How used network switches can help prepare your infrastructure for IoT workloads

Internet of Things (IoT) business investments have surged as companies increasingly recognize its potential to revolutionize operations and customer engagement. IoT devices are expected to grow by 50% by 2027. The integration of IoT technologies enables real-time data collection and analysis, leading to enhanced efficiency, predictive maintenance, and personalized experiences across various sectors, including manufacturing, health care, and retail.

Technological advancements, such as edge computing and 5G connectivity, have reduced costs and improved accessibility, making IoT solutions more feasible for a broader range of businesses. This trend is creating significant cost savings and competitive advantages as companies leverage IoT for smarter decision-making and innovative product offerings.

As IoT devices become more prevalent, concerns like standardization, security, integration, and impact on the network become crucial. Additional IoT devices can lead to slow response times and network congestion, affecting overall business performance. Network switches, however, prepare your infrastructure for these IoT workloads by ensuring efficient data traffic management and connectivity.

Network switches enhance network performance by directing data packets effectively, supporting scalability with sufficient port density, and enabling network segmentation through VLANs to improve security and manage bandwidth. Switches with Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities prioritize critical IoT traffic, ensuring timely data delivery and providing monitoring tools for real-time performance insights. By addressing these challenges, switches help prevent slowdowns and security breaches, creating a robust IT infrastructure that can handle the growing demands of IoT devices and maintain business continuity.

Unlocking potential: Reasons why network-connected IoT transforms businesses

IoT applications that apply network connectivity are transforming various sectors by enhancing efficiency and connectivity. Different IoT applications leverage networks through the following:

• Security scanners: Network security scanners use surveillance cameras and sensors to provide continuous monitoring and real-time alerts. These systems capture and transmit high-resolution video feeds over secure networks, allowing remote access and quick responses to potential security threats. This real-time data flow is important for maintaining effective surveillance and ensuring safety.
• Meeting room systems: Network connectivity streamlines operations and boosts productivity in meeting rooms. Smart room controls enable users to adjust lighting, climate, and audio or video equipment through centralized interfaces or mobile apps. Network scheduling systems automate room bookings based on availability, while interactive whiteboards and collaboration tools facilitate seamless sharing and interaction among participants, optimizing meeting efficiency.
• Wearables: Network-connected IoT devices, especially tech wearables (i.e., scan cards, smart watches), are revolutionizing business operations by enhancing productivity, improving health monitoring, and personalizing experiences. Wearables streamline workflows with instant notifications and task management while facilitating seamless communication and collaboration. IT enterprises use wearables to provide real-time insights into employee performance and system health, enabling proactive issue resolution and optimizing operational efficiency. By integrating wearables into the IT environment, businesses encourage a more agile and responsive workforce, creating both innovation and performance.

Network switches are essential in each of these cases for managing data traffic, ensuring efficient and secure communication, and supporting the scalability needed for expanding IoT deployments.

Navigating network challenges in IoT adoption

As IoT adoption grows, businesses experience several network challenges that must be handled to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Challenges include:

• Congestion: Additional IoT devices increase data traffic, potentially leading to network congestion. This can result in slower response times and reduced performance for critical applications, impacting overall productivity.
• Costs: Implementing and maintaining a robust network infrastructure to support a growing number of IoT devices can be expensive. Costs include upgrading hardware, expanding bandwidth, and investing in advanced network management tools to handle more loads.
• Compatibility: Integrating diverse IoT devices with existing network infrastructure can pose compatibility issues. Ensuring various devices and protocols work seamlessly together requires careful planning and, sometimes, additional middleware or network adapters.
• Scalability and flexibility: As IoT deployments increase, the network must be able to scale properly. This involves expanding capacity and adapting to new technologies, while maintaining performance and flexibility to accommodate future device additions.
• Security: The increased number of connected devices introduces more potential entry points for cyberattacks. Securing the network against vulnerabilities and ensuring IoT devices are protected from unauthorized access is critical for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining system integrity.

Applications and benefits: Optimizing IoT networks with refurbished switches

Preparing an IoT infrastructure with refurbished switches can be a cost-effective and sustainable strategy. Refurbished switches, when integrated into an IoT-friendly network, can ensure performance improvement for managing the increased data traffic generated by IoT devices. They are ideal for use cases, such as expanding network capacity in smart buildings, enhancing connectivity in manufacturing environments, and supporting large-scale IoT deployments in smart cities.

The benefits of using refurbished switches include reduced capital expenditure compared to purchasing new hardware, a smaller environmental footprint through recycling, and reliable performance that meets the demands of modern IoT applications. By leveraging refurbished switches, businesses can build an efficient and scalable network infrastructure while managing costs and contributing to environmental sustainability.

Maximizing IoT potential with refurbished network switches

Refurbished network switches purchased through equal2new® from CXtec can significantly enhance IoT-friendly workplaces. Our rigorous refurbishment process ensures each switch meets stringent performance standards, delivering high reliability, bandwidth, and low latency that is essential for IoT operations.

Our approach not only provides a cost-effective solution but extends hardware lifespan beyond the end-of-life(EoL) cycle, supports environmental sustainability, and adapts seamlessly to the growing demands of a connected workspace. By using high-quality, reliable refurbished switches in your network infrastructure, you can support the seamless integration of IoT applications, such as smart office systems, advanced security monitoring, and collaborative technologies.