Bridging the Gap between Operations and Information Technology Accelerate IoT Solution Development and Deployment with Telit
A Frost & Sullivan White Paper
Frost & Sullivan
C O N T E N T S
Introduction: The Evolving IoT Ecosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
IoT-related Challenges for the Office of the CIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Accelerate IoT Deployments: Connect the Dots and Bridge the Gap Efficiently . . . . . . . . . . .5
The Telit Value Proposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Frost & Sullivan’s Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Exhibit 1: The Expanding Definition of IoT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Exhibit 2: The Enterprise IoT Ecosystem that Encompasses IT and OT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Exhibit 3: IoT-related Challenges for the CIO’s Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Exhibit 4: The Comprehensive Telit IoT Solution Portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
LIST OF EXHIBITS
Bridging the Gap between Operations and Information Technology: Accelerate IoT Solution Development and Deployment with Telit
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INTRODUCTION: THE EVOLVING IOT ECOSYSTEMThe definition of IoT has evolved over the past four to five years. In the past, the Internet of Things (IoT) was
used interchangeably with machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. Over time, the definition has evolved
to include technologies such as Big Data analytics, edge computing, cloud-based platforms, and enterprise
system integration with people and processes. Exhibit 1 shows the nested evolution of the definition of IoT.
Exhibit 1: The Expanding Definition of IoT
As IoT solutions increasingly use intelligence and data analytics, and integrate with enterprise management
systems, the lines between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) are blurring.
Frost & Sullivan defines OT as the hardware and software used for sensing and collecting data. This includes
all the hardware at the edge of the network. Most IoT solutions involve a combination of OT and IT. The IT
in IoT includes the network, cloud-based platforms, data analytics, and integration with other cloud-based
applications.
A typical IoT solution is deployed at the edge of the network to solve OT challenges. The IT department is
typically involved at the end of the development cycle when cloud-based platforms and network connectivity
enter the conversation. This typically results in a conflict between the IT and operations departments. The
following exhibit depicts a graphical representation of the IoT ecosystem that includes both OT and IT.
Source: Frost & Sullivan
M2M: Enabling DeviceConnectivity through“point solutions”
Developing an Ecosystem to analyze and secure data collected from devices
Shifting data analytics from “reacting to exceptions” to “predicting and preventing exceptions” using AI, AR, and Cognition
AUTOMATE
INTEGRATE
CONNECT
Bridging the Gap between Operations and Information Technology: Accelerate IoT Solution Development and Deployment with Telit
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Exhibit 2: The Enterprise IoT Ecosystem that Encompasses IT and OT
Source: Frost & Sullivan
IOT-RELATED CHALLENGES FOR THE OFFICE OF THE CIOThe CIO’s team is rarely involved with the front-end development of an IoT solution. Its involvement typically
starts at the end of the solution development cycle when cloud-based platforms and connectivity management
are discussed. The following exhibit highlights the IoT challenges faced by the CIO’s team.
Exhibit 3: IoT-related Challenges for the CIO’s Team
Energy &Smart GridEnergy &
Smart Grid
Security &SurveillanceSecurity &
Surveillance
Retail &BankingRetail &Banking
IntelligentBuildingsIntelligentBuildings
Industrial &Smart Factories
Industrial &Smart Factories Healthcare &
Medical DevicesHealthcare &
Medical DevicesWearables &
Mobile ComputingWearables &
Mobile Computing
DATA COLLECTION(DEVICES & HARDWARE)
Transportation & Mobility
Transportation & Mobility
NetworkGatewaysNetworkGateways
DeviceManagement
DeviceManagement
Real-timeAnalyticsReal-timeAnalytics
Real-time IncidentManagement
Real-time IncidentManagement
DataProcessing
DataProcessing
EDGECOMPUTING
Service Enablement &Connectivity Management
Service Enablement &Connectivity Management
U/X & DesignInterface
U/X & DesignInterface
Big DataAnalyticsBig DataAnalytics
CloudStorageCloud
Storage
IoT PLATFORM(CLOUD)
ApplicationDevelopmentApplication
Development
CellularCellular
Low Power NetworksLow Power Networks
Short Range WirelessShort Range Wireless
CONNECTIVITY MANAGEMENT
Fixed LineFixed Line
ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
Enterprise Device & Application Management
Enterprise Device & Application Management
Enterprise UserInterface
Enterprise UserInterface
Business ProcessManagement
Business ProcessManagement
Business DatabaseManagement
Business DatabaseManagement
IT & NETWORK SECURITY IT BACKBONE
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Source: Frost & Sullivan
IoT Challengesfor the
CIOs OfficeIntegration of New IoT Systems with Existing Systems
Trying to Use IT to Solve OT Challenges
No Operations Expertise in the IT Department
Leading the Conversation with Technology Instead of Business
Benefits and Outcomes
Bridging the Gap between Operations and Information Technology: Accelerate IoT Solution Development and Deployment with Telit
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No Operations Expertise in the IT Department: IoT is largely an operational solution. However, the use
of an organization’s network, cloud capabilities, and integration with other enterprise applications results in
the need to involve the IT department during solution development. However, the IT department is generally
focused on security, connectivity and management, and often lacks expertise in the operational objectives of
deploying the system. This typically results in conflicts between the IT and OT departments. This issue can
be resolved by adding personnel with operational expertise in the IT department to educate and manage IoT
deployments.
Trying to Use IT to Solve OT Challenges: IT departments typically use IT solutions to solve
organizational challenges. This creates a conflict with operational personnel who are using technology to
make business decisions. One area where the conflict is most visible is whether to store data and perform
data analysis on the edge or the cloud. Operational personnel are often wary of connecting devices to open
networks and look to keep all data in-house, whereas IT personnel are more inclined to centralize storage and
analytics capabilities.
