IoT Platforms, Data Storage and Remote Access for Industry
The storage layer receives IoT data, stores it and makes it available to applications. It includes industrial IoT platforms in five types (manufacturer-owned, independent, European, hyperscaler and specialized), plus data lakes, container management for deployment, and software for device management and remote access.
Categories in the Storage layer
23 manufacturers from our partner network. Pick a category to see manufacturers, solution examples and users.
Platforms
European platforms
Cloud and IoT platforms from European providers that process data under European law. The choice when data sovereignty and GDPR compliance are decisive.
2 manufacturers
A1 Digital · Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH
Hyperscaler platforms
The neutral infrastructure of large cloud providers: device connectivity, storage, messaging, security and AI services on which companies build their own IoT applications.
1 manufacturer
Microsoft
Independent platforms
Neutral industrial IoT platforms without their own hardware that connect devices and machines from many manufacturers, focused on visualization, remote access and device management.
6 manufacturers
achtBytes GmbH · Akenza AG · Cumulocity GmbH +3
Manufacturer-owned platforms
Platforms from machine and component manufacturers that monitor, analyze and service their own equipment. Hardware and software come from a single source.
8 manufacturers
ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH · autosen · Endress+Hauser +5
Specialised platforms
Platforms that solve exactly one business problem, such as monitoring rotating equipment, intralogistics or energy data. Deep in their domain and quick to deploy.
2 manufacturers
Schaeffler Digital Solutions GmbH · SYNAOS GmbH
Software
Container management & deployment
Container orchestration software deploys, updates and monitors containerized applications across servers and edge devices from one central place.
2 manufacturers
Microsoft · Portainer.io
Data lakes
An industrial data lake stores sensor, machine and process data in raw form on low-cost object storage, as the foundation for long-term analytics and AI.
1 manufacturer
Microsoft
Device management / remote access software
OT remote access software manages secure VPN connections between service technicians and machines, plus device inventory, user permissions and updates.
5 manufacturers
doubleSlash Net-Business GmbH · Exor International SpA · IXON +2
What belongs to the storage layer
The storage layer is where data from the source and integration layers comes together. Here it is stored permanently, assigned to devices and assets and made available for analysis. Industrial IoT platforms make up the largest part. The layer also includes data lakes for large volumes of raw data, container management for running software in the plant and in the cloud, and device management and remote access software that lets service technicians reach machines securely from anywhere.
Five types of IoT platforms
Platforms differ mainly in the reason customers buy them. Manufacturer-owned platforms come with the hardware from a single source and integrate one vendor's products, for example at ifm or TURCK. Independent platforms connect to devices from any manufacturer and focus on visualization, device management and remote access, for example Cumulocity GmbH and IXON. European platforms position themselves as a GDPR-compliant alternative to the large US hyperscalers, for example A1 Digital or Deutsche Telekom, for companies that need data sovereignty, for instance in critical infrastructure, automotive or pharma.
Hyperscalers such as Microsoft provide neutral infrastructure for storage, messaging, security and AI that anyone can build on. Specialized platforms go very deep into one topic and are built specifically for that field, for example SYNAOS in intralogistics or Schaeffler in condition monitoring.
What to look for when choosing
The first question is whether the platform should solve one specific problem or serve as the basis for many applications. After that, the key factors are connectivity for existing devices, data model and interfaces, the operating model in the cloud, on-premises or hybrid, data center location, the cost model as the number of devices grows and the ability to extract data again later. The solution examples show which platforms have proven themselves in which industries and applications. The other categories have criteria of their own: for data lakes, open formats and good query tools matter, for container management central administration of many edge sites, and for remote access clean rights management and session logging.
Frequently asked questions about IoT platforms
What is an IoT cloud platform?
An IoT cloud platform is an IoT platform that runs in a data center and is used as a service. It receives data from connected devices over the internet or cellular networks, stores it and provides device management, visualization, rules and interfaces. Hyperscalers, European cloud providers and independent platform vendors offer such platforms, often in hybrid setups with components running in the plant.
What are the types of IoT platforms?
In industry, IoT platforms fall into five types. Manufacturer-owned platforms belong to one vendor's hardware, while independent platforms connect devices from any manufacturer. European platforms focus on data sovereignty and GDPR, and hyperscalers provide neutral infrastructure to build on. Specialized platforms solve one specific problem, for example in intralogistics or condition monitoring. The main reason for buying decides which type fits.
How is IoT data stored?
IoT data is usually stored in a time series database, which saves each measurement with its timestamp and supports fast queries over time ranges. This database is often part of an IoT platform and runs in the cloud, in a company data center or on an edge device in the plant. Large volumes of raw data for later analysis and AI training are also kept in a data lake.
Edge vs cloud computing: where should IoT data be processed?
Both have their place. At the edge, close to the machine, data is processed when it needs a fast response or should not leave the plant, for example control loops or prefiltering. The cloud or a central data center handles long-term storage, cross-site analytics and AI training. Many architectures combine both and send only aggregated data upstream.
What is an IoT time series database?
An IoT time series database stores measurements together with their timestamps and is optimized for high write rates and queries over time ranges. That makes it well suited to sensor data, which arrives continuously and is usually analyzed as trends. Many IoT platforms use such a database internally, while data lakes are used alongside it for large volumes of raw data.
