What is the Internet of Things (IoT)

I broke this down in the video above. Below is the written version, expanded into a fuller guide to what the Internet of Things is, the challenges it creates, and how to test it.

The Internet of Things is the ever-growing network of physical objects that carry an IP address for internet connectivity, along with the communication that happens between those objects and other internet-enabled devices and systems. If the term feels fuzzy, this one is for you. IoT extends internet connectivity beyond the traditional devices we already know, like desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, out to a huge range of everyday things that use embedded technology to communicate and interact with the world around them, all through the internet. In the video I explained what IoT is and then turned to the part I always care about, which is how you test it. Here I want to lay out both.

What the Internet of Things actually is

IoT is a network of everyday physical objects that connect to the internet and communicate with other devices and systems.

The core idea is simple. Take the internet connectivity we already have on computers and phones, and extend it to ordinary objects. Those objects use embedded technology to sense, communicate, and interact with their environment, all over the internet.

You have almost certainly used some already. Smart door locks, smart watches, Bluetooth trackers, smart home lights, irrigation controls, smart vents, energy monitors, thermostats, the Amazon Echo, and smart TVs are just a few examples. I cover the full picture in the video. What I learned is that once you start counting, IoT is already everywhere in a normal home.

The challenges IoT creates

IoT brings four big challenges: data volume, security, privacy, and keeping up with technology.

All those connected devices come with real problems. First is data. Extreme amounts of it will require larger databases for storage. Second is security. More devices mean a need for higher levels of protection, especially for enterprise applications.

Third is privacy. IoT devices hold a lot of consumer data, and keeping that data secure is essential. Fourth is the pace of technology itself, which has to keep growing to support IoT. Each of these gets harder as the number of devices climbs. What I learned is that data and security are not separate concerns here. They are the same concern seen from two angles.

An IoT testing strategy

Build your IoT testing strategy around three basics: data, devices, and security.

If you are like me, you are always focused on testing, so here is where the strategy comes in. Start with three basic items: data, devices, and security. Those three map directly onto the challenges, and testing each one deliberately is what keeps an IoT system trustworthy.

I walk through the strategy in the video. Then get practical about resources. You need to determine your resource needs in terms of people and tools, and you need to make sure those people have good training. I found that IoT testing fails most often not on technology but on preparation, when a team is handed connected devices to test without the training or the tools to do it well.

Your testing options

You can train existing staff, hire IoT-experienced testers, outsource to a partner, or combine these.

There are a few ways to build the capability. You can train your existing employees on IoT testing, which keeps your team and their product knowledge intact. You can hire employees who already have an IoT testing background. Or you can outsource to a testing partner who specializes in it.

Often the best answer is a combination. You might train your core team while bringing in outside expertise for the hardest parts. What I learned is that the right mix depends on how central IoT is to your product, and it is worth deciding deliberately rather than defaulting to whatever is easiest this quarter.

The takeaway

The Internet of Things extends internet connectivity to everyday physical objects, from door locks to thermostats. It brings four real challenges: data volume, security, privacy, and keeping pace with technology. To test it, build your strategy on three basics, data, devices, and security, and get your people and tools sorted with proper training. Then choose how to staff it, whether by training your team, hiring, outsourcing, or combining those. Do that and you can test IoT with the same rigor you bring to any other system.

If this helped, the full walkthrough is in my video on the Internet of Things. Here is my question for the comments: how is your team preparing to test IoT devices? Subscribe if you want more practical software testing guidance.