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The Network Challenges of IoT IntegrationThe Network Challenges of IoT Integration
Enterprises are adopting IoT technology, and network staff are tasked with integrating these systems into their corporate networks while prioritizing security, QoS and connectivity.
Mary E. Shacklett, President, Transworld Data
July 14, 2025
5 Min Read
CREDIT: CHROMA CRAFT MEDIA GROUP / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
With an estimated 27 billion to 41 billion IoT components in operation worldwide, organizations are evaluating the best ways to integrate IoT environments into their enterprise networks.
To that end, the IoT integration market is expected to record a 31.2% compound annual growth rate between now and 2034, topping $72 billion, according to Polaris Market Research.
Companies are investing in IoT for a variety of reasons, among them:
Point of sale. Contactless debit and credit card usage at retailers and ATMs requires secure and encrypted data transmission from network edge points to centralized data centers.
Smart cities. Municipalities use sensors at edge points throughout their metro areas to monitor and observe traffic congestion.
Healthcare. Care facilities use smartphones and medical monitoring devices to track the health of patients at home, conduct telehealth appointments and perform robotic surgeries.
Automation. Manufacturers automate assembly lines with robots and sensors that feed data back into central manufacturing systems monitored by managers.
Remote monitoring. Organizations use IoT to monitor and track smartphones and other company IT that's deployed remotely.
The Job of an IoT Network
IoT networks connect the vast array of IoT devices -- among them sensors, cameras, robots and drones -- to a central location where real-time data is processed and relayed.
Because corporate networks comprise a variety of systems -- both IoT and others, such as cloud, OT and security -- administrators need a way to route traffic so information flows across these systems without interruption. That's where network IoT integration comes into play, and it's not always a straightforward endeavor.
Uniform interoperability and security are key obstacles, along with QoS standards. Administrators must determine which IoT traffic gets priority and whether it's best to place IoT devices across a single, monolithic network or to segment the network for specific applications.
Choosing the IoT Use Case
A variety of connectivity options exist, based on IoT business use cases, proximity, types of IoT deployed and the systems and networks with which the IoT network must integrate.
Highly localized IoT
Bluetooth is easy to implement and doesn't require much power, making it ideal for battery-operated devices with limited data transmission needs. Wi-Fi offers similar benefits but has higher data throughput capabilities and greater range.
Examples of highly localized IoT environments include a hospital tracking patients or a consumer pairing a smartphone to a car. Wi-Fi is widely used within internal networks, such as a school campus. Both technologies are less expensive than using cellular networks.
Broader coverage
Cellular networks are the best choice for IoT applications that require wide geographic coverage. 4G and 5G networks provide great reliability, coverage and capacity. They can be scaled upward or downward to meet business needs, offering higher bandwidth, network slicing for specific IoT applications and carrier-grade security.
Low-power WAN technology is a lower-cost option that connects IoT devices with low-bandwidth and data transfer rate requirements. It's used for long-distance asset tracking, such as monitoring the functions of oil wells in the field. Low-power WAN technologies include LoRaWAN, NB-IoT and Sigfox.
Most organizations need several different approaches to handle their IoT use cases. Case in point: A school district might deploy Wi-Fi within individual schools, while using cellular to route traffic through the entire school district.
Regardless of how a company decides to integrate its IoT network, the earlier a decision is made, the better. Early planning enables organizations to account for all connectivity requirements in their infrastructure design, select the appropriate devices, accommodate future growth and develop comprehensive security architecture for each network type's vulnerabilities.
Achieving Interoperability and Security
IoT interoperability and compatible security protocols are a particular challenge. Although NIST and ISO, among other organizations, have issued IoT standards, smaller IoT manufacturers don't always have the resources to follow their guidance.
This becomes a network problem because companies have to retool these IoT devices before they can be used on their enterprise networks. Moreover, because many IoT gadgets are delivered with default security settings that are easy to undo, each device has to be hand-configured to ensure it meets company security standards.
To avoid potential interoperability pitfalls, network staff should evaluate prospective technology before anything is purchased. This pre-purchase policy should have the backing of users and upper management.
Meeting QoS Requirements
The result of IoT network integration is to deliver IoT traffic flows optimized for the business. Companies must determine the level of QoS each business unit will receive, even if networks are segmented.
That ushers in a two-fold quandary for IT staff.
First, to achieve high QoS, every data pipeline on the network must be analyzed -- as well as every single system, application and network device. Once assessed, each component must be hand-calibrated to run at the highest performance levels possible. This is a detailed and specialized job. Most network staff don't have trained QoS technicians on board, so they must go externally for help.
Second, which areas of the business get maximum QoS, and which don't? A medical clinic, for example, requires high QoS to support a telehealth application where doctors and patients communicate. Conversely, a corporate network that supports only daily administrative work might be able to run at a lower QoS if budgetary and resource constraints require it to do so.
This argument can quickly degenerate into a political problem if management isn't in agreement. The more IoT gets folded into existing enterprise networks, the more important these discussions become.
Conclusion
The successful integration of IoT networks requires thoughtful planning that balances connectivity options with critical concerns about interoperability, security and QoS. Forward-thinking organizations will approach IoT integration as a strategic initiative rather than a tactical project, with clear governance frameworks and flexible architectures.
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