Twenty-first-century enterprise technology is full of new concepts to understand. The field of remote device networking has advanced incredibly quickly in the last several years, and it can be tough to keep up with the big concepts driving enterprise device networks forward.
What’s inside the plastic enclosure of an electronic device is essential, but these days, it’s just as critical how that device communicates with other devices and the outside world. You’ll often hear about M2M (machine-to-machine) and IoT (Internet of Things) when discussing device networking.
In this article, we’ll define M2M and IoT and examine the significant ways the two are different. Once you understand the differences between the two, you’ll better identify which can better serve your business applications.
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What Is M2M?
M2M, or machine-to-machine, is the foundation of today’s sophisticated device connectivity. An M2M connection is a point-to-point connection between two network devices to transmit information via public networking technologies such as Ethernet and cellular networks.
Sensor telemetry is one of the original uses of M2M communication. For decades, businesses have used M2M to remotely monitor temperature, energy consumption, moisture, pressure, and more through sensors.
ATMs offer another excellent example of M2M technology. The ATM’s internal computer constantly communicates with a host processor that routes transactions to the appropriate banks and accounts. The banks then send back approval codes through the host processor, allowing transactions to be completed.
This is an example of M2M technology because the transaction happens remotely without a human operator on the bank’s side. Machines communicate smoothly, efficiently, and automatically, allowing trades to be authorized in seconds. M2M technology has a decades-long track record of improving the world’s ability to communicate and execute transactions effectively across long distances and in real-time.
What Is IoT?
IoT, or the Internet of Things, is an evolution of M2M that increases the things that device connectivity can achieve at both a consumer and an enterprise level. IoT takes the basic concepts of M2M and expands them outward by creating large “cloud” networks of devices that communicate with one another through cloud networking platforms. The technologies used by IoT devices allow users to create fast, flexible, high-performance networks connecting various devices.
Examples of IoT devices are all around us today. Intelligent home voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home are some of the most high-profile examples, along with the vast array of smart home devices that they connect to. But you’ll also find IoT devices used in enterprise applications for monitoring cargo temperatures, tracking shipments, and evaluating employee performance. Any network of devices connected to the Internet and using a cloud platform to communicate can be considered part of the IoT.
So, why are IoT applications practically synonymous with cloud computing? The reason is that cloud architecture provides much of the infrastructure, platforms, and software IoT devices use to operate scalable and reliable networks. While IoT can function outside the cloud, it’s the cloud that makes it helpful to businesses and consumers.
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M2M vs. IoT: Main Differences
First, knowing that IoT is a subset of M2M technology is essential. IoT involves communication between machines without human input, making it a form of M2M communication. However, IoT expands the power and potential of M2M technology in new ways.
The most significant difference between M2M and IoT is that M2M systems use point-to-point communication. Meanwhile, an IoT system typically situates its devices within a global cloud network, allowing larger-scale integration and more sophisticated applications.
Scalability is another key difference between M2M and IoT. IoT is designed to be highly scalable since devices can often be added to a network and integrated into existing systems with minimal hassle. M2M networks can also be more labor-intensive to set up and maintain since new point-to-point connections must be created for each device. (Think of the effort it takes to install a new ATM instead of adding a new smart device to your home’s network.)
“IoT” also typically refers to wireless devices, while M2M may or may not involve wireless communication. The wireless nature of most IoT devices can be both a blessing and a curse, requiring less maintenance of technologies such as Ethernet networks but shifting the burden to Wi-Fi networks, which can be less reliable and have their problems.
M2M vs. IoT: Making the Choice
So, is M2M or IoT technology preferable for your application? The answer to that question depends on what you need from your device’s communications technology. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for devising networking, so pick the option that makes more sense for your business.
M2M technology may be a better choice if:
- Your application requires point-to-point communication between machines
- Your application has a limited set of specific machine communication needs that need to be executed quickly and reliably
- Your application needs to be operational whether or not a Wi-Fi connection is available
- Rapid scalability is not a primary concern for your network
- Your device network needs to be isolated for security reasons
On the other hand, IoT may be the best option if:
- Your application requires real-time syncing of many different devices throughout a networking cloud
- Your devices have access to a fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection
- Devices on your network need the ability to communicate with multiple other devices simultaneously
- Your application requires smooth and easy scalability for large numbers of devices and users
- Your application requires the ability to make its data and devices compatible with multiple standards
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M2M and IoT are critical technologies for today’s business and consumer markets. As these technologies continue to develop, they’ll create new opportunities for those who understand them well and can effectively leverage each technology’s strengths.
