The Internet of Things (IoT) for business can improve processes, reduce costs, deliver operational efficiencies and transform productivity. Here are three things that every business should be doing now to make the most of the opportunities that IoT presents: Choose the right connectivity, be security ready, and keep on top of regulations.
Enterprise networks have become as equally critical as electricity, water and gas to the successful operation of a business and the well-being of building occupants. In fact, nearly 75% of leasing decision-makers feel it is critical to have a reliable internet connection in their office space to conduct company business, according to research by the building certification firm WiredScore.
As increasing numbers of devices in a building connect to the Internet Protocol network, and many of them receive power as well as data service via communications cabling, a zone cabling architecture can offer an efficient physical-layer setup.
BT launches Green Tech Innovation Platform which will use traffic optimization sensors, IoT solutions for energy and water management in social housing and public sector buildings; and 5G solutions to support reduced travel through video augmented reality or virtual reality to carry out remote repair and diagnostics by health and other public sector workers.
Smart sensors offer a thorough view of building operations and provide vital insights into how energy is being used. Businesses can learn what devices are using energy, how much, and for how long. But IoT technology can provide more than just information, it can also help business owners manage the devices, like automating lights, adjusting thermostats based on time of day, or reducing energy provided to rooms not in use.
Smart buildings use IoT devices that monitor building performance to bring benefits from staff productivity to sustainability through sensors and automated applications, as well as improving the experience of staff and visitors. This is particularly poignant at a time when hygiene and well-being comes under scrutiny in public buildings. IoT solutions are capable of helping businesses adhere to regulations, while also protecting the business from damage. Proximity sensors used for non-contact detection of objects are being used in car parks to indicate parking availability and can be used to manage people numbers in confined areas – especially relevant in social distancing measures. While pressure sensors are capable of detecting fluctuations or drops in pressure in water systems, used in conjunction with water quality sensors they can provide an important role in monitoring water quality.
Smart Building networks have a number of extremely specific requirements, including the need for flexibility, the ability to scale up (or down) easily, PoE (Power over Ethernet) or PODL (Power over Data Lines) capacity and support for Internet of Things and Cloud applications. Picking the right cabling can make or break a smart building. The introduction of wireless access points combined with fixed access as well as PoE has made designing, configuring, and reconfiguring networks much easier and more suitable to Smart Buildings.
Securing smart homes and smart buildings from cybersecurity risks becomes more relevant than ever in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. ENISA presents some fundamental measures for securing smart devices.
How can you deliver a reliable 4th Utility connected experience so you can face the demands of a modern network? In this webinar, Corning discusses how optical network solutions provide a future-ready platform that can help support in-building applications like Wi-Fi, cellular, cameras, A/V, lighting and more. We will also walk through an Intelligent Building case study that used remote powering, software defined networking, cellular and optical network solutions to provide an easy to manage, scalable, and cost-effective common infrastructure that saved more than 25% over traditional copper networks.
A glossary of terms that define the Smart Building.
