Harnessing the power of IoT for your data strategy
Connecting state and local government leaders
The constant evolution of the internet of things offers agencies continuing opportunities to harness new and powerful tools to support their mission.
The constant evolution of the internet of things offers agencies continuing opportunities to harness new and powerful tools to support their mission.
When advancing internet-of-things data strategies within a mission context, there are three key considerations for government agencies. Whether agencies are developing data programs for the military or improving citizen services, the constant evolution of the IoT means continued opportunities to harness new powerful tools to support the federal mission. However, the speed of this change in IoT applications and technologies also presents challenges for government agencies and requires a strategic approach.
- Understanding a changing landscape. Users’ perception of IoT has evolved over the years from thinking of IoT as a single-platform solution to understanding it as a multifaceted concept. When IoT first entered the larger IT conversation, it was assumed that a single process or package could make an agency “IoT ready.” Now, instead of relying on one blanket platform, it is clear that putting multiple pieces together is one of the most cutting-edge advantages in the IoT space, and it is allowing those who grasp this concept to better tackle their top goals and mission objectives. The best way to harness the true power of IoT is to take a broad view and use its components as part of a data architecture that will help ensure mission success.
- Integrating with data analytics. IoT data is constantly being pulled, processed and delivered to key decision-makers across many groups. When managing these complex data analytics it is necessary to give the user a way to approach and interact with the data efficiently. Agencies should answer questions about how or why the data should be retrieved and make decisions around real-time data delivery needs. Which data sets should be brought into a forward operating base? How should data be processed and analyzed? What is the best way to deliver insights to those on the ground?
- Staying flexible. Constructing data algorithms or problem-solving models is a common practice within the IoT space, but agencies should avoid becoming tied to these processes. They should manage these methods and approaches the same way they would manage an office or work group where people change and situations evolve all the time. Agencies can be prepared by anticipating change and maintaining the ability to adapt new models while still accounting for ever-changing scenarios and data intake. No matter the application or industry, requirements will change, so staying flexible is essential when applying an IoT strategy.
As the IoT continues to evolve, so will the opportunities and challenges for leveraging and harnessing its power for federal agency mission success. By maintaining insight into the ever changing IoT landscape, agencies can deliver incredible innovations and can take their data strategy to new levels of success.
NEXT STORY: Why Data Privacy is a Matter of Economic Justice