You have an IoT solution, we understand that! You not only need a solution to store the large set of real-time data but also need a solution that can effectively handle all your IoT devices, and monitor them for scaling your business IoT services.

Well, this is how it goes and what you need to do with your IoT devices. Devices such as microcontrollers or sensors need to connect to a cloud so that they can receive and send data. So that’s about a place for your data collected by the IoT devices. Now, if your device has to take action and communicate with the cloud, it needs to be provisioned.

To analyze the data from the devices, it needs to be processed. A business can take action if the data is analyzed, which can be done using Power BI, a powerful business integration developed by Azure. All the repetitive actions, need to be automated and finally, the collected data must be secured.

Azure IoT solutions can do all of these, in fact, you can build an IoT solution from scratch on Azure IoT. But how do you get started with your IoT device and Azure IoT? Let’s get to it in this article so that you can continue with your IoT solution effectively.

The Steps to Build IoT Applications Using Azure IoT Solutions

Of course, you need robust tools to build robust IoT applications and Azure has a variety of them. That helps you from creating to deploying the IoT solution. Let’s understand this process so that you can go about building the IoT application on Azure IoT without any grievances.

An Understanding of Azure IoT Hub

Your devices must communicate bi-directionally with the IoT applications, To solve this, Azure has a solution named Azure IoT Hub. It is a managed service acting as a hub for central messages between them.

This is not just secured but scalable with an open-source platform that connects millions of data sets simultaneously and processes later data sets in real time.

Using Azure DevOps for Development

The communication is set, and next comes the development. For this, Azure DevOps comes into play. It is a hub of development tools where you can plan the work, collaborate to develop the code, and use it to deploy the applications.

Plus, the best part is that it allows you to integrate itself with Azure services for implementing continuous integration and development pipelines in the IoT project.

Set the Development to Work on the Environment

 

To begin with the development, you need to first have a subscription to Azure. Then create an organization in Azure DevOps and go ahead to start a project.

In the Azure account, set up the IoT Hub instance and install all the necessary tools for development, like SDKs, Azure CLI, and Visual Studio Code, whichever is necessary for the programming language you have chosen.

Next is the IoT Hub Integration with Azure DevOps

For an absolutely streamlined IoT solution deployment, you need to integrate Azure DevOps with the Azure IoT Hub. You can set up the CI/CD integration with the application easily.  For the codebase of your IoT project, create a repository in DevOps.

Using your preferred language developer is the solution for your IoT. The next pipeline needs to be defined, which will trigger the code commits, be it for the package, compiling, or testing the application.

To automate the deployment on the IoT Hub,  you configure the release pipeline as well.

Lastly, the way to Deploy on IoT Hub and quality maintenance

Use the ARM templates to automate the deployment. You can otherwise use the Azure CLI to automate it.

In the CI pipeline, use automated testing so that any changes made to the code don’t affect the existing functionality. You can then include tests such as end-to-end tests, integration tests, and unit tests, whichever applies to the IoT scenario.

Other Azure IoT solutions to your IoT applications

Well, beyond this, there are many other things you can use. To connect to the IoT Hub, the Device Provisioning Service will help. Where the provisioning steps are automated.

For the development of your code, you may use the device SDKs. With an IoT plug and key, you can connect the device to the solution easily.

With IoT Central, you can monitor the device and the data in the device throughout its lifecycle. Take actions based on the IoT scenario when you assess it.

Model the physical environment with a digital twin. For automated actions, use the Azure functions. You know that analytics is the key when you have massive data. Using Azure Explorer, you can set up a connection between the IoT Hub and the device to capture the data, which can be used to query later. Power BI can aid you in analyzing the data and deducing insights for your actions.

The Wrap

Azure IoT is a complete package for your IoT solution and additionally, beyond the IoT stack with other Azure services, it is the suite of tools that has everything for you to manage.

Now that you know why and what you need to build the IoT solution, Azure backs you entirely. Manage your IoT intelligently and securely while you scale it to make the right business decisions.

Management, security, scalability, and availability are the things that you need to consider with your IoT. Azure takes care of everything.