Getting started with Azure IoT solutions

IoT (Internet of Things) is a collection of managed and platform services that connect and control IoT assets. For example, consider an industrial motor connected to the cloud. The motor collects and sends temperature data. This data is used to evaluate whether the motor is performing as expected. This information can then be used to prioritize a maintenance schedule for the motor.

Azure IoT supports a large range of devices, including industrial equipment, microcontrollers, sensors, and so on. When connected to the cloud, these devices can send data to your IoT solution. The data can then be processed to gain insights about the device. You can use these insights to monitor, manage, and control your environment.

IoT solution concepts

Learn about Azure IoT

If you are interested in learning about Azure IoT concepts in detail using a sandbox subscription, see the Introduction to Azure IoT. This is a five hour learning path that consists of eight training modules.

Introduction to Azure IoT

Understanding the difference between PaaS and aPaaS solutions

Microsoft enables you to create an IoT solution, by using individual PaaS services or in an aPaaS IoT solution platform. PaaS (platform as a service) is a cloud computing model in which Microsoft delivers Azure hardware and software tools that are tailored to a specific task or job function. With PaaS services, you are responsible for scaling and configuration, but the underlying infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is taken care of for you. aPaaS (application platform as a service) provides a cloud environment to build, manage, and deliver applications to customers. aPaaS offerings take care of scaling and most of the configuration, but they still require developer input to build out a finished solution.

Start with Azure IoT Central (aPaaS)

Microsoft's aPaaS IoT solution platform is Azure IoT Central. We recommend IoT Central as a starting point for all customers. It is designed to simplify and accelerate IoT solution assembly and operations, by preassembling PaaS services from the IoT Platform, and across Azure, which are needed to build enterprise grade IoT solutions. The result is an out-of-the-box and ready-to-use UX and API surface area that is complete with the capabilities needed to connect, manage, and operate fleets of devices at scale.

Azure IoT Central

Microsoft also enables you to build solutions using a collection of Azure PaaS components. You can use these to connect and provision things, analyze the insights they collect, and act influenced by those insights.

Compare IoT Central (aPaaS) to an Azure PaaS solution approach based on your solution needs.

Compare solution approaches

Design an IoT architecture

A standard IoT solution architecture consists of five basic elements:

  • Devices consist of industrial equipment, sensors, and microcontrollers that connect with the cloud to send and receive data.
  • Provisioning connects the devices to the cloud.
  • Processing analyzes data from devices to gather insights.
  • Business integration performs actions based on insights from the device data.
  • Security monitoring provides an end-to-end security solution for IoT workloads. Use Microsoft Defender for IoT.

These fundamentals exist whether you are using a PaaS or aPaaS solution. However, we recommend all customers start with the aPaaS solution offered by Microsoft, Azure IoT Central. Its out-of-the-box UX and API surface simplify device connectivity, operations, and management so that you can spend more time and budget using IoT data to create business value.

Azure IoT reference architecture

Azure IoT Central architecture

Monitor and optimize your Azure IoT solution

You can use the insights gathered from your device data to monitor, manage, and control your environment. You can use services such as Power BI to visualize and inspect your data or services such as Azure Logic Apps and Microsoft Flow to set up automated actions.

Next steps

See the related IoT architecture guides:

See the related IoT reference architectures and example scenarios:

See the related IoT solution ideas: