The Internet of Things will affect how businesses choose data centres

'Any IoT initiative will require a tailored data centre strategy that balances current needs with future growth and potential applications'

How many connected devices do you have with you right now? For most of us, the answer is probably three or more.

There are the obvious ones like laptops, tablets and smartphones, as well as gadgets like connected TVs, satnavs, cameras and ebook readers. Then there are the growing range of new connected devices such as smart home products (heating controls, automation and surveillance), wearables (fitness bands and smartwatches) and connected appliances (washing machines, kettles, cookers, fridges and the like).

According to aCisco Internet of Things infographic, there will be upwards of 50 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020. Every one of these connected devices generates data, and all of this information will, in one way or another, end up in or passing through data centres.

>See also:Making the Internet of Things a business reality

IoT data wont purely be the concern of companies that provide IoT products and services (like Googles Nest) or their ecosystem of partners and suppliers it will affect every organisation that adopts machine-to-machine or wearable technologies to improve operations.

IDCexpects a more modest 30 billion connected devices by 2020, but predicts the worldwide IoT market will grow from $1.3 trillion in 2013 to $3.04 trillion in 2020.

According to the author of its report, Vernon Turner: "We're still in the early stages of maturation and IoT represents unparalleled opportunity in government, consumer, and enterprise environments."

A significant percentage of this revenue will come from analysing all the data these devices produce. This will drive the need for powerful computers and big data analytics to crunch the data the devices spew out.

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The Internet of Things will affect how businesses choose data centres