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IBM and Cisco IoT partnership enables analytics without the cloud.

Cisco and IBM announced last week that their IoT partnership will create a data analysis system which operates without needing to relay data to an online cloud service.

IBM’s cognitive computer system, IBM Watson, will work with Cisco’s edge and fog analytics systems, performing analytic operations closer to the point of data collection. Important information can then be passed to the cloud, or be used to alert the company of an issue.

By taking analytics to the network edge, the system will be able to provide optimised data in almost real-time, as well as limiting the amount of data sent to and from the cloud.

This collaboration aims to create a faster process for analysing IoT data, as well as allowing those in remote locations to utilise data analytics without the need for a high bandwidth internet connection.

Systems operating in remote environments will now be better able to monitor the health and behaviour of critical machinery, and can more accurately plan for needed maintenance and equipment upgrades.

In particular, this system will benefit locations like offshore oil fields, which can create around 75TB of data per week (IBM). There are also significant benefits for utility companies, in lowering the cost of using IoT sensors in monitoring pipelines and equipment to detect faults remotely.

The Cisco-IBM integrated service is already available, and a few organisations have integrated it into existing IoT systems.

The Port of Cartagena in Colombia is currently utilising the new service with the thousands of IoT devices they use to monitor equipment and goods. The port will apply the system to help get ahead of equipment degradation, predicting maintenance and keeping machines running efficiently avoiding costly equipment failures.

SilverHook Powerboats are also running the Watson system to analyse the performance of their high speed watercraft. With this faster mechanism, they are able to use real-time data to help race pilots react quickly to environment and engine conditions.

In addition to the purpose-built IoT devices, Watson can now be integrated into many other Cisco products, including ISRs (Integrated Services Routers) and UCS (Unified Computing System) servers.

For more information, please contact Charles Wood.