Microsoft Introduces IoT Central: A SaaS Solution to Streamline IoT Development

Microsoft unveiled a new software‑as‑a‑service (SaaS) platform, IoT Central, designed to simplify the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

IoT Central empowers developers to build software and hardware without deep cloud knowledge—a requirement that has traditionally hindered rapid IoT deployment at scale. While Microsoft has not disclosed the precise mechanisms, the platform is slated for continuous updates.

See Also: The bot invasion is on, powered by $24B in funding

Built on Azure IoT Suite, IoT Central offers a streamlined experience for developers new to cloud computing, automating many routine tasks.

Microsoft said, IoT Central has the potential to dramatically increase the speed at which manufacturers can innovate and bring new products to market, as well as lower the barriers to creating IoT solutions that generate new revenue opportunities and better experiences for customers.

Updates to Azure IoT Suite

Microsoft is also enhancing Azure IoT Suite with a new pre‑configured solution called Connected Factory. The solution makes it straightforward to connect on‑premises OPC UA and OPC Classic devices to the Microsoft cloud, delivering actionable insights that drive operational efficiencies.

Connected Factory incorporates built‑in cloud security, ensuring that device configuration remains secure. Microsoft has partnered with Unified Automation, Softing, and Hewlett‑Packard Enterprise to supply turnkey gateway solutions that leverage Azure services.

Microsoft’s continued investment in IoT and cloud technologies over the past year is yielding results. Although Amazon Web Services still dominates the cloud market, Azure is rapidly closing the gap, particularly in IoT capabilities.