Integration of Cloud Computing with Internet of Things: Challenges and Open Issues

The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming the next Internet-related revolution. It allows billions of devices to be connected and communicate with each other to share information that improves the quality of our daily lives. On the other hand, Cloud Computing provides on-demand, convenient and scalable network access which makes it possible to share computing resources, indeed, this, in turn, enables dynamic data integration from various data sources. There are many issues standing in the way of the successful implementation of both Cloud and IoT. The integration of Cloud Computing with the IoT is the most effective way on which to overcome these issues. The vast number of resources available on the Cloud can be extremely beneficial for the IoT, while the Cloud can gain more publicity to improve its limitations with real world objects in a more dynamic and distributed manner. This paper provides an overview of the integration of the Cloud into the IoT by highlighting the integration benefits and implementation challenges. Discussion will also focus on the architecture of the resultant Cloud-based IoT paradigm and its new applications scenarios. Finally, open issues and future research directions are also suggested.

I. Introduction

It is important to explore the common features of the technologies involved in the field of computing. Indeed, this is certainly the case with Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) - two paradigms which share many common features. The integration of these numerous concepts may facilitate and improve these technologies. Cloud computing has altered the way in which technologies can be accessed, managed and delivered. It is widely agreed that Cloud computing can be used for utility services in the future [1]. Although many consider Cloud computing to be a new technology, it has, in actual fact, been involved in and encompassed various technologies such as grid, utility computing virtualisation, networking and software services [2], [3]. Cloud computing provides services which make it possible to share computing resources across the Internet. As such, it is not surprising that the origins of Cloud technologies lie in grid, utility computing virtualisation, networking and software services, as well as distributed computing, and parallel computing [4]. On the other hand, the IoT can be considered both a dynamic and global networked infrastructure that manages self-configuring objects in a highly intelligent way. The IoT is moving towards a phase where all items around us will be connected to the Internet and will have the ability to interact with minimum human effort [5]. The IoT normally includes a number of objects with limited storage and computing capacity [6]. It could well be said that Cloud computing and the IoT will be the future of the Internet and next-generation technologies. However, Cloud services are dependent on service providers which are extremely interoperable, while IoT technologies are based on diversity rather than interoperability [6].