The use cases of IoT are gradually becoming apparent as the technology itself, and that of supporting systems, develops and gains in capability. One perfect way in which PRTG Network Monitor from Paessler has been put to great use is in the monitoring and control of the delicate environment in The National Museum of Computing, located in the United Kingdom.

By using ultra-narrow band sensors deployed in a star topology, the Museum can ensure that its exhibits are better preserved for future generations.

The Sigfox-enabled microcontrollers monitor a range of atmospheric conditions — humidity, temperature, light, atmospheric pressure and so on — and because each uses LPWAN (low-power wide area network) technology, no cabling is necessary for power or connectivity. In fact, sensors can be deployed anywhere, and because they use relatively simple hardware, very small data packet sizes and standard batteries on board, they can run uninterrupted for weeks, if not months.

All monitoring data is pulled into a PRTG console, where telemetry is gathered and visualized, and if conditions cross preset thresholds, staff can be alerted immediately to take remedial action. And the sensor data can, of course, run alongside any other network, storage or compute sensors that the Museum has deployed, giving an overarching display of the entire organization’s network and services.

The LPWAN of the sensors is anything but low-tech. The system chosen by the museum means the sensor network handshakes, authenticates, and encrypts all data according to proven industry standards, but the network does not use standard IP networks. That means sensor data and the LPWAN are immune from TCP/IP network-borne attacks or interruptions.

You can see the type of next-generation uses of IoT, IIoT, and networking technologies at the upcoming Sigfox Connect event in November in Singapore. Come and meet Paessler at the show, the team behind network monitoring specialist platform PRTG, and the brains behind The National Museum of Computing’s cutting-edge tech deployment. If you can’t attend, contact Paessler directly to learn more about the technology discussed here.