IoT Data Is Growing — Fast

As the year goes by, IoT has become an increasingly important way companies share information between things, people and processes — and the proof is in the data.

By 2025, the total amount of data created by IoT devices in one year is expected to reach 79.4 zettabytes, according to research firm IDC. That amounts to 79.4 billion terabytes or 29.4 trillion gigabytes, representing a massive trove of information 41.6 billion connected devices are expected to collect, store and analyze in the next six years.

This means 2020 will be an important year as solution providers continue to build out the infrastructure required to support IoT applications, from the sensors to the servers.

"Data becomes the common denominator – as it is captured, processed, and used from the nearest and farthest edges of the network to create value for industries, governments, and individuals' lives," Carrie MacGillivray, group vice president, IoT, 5G and Mobility at IDC, said in a statement. "Understanding the amount of data created from the myriad of connected devices allows organizations and vendors to build solutions that can scale in this accelerating data-driven IoT market."

What follows are five emerging IoT trends solution providers should watch in 2020.