Architecting IoT Solutions on Azure

Chapter 2. Azure-Centric IoT Devices

Chapter 1 provided the view of the world of IoT solutions from 40,000 feet. By now, you have the gist of what architecting an IoT solution on Azure is all about. But hold tight, because the real adventure is just getting started. In Chapter 2, you come down from the bird’s-eye view straight into the nitty-gritty world of devices. Before you get too carried away, though, understand there’s no way to cram every detail about every device into a single chapter. The focus here is on Azure-centric devices, where hardware, supporting software, and cloud services all shake hands.

Speaking of devices, my first internet-connected device was an IP camera. I wasn’t thinking “IoT” back then—I just wanted a camera that let me peek at video streams online for home security. It was just another device, right? Fast forward, now I have a smart thermostat, Chromecast, internet-linked home alarm, robot vacuum, you name it. It wasn’t long before my house was a full-blown IoT hub alongside my trusty phones and gadgets. But here’s the kicker. As I kept adding gear, my inner network security guy started ringing alarm bells. I eyed those IoT devices with a bit of caution. They came with mysteries and challenges. Heck, I even set up a separate access point for my IoT squad, just to keep them at arm’s length from my computers and tablets. While my experience is certainly my own, I do not think it is all that different from most folks. There are countless IoT devices ...