot and change the settings of your IoT solution, saving you significant costs. Not having to travel every time you need to physically reconfigure settings will significantly reduce the cost of your IoT solution over time. Also look for easy installation options, making sure all necessary connections are in place.
Both Robustel and Teltonika Networks can offer products with many different connection types. The hardware provides legacy connections, making even complex IoT solutions easy to install out of the box without the need for adapters and additional cables.
Available information
You must have easy access to all available information. Of course, you can find most questions online in user forums all over the Internet. However, an official wiki or knowledge base for that specific device is the way to go. Your vendor should provide installation guides, configuration examples, and use cases. Also look at compatibility information, as many assembly lines allow older components to be integrated into the overall solution.
Via the Knowledge base From Delmation, for example, you can access Teltonika's extensive knowledge base with almost 3,000 articles when it comes to ease of use. You can find everything from installation guides and configuration examples to real-world examples that will help you make your choice and implement it without much effort. Robustel also offers such a possibility via Robustel's RCMS.
Price
Everyone naturally wants to save as many costs as possible when implementing their solution. However, some manufacturers may offer you a lower price initially. Only then will you notice that some crucial components are missing from the initial deal, such as antennas, cables, mounting options or a remote management system. So make sure in advance that the offer you receive includes all the necessary hardware and software for your project.
Delmation has everything for both brands accessories that are needed to immediately set up your IoT solution. This contains components such as antennas, chargers, mounting brackets and the like. This means you don't have to look for missing parts yourself and you save a lot of time and extra costs.
Security
Security options can make or break the company. In 2021, data breaches cost companies approximately $ 4.24 million. It is crucial that you ensure that all parts of your smart solution are secured. If a malicious party compromises a switch or router, it can cause a chain reaction and sabotage the entire system. Options such as a Firewall, VPN and various certificates are crucial components in any IoT solution. Of course, there are measures that only you can take, but a basic level of security is a must from your provider.
Secure passwords
The first line of defense is undoubtedly a secure password. However, this may be a bit too obvious, so much so that some people tend to forget it. Many break-ins happen because of generic passwords. The manufacturers have addressed this issue by either requiring password change or providing “urgent” advice during installation before deploying our devices into your IoT solution. With a required password change before the system is even turned on, your security is greatly improved.
Firewall & VPN
Two of the most prominent security features are a firewall and a VPN. A Virtual Private Network provides secure access between remote private networks, encrypts data, and provides anonymity while browsing the Internet. It also has many security protocols that further increase the security of your network. Next is the firewall, which can have a set of custom rules about who can access your network and devices. You can control who has access to the data within your network and who is denied and essentially it acts as a barrier between secure and unsecured networks.
Teltonika Networks has already prepared a fantastic range of security measures for you. They offer pre-configured firewall settings, multiple VPNs, web filtering, TCP dump and much more, ensuring the security of your data from the start. If you would like to know in more detail what else we have to offer, be sure to check out the Teltonika Networks webinar about RutOS security.
Finally
To wrap things up, let's give a quick overview of what you should focus on when looking for a suitable device for your IoT project. First you need to decide what level your IoT project is at so you can plan how much you want to invest and what additional hardware you might need to solve any connectivity issues.
Then you need to plan your solution carefully. Planning helps you answer the question of exactly what functionality you are looking for in your devices. Remember to consider the reliability of the supplier and the product. Will you have access to any additional information you need and support if you encounter a problem?
Also look for easy-to-deploy devices to save on unnecessary costs such as hiring new staff and experts to implement the device into your solution. Finally, look for highly secure options. This ensures that your investment remains safe and without compromise.
For more information call or email Delmation.