Pelion’s IOT Analytics features: An Overview

Pelion’s Connectivity Management platform offers its customers analytics insights on active devices as a feature tailored for the Internet of Things (IoT).

Pelion’s Connectivity Management platform allows for customisable Analytics. With that, our customers extract and derive meaning from the device and connectivity data generated in the field. The analytics helps to organize and make sense of the data which in turn enhances our users troubleshooting capabilities, helps them create more accurate forecasts, builds different levels of user-behaviour- and other patterns. Ultimately, analytics can help create long term predictability which empowers businesses to harness the true valie of IoT.

Device Behaviour & Fault Analysis

Device Behaviour

Businesses rarely deploy a single form of device in the field, hardware can vary with production improvements and firmware updates take time to roll out across the estate. With each IoT device, we see a range of behaviours. As the IoT markets progress and mature, so do the devices and the types used within each application setting. Asset Trackers are a really good example of a mature connected IoT device whereas Femtech wearables are in a brand-new device type category. The more mature the device type or category, the more we’ve learned about best-in-class and optimal wireless network behaviours.

There are two main different modes of operation for IoT devices: the first mode is where the device sends a consistent flow of Internet Protocol (IP) data traffic towards servers. These devices typically function as the primary nodes or gateways – a sort of data exchange or data aggregator. Maintaining a constant session on the mobile network is required to continuously transit data to the application server.

The second mode, has the device sending event-based and more sporadic data through the network. These devices are configured to wake up and come online intermittently as they perform their intended tasks, this create a new mobile network session for every data transmission. Before finally shutting off or going into a deep sleep mode once the task is complete. Some devices adopt this pattern to conserve energy or due to the nature of their functionality.

Using Analytics to understand the specifics of these nuanced behaviours, is more than just a technical exercise. Analytics is a valuable tool IoT managers use to gain deeper insights into individual device and device estate health, network consumption and data usage patterns, what ‘normal’ looks like and the possible areas that may warrant attention.

For instance, if a device that is typically always online suddenly goes offline without a known reason, it might indicate a malfunction or a potential security threat. Most of Pelion’s customers use Monitoring and Alerting in combination with Analytics to safeguard and maintain health of their IoT deployments.

Device Faults

IoT devices can suffer from faults. Using Analytics, customers can discover various inconsistencies which they need to investigate. Simple examples include devices that

• Fail to come online when expected to, disrupting the regular flow of operations.

• Come online at unpredicted intervals, suggesting irregularities in their programming or external interferences.

• Exhibit abnormal traffic, which could be a sign of either technical glitches or potential security breaches.

More concerning are the devices that initiate communication with unintended servers, a scenario that could indicate malicious activities or potential hacking attempts. Monitoring and Alerting in combination with Analytics offers the opportunity for our users to be vigilant and identify these irregularities early on. Pelion customers can take proactive measures, ensuring that their IoT ecosystem remains robust, secure, and operates seamlessly.

How does Pelion’s Analytics Work?

Pelion Analytics solution combines data from multiple sources to provide a holistic view of your IoT device estate. From this you have access to more valuable insights. Our advanced Analytics functions amalgamates data from:

• Detailed metadata records on device IP traffic behaviour, recorded as traffic passes through our core network

• Information about device sessions, from live RADIUS communication with mobile operators

• Delayed CDR records from mobile operators about device usage including SMS and voice

Our system swiftly processes this vast data, determines what’s important and makes that accessible via our Connectivity Platform interface or via APIs for direct customer access.

Check out how Pelion Analytics works

Pelion’s Platform and Analytics

As a Pelion customer, you have instant access to our easy-to-use Connectivity Management platform. We pride ourselves in our sophisticated analytics capabilities that sit ‘below and above the bonnet’. Our user-friendly dashboard offers immediate insights into device connections, activations, and alerts, while an exhaustive statistics section provides a broader view of device operations. One minute you are viewing collective company data, the next you are zooming into individual device data details. It’s all at the tip of a finger.

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Logging into the platform, you will be greeted with a consolidated view.

This first dashboard view provides an immediate overview of device connections, activations, and alerts. It serves as a starting point for everyone to start their journey before they dive deeper, allowing navigation to specific device groups, individual device details and more for more granular insights. And of course, the platform has a full SIM statistics and data breakdown area.

Company Analytics

The Statistics section of the platform shows high level usage data for all a customer’s devices, and information about how many devices have been online over time. From this page, more options are available through the side panel, including:

• Usage (Total), showing your total data usage over time

• Usage (Breakdown), showing usage upload and download usage

• Usage (By Device), showing data usage for a specific device

• Usage (Protocol), showing how usage breaks down by network protocol

• Usage (By IP), showing how usage breaks down by internet server

• Sessions, showing how many devices are online over time

Below is an example of the total data/sessions of an entire account viewable on the platform:

Per SIM Statistics

You can navigate from the homepage to the list of online devices, select a specific SIM by its number, and be presented with a detailed analytics page tailored for that device. This feature becomes particularly useful when identifying anomalies in device behavior, especially in cases where a device initiates communication with unexpected IP addresses, a potential red flag for security concerns.

Summary

Pelion’s Analytics solution is a key data representation tool for businesses, ensuring IoT devices function optimally, preemptively identifying issues, and facilitating informed decision-making. Our platform, with its comprehensive analytics capabilities, ensures that IoT is not just about connectivity but about being well connected with smart, insightful, and secure connectivity.