Leading the Conversation with Technology Instead of Business Benefits and Outcomes: The
IT and OT departments typically view IoT through their distinct lenses. The IT department focuses on the
technologies that will be implemented, whereas the OT department focuses on business challenges that can be
solved leveraging IoT. This often results in conflicts that can elevate distrust between departments.
Integration of New IoT Systems with Existing Systems: Organizations have been developing
enterprise applications for years, and the layered approach to integration often results in a lack of cohesion
and compatibility between distinct systems. This poses a challenge to organizations looking to centralize
management and analytics of devices and systems. IT departments must find innovative ways to integrate
existing systems with newer deployments to break the silos and create a centralized solution. Alleviating
this challenge is essential to realizing the vision of digital transformation and increasing the ROI from IoT
deployments.
ACCELERATE IOT DEPLOYMENTS: CONNECT THE DOTS AND BRIDGE THE GAP EFFICIENTLY
The Telit Value Proposition
Disruptive innovation creates entirely new markets, often transforming existing markets and displacing
established competitors that are slow—or simply refuse—to adopt new ways of doing business. IoT is the
catalyst that is driving this digital transformation and has the potential to transform every vertical market and
industry by allowing businesses to deconstruct old, inefficient processes and reconstruct processes through
technology efficiently and reliably.
IoT is inherently about connecting the dots and bridging the gap; whether that means coordinating IT and OT
systems, aligning technology and business goals, or streamlining disparate protocols for connecting devices,
the goal of IoT is to unify, simplify, and enhance these processes. Vendors and service providers in the IoT
ecosystem play a role in creating the building blocks of an overall solution that will help an organization realize
its business objectives. However, no one company (no matter how large or small) can develop an end-to-end
solution that addresses all business challenges. Participation in a larger ecosystem is essential to success in IoT.
In this environment, Telit accelerates the successful integration between operational technologies and
solutions with IT infrastructure that helps organizations deploy IoT solutions in a time saving, efficient, and
Bridging the Gap between Operations and Information Technology: Accelerate IoT Solution Development and Deployment with Telit
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modular fashion. Very rarely does an organization have the ability (or willingness) to “rip and replace” existing/
legacy systems when developing their IoT applications. To address this challenge, Telit helps organizations
work with the systems they currently have deployed, augments these systems with modular solutions
that communicate using off the shelf drivers and connectivity tools, creating a bridge with their enterprise
management solutions.
Telit helps organizations accelerate their desire to scale deployments from bottom (connecting more “things”)
to the top (integration of these “things” with enterprise cloud management solutions). In addition, Telit helps
organizations develop intelligent and secure edge computing and control with its edge software and platforms.
As an IoT enabler and accelerator, Telit delivers modules to connect devices, provides a diverse range
of wireless connectivity services, and offers IoT platforms for managing IoT solutions. Depending on the
customer needs, the data collected can be accessed in the Telit cloud based IoT Platform, on-premise servers
or simple integration with enterprise clouds such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, SAP Leonardo,
IBM Watson, and so on. The following exhibit showcases the wide range of products and solutions offered
by Telit.
Exhibit 4: The Comprehensive Telit IoT Solution Portfolio
Telit creates the bridge to IT systems by enabling communications from its IoT platform into different
enterprise systems to help the IT department visualize and manage disparate systems in one horizontal
management platform. While IT departments can manage systems that are part of its infrastructure, their
lack of expertise in creating business value from edge devices makes Telit the partner of choice for IT and OT
decision makers, enabling them to get up and running much faster and avoiding custom integration.
Source: Telit
Telit IoT
Portal
Telit IoT Connectivity
Telit IoT Modules
CONNECTIVITYMANAGEMENT
DEVICEMANAGEMENT
DATAMANAGEMENT
ADMINISTRATION& SECURITY
APPLICATIONDEVELOPMENT
Developer Tools/APIs
EnterpriseIntegration
Cloud to Cloud
Dashboard &Mapping
Third PartyApplications
ManagementPortal
Scalable CloudStorage
Org/User/RoleManagement Multi-Tennant End-to-End
Security
Device Driversand APIs
Edge Agent and Logic
Data-at-RestData-in-Transit
Cloud LogicEngine
LocationServices
Remote Access (RMM)
ConfigurationManagement OTA/FOTA Campaigns External
Integration
CDP Pro Monitoring & Alerting Intelligence Bridge Automation
& Switch
SIM Cards CustomData Plans
GlobalRoaming 24/7 Support Third Party
Data Plans
Cellular Location Short-range Automotive Data Cards
Bridging the Gap between Operations and Information Technology: Accelerate IoT Solution Development and Deployment with Telit
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FROST & SULLIVAN’S LAST WORDIoT has put IT and OT on a collision course due to its role in blurring the lines between both worlds. The
lack of OT expertise in the IT department has created challenges for the CIO that cannot be solved with
technology, but require a deeper understanding of an organization’s operations and the use of technology
to maximize business value. Developing OT expertise in the IT department will create an environment
that ensures success of IoT deployments. While this CIO office transformation is a long-term process,
organizations that work with IoT providers that understand the importance of bridging the gap between IT
and OT will be best positioned for success.
The deep portfolio of Telit enables the company to develop a wide range of solutions that help an organization
maximize its business value while significantly reducing the time to develop and deploy an IoT solution. Telit
has over 20 years of field-proven experience in IoT and Digital Transformation with over 7,000 customers
globally that engage with its professional services professionals spanning solution discovery, design,
deployment, managed services and more. Telit has gained recognition from industry associations and was
recently selected as the “2017 European IIoT Platform for Discrete Applications Customer Value Leadership”
Best Practice recipient from Frost & Sullivan.
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