Open source. The IoT isn't built solely using open source software, but open source plays a key role. Linux serves as the operating system for many connected devices. Open source networking standards make it possible for devices from different vendors to communicate. Some IoT devices are even designed to be  hackable by users in a way that extends the open source software concept to include open hardware. In all of these ways, the IoT plays on open source's strengths and brings open source to new frontiers.

Big Data. The IoT promises to take big data to a new level. IoT devices not only generate huge amounts of information, which can then be fed to data analytics tools. They also rely on data-based logic in order to perform many of their "smart" functions. Take your Nest thermostat, for example. It collects data from your home, then runs analytics based on the data it collected along with external information (like weather reports) to predict when to turn on your furnace.

Cybersecurity. Security and privacy aren't new concerns. But they are on the minds of consumers now more than ever, thanks to the seemingly never-ending reports of breaches at major organizations. The IoT serves both to feed and to alleviate those concerns. IoT devices raise huge new security challenges, especially when it comes to things like critical infrastructure. But they also offer ways to help keep users more secure by adding extra barriers of defense to data and persons.

Software-defined networking (SDN). The shift from physical network infrastructure to networks that are composed mostly of virtual, software-defined devices and links is revolutionizing the way information is exchanged. SDN and the IoT go hand-in-hand. SDN is essential for handling the networking demands of the IoT, while the IoT provides new use cases for SDN.