IoT gateway definition
An IoT gateway serves as a way for smart IoT (Internet of Things) devices to get access to the internet. It can be in the form of a virtual platform or a piece of hardware. An IoT gateway connects smart devices, sensors, and IoT modules to the internet and the cloud. So, with an IoT gateway, devices can use the internet. The most widely used and known example of an IoT gateway is a router — a physical device that allows your phones, computers, and other smart devices to connect to your home Wi-Fi network. You can think of IoT gateways as bridges between devices that need an internet connection and the internet or the cloud.
See also: IoT botnet, IoT middleware
IoT gateway features
- Communication. An IoT gateway provides both wireless and wired communication to many different devices. It works with Wi-Fi networks, Ethernet, LoRA, and cellular networks.
- Security. An IoT gateway offers better security to the network it operates on. It can divide OT and IT domains while still allowing devices to communicate.
- Handling traffic. IoT gateways can handle inbound and outbound traffic. They send outbound traffic to the cloud and receive inbound traffic for configuring and managing devices. An IoT gateway can also support services with offline computing and serve as data caches and streaming devices.
