IoT refers to the ecosystem of physical devices—ranging from sensors and actuators to appliances and vehicles—connected via the Internet or private networks. These devices collect, transmit, and sometimes process data, enabling real-time monitoring and control of physical systems.

For organizations deploying large-scale IoT networks, solutions like Hedgehog provide the secure, automated networking foundation needed to connect and manage thousands of devices at the edge or across distributed sites.

IoT technologies are foundational for smart homes, industrial automation, healthcare monitoring, smart cities, and agriculture. Key features include interconnectivity, data collection, and automation, but also bring challenges in security, scalability, and interoperability.

Best practices for IoT deployments include implementing robust security measures, ensuring device compatibility, and leveraging analytics for actionable insights. IoT drives digital transformation by enabling new efficiencies and innovations across industries.