Today, IoT is “the big thing”. Look around. Everywhere you will see IOTs. Either it is your smart devices, your Nest thermostat, your car, or even your microwave, all are IoT.
The Wikipedia explains the IoT as:
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors and connectivity to enable it to achieve greater value and service by exchanging data with the manufacturer, operator and/or other connected devices. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure.
The term “Internet of Things” was first documented by a British visionary, Kevin Ashton, in 1999.Typically, IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine communications (M2M) and covers a variety of protocols, domains and applications. The interconnection of these embedded devices (including smart objects), is expected to usher in automation in nearly all fields, while also enabling advanced applications like a Smart Grid.
Microsoft recently announced its Windows 10 version of IoT that is designed to run with IoT. Check out Microsoft Introduces Windows 10 IoT for more details.
The Azure team is not behind. Azure services are also being designed to work with IoT. Before you plan to use Azure services, you should learn about best practices and architectural considerations.
Watch Kevin Miller, Principal Program Manager, Azure IoT in this 55 minute session talk about architectural considerations, best practices and implementation guidance for IoT solutions in Azure.