What is AWS IoT Core?
AWS IoT Core is the central platform for connecting IoT devices to AWS. The service enables bidirectional communication between devices and the cloud via MQTT, HTTPS, MQTT over WebSocket, and LoRaWAN. IoT Core is built for very large device fleets and high message volumes.
The security architecture is based on mutual authentication (for example via X.509 certificates) and granular IoT policies for authorization. Device Shadow stores the current and desired state of each device for reliable communication even with intermittent connectivity.
Core Features
- Message broker for MQTT, HTTPS, MQTT over WebSocket, and LoRaWAN
- Device Shadow for state synchronization
- Rules Engine for message processing and routing to AWS services
- Device Defender for security monitoring
- Device Advisor with pre-built test suites to validate device MQTT functionality
Common Use Cases
Smart Home: Smart devices communicate with backend services via IoT Core. Device Shadows synchronize device state even during connection interruptions.
Industrial IoT: Machines and sensors in factories send telemetry data to IoT Core. The Rules Engine routes data to Kinesis for real-time analysis or to S3 for long-term storage.
Connected Vehicles: Vehicles transmit location, diagnostics, and usage data. Backend services send software updates and configuration changes back to vehicles.
Benefits
- Managed infrastructure without your own server management
- Scaling from single devices to very large fleets
- Built-in security with certificate management
- Native integration with numerous AWS services for analytics and storage
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with AWS IoT Core: device onboarding, security architecture, Rules Engine design, and integration with analytics services.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AWS IoT Core?
AWS IoT Core is a managed cloud service that securely connects IoT devices to AWS. The service supports MQTT, HTTPS, MQTT over WebSocket, and LoRaWAN, and scales to very large device counts and message volumes.
How are devices authenticated?
IoT Core supports X.509 certificates, custom authorizers with Lambda, and AWS SigV4. Each device typically receives its own certificate for mutual authentication. Device Defender monitors unusual behavior and helps detect compromised devices.
What are IoT Rules?
IoT Rules process incoming messages using SQL-like syntax and route them to AWS services such as Lambda, S3, DynamoDB, Kinesis, SNS, or SQS. Example: store temperature data in DynamoDB and send a notification via SNS when a threshold is exceeded.
What does AWS IoT Core cost?
IoT Core is billed on a usage basis: by number of messages (metered in 5 KB increments), by connection minutes, and by executed Rules Engine actions and Device Shadow/registry operations. New accounts receive a free tier for the first 12 months. Current prices are listed on the official pricing page.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of AWS (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by AWS.