Voice of the IoT Engineer: Dataset & Analysis

Table of Contents

Inside this Report

What questions are Addressed?,

Who Should Read this Report?

Executive Summary

• Key Findings

Survey Demographics & Overview

Hardware Trends

• System & Component Needs Vary by Industry
• Organization Size Dictates Specific Needs from Embedded & Edge Hardware Providers
  • Edge Systems Becoming More Hardened
• OT Servers Demand High-End Security Capabilities

Software & Tool trend:

• AI-Generated Code Use Expected to Grow Rapidly
• Open Source Frameworks & Tools Lead AI Model Training
• Security, Language Support & Ease of Use are Key Factors in Static Analysis Selection
• Shifting Software Sources Necessitate Dynamic Approach from SCA Vendors
• Key Decision Characteristics for Selecting Virtual Prototyping Solutions
  • Experienced Use of Generative AI among MBSE Users
• Increasing adoption of Cloud-Native Development
• The Importance of Requirements Management Solution Integration
• Addressing Impacts on Time-to-Market by Requirements Management Solutions
• Rising Utilization of Open Source Operating Systems
• Security and Reliability Remain Key Drivers of Purchasing Decision
• Increasing Demand for Real-Time Capabilities

OT Cybersecurity Trends

• Product Developers Acknowledge Importance of Cybersecurity
• OEMs Increasing Efforts to Discover Vulnerabilities

Virtual ECU Development

• The Transition to SDVs is Building Virtual ECU Consideration
• Reducing Time to Market Drives Virtual ECU Adoption
• Virtual Prototyping Driven by E/E System Software Tasks

Appendix: Market Definitions

About the Authors

About VDC Research

List of Report Exhibits

• Exhibit 1: Type of Organization Employing Respondent & Respondent's Primary Role
• Exhibit 2: Respondent's Region of Residence
• Exhibit 3: Respondent's Industry/Vertical Market
• Exhibit 4: Types of Hardware Purchases Mades by Respondent Organizations
• Exhibit 5: Most Important Selection Criteria When Considering Suppliers for Embedded and Edge Hardware Components, Systems, and/or Entire Solutions
• Exhibit 6: Rugged Form Factor Requirements for Current Edge Gateway & OT Server Projects & Expected for Similar Projects Three Years from Now
• Exhibit 7: Factors Driving OT Server Users/Developers to Adopt Virtualization/Hypervisor and Container Technology
• Exhibit 8: Actions OT Server Users/Developers Have Taken in Response to Security Requirements
• Exhibit 9: Consideration and Use of AI-generated Code
• Exhibit 10: Frameworks and Tools Used for Training AI Models
• Exhibit 11: Most Important Factors in Selection of Static Analysis Tool
• Exhibit 12: Most Important Factors in Selection of Dynamic Testing Tools
• Exhibit 13: Origin of Code by Industry, 2022 to 2024
• Exhibit 14: Most Important Characteristics When Selecting Virtual Prototyping Solution
• Exhibit 15: Consideration/Use of AI-generated Software/Code, by Software/System Modeling Tool Use
• Exhibit 16: Plans to Use Cloud-based Solutions to Develop Software, by Software/System Modeling Tool Use
• Exhibit 17: Tools Being Used in the Cloud
• Exhibit 18: Most Important Factors in Selection of Requirements Management/Definition Tools Being Used in Current Project, by Company Size
• Exhibit 19: Attributions of Delays to Project
• Exhibit 20: Primary Operating System Used on Current Project
• Exhibit 21: Primary Operating System Expected to be Used in Three Years
• Exhibit 22: Most Important Characteristics When Selecting the Primary Embedded Operating System for Current Project
• Exhibit 23: Capabilities/Features of Current Project
• Exhibit 24: Type of Real-Time Capabilities for Current Project
• Exhibit 25: Actions Respondent's Organization Has Taken in Response to Security Requirements
• Exhibit 26: Types of Embedded Security Software Included in Current/Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 27: Types of Embedded Security Hardware Included in Current/Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 28: External Exposure of Vulnerabilities/Security Failures
• Exhibit 29: Availability of Programs to Facilitate Reporting of Security Vulnerabilities Discovered by External Security Researchers (e.g., Bug Bounty)
• Exhibit 30: Current Use or Consideration of Virtual ECUs
• Exhibit 31: Biggest Perceived Advantages/Benefits of a Virtual ECU
• Exhibit 32: Type of Tasks in Which Virtual Prototyping Solutions are Used

loT & Embedded Engineering Survey *(Partial list)

• Exhibit 1: Primary Role Within Company/Organization
• Exhibit 2: Respondent's Organization's Primary Industry
• Exhibit 3: Total Number of Employees at Respondent's Organization
• Exhibit 4: Primary Region of Residence
• Exhibit 5: Primary Country of Residence
• Exhibit 6: Type of Most Current or Recent Project
• Exhibit 7: Involvement with Engineering of Embedded/Edge, Enterprise/IT, HPC, AI/ML, or Mobile/System Device or Solution
• Exhibit 8: Type of Purchase by Respondent's Organization
• Exhibit 9: Primary Industry Classification of Project
• Exhibit 10: Type of Aerospace & Defense Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 11: Type of Automotive In-Vehicle Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 12: Type of Communications & Networking Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 13: Type of Consumer Electronics Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 14: Type of Digital Security Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 15: Type of Digital Signage Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 16: Type of Energy and Utilities Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 17: Type of Gaming Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 18: Type of Industrial Automation Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 19: Type of Media & Broadcasting Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 20: Type of Medical Device Application for Most Current Project
• Exhibit 21: Type of Mobile Phone
• Exhibit 22: Type of Office/Business Automation Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 23: Type of Transportation Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 24: Type of Retail Automation Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 25: Type of Non-Manufacturing/Services Application for Most Recent Project
• Exhibit 26: Certification/Approval Standards Required for Current Project
• Exhibit 27: Highest Design/Development Assurance Levels (DAL) Required for Project Software (Aerospace)
• Exhibit 28: Highest Software Integrity Levels (SIL) Certification Required for Project Software
• Exhibit 29: Highest Automotive Software Integrity Levels Required for Project Software
• Exhibit 30: Capabilities/Features of Current Project
• Exhibit 31: Capabilities/Features Expected in a Project Three Years From Now
• Exhibit 32: Type of Real-Time Deadlines for Current Project
• Exhibit 33: Application's Shortest Response Deadline to a Time-Critical Input or Event
• Exhibit 34: Consideration of Key Trends: Electrification of Combustion Fuel Sources
• Exhibit 35: Consideration of Key Trends: Software-defined Functionality
• Exhibit 36: Consideration of Key Trends: Bill-of-Material/Sub-System Consolidation
• Exhibit 37: Estimated Length for Current Project (In Months)
• Exhibit 38: Current Project's Schedule Adherence
• Exhibit 39: Estimated Number of Years Current Project will be Manufactured Once Complete
• Exhibit 40: Estimated Number of Years of Useful Life for Product Once Deployed
• Exhibit 41: Attributions of Delays to Project
• Exhibit 42: Engineering Tasks Personally Involved
• Exhibit 43: Estimated Percent of Time Spent on Engineering Tasks
• Exhibit 44: Estimated Number of Full-Time Staff on Current Project
• Exhibit 45: Engineering and Development Work Outsourced to Third-Party Engineering Services
• Exhibit 46: Percent of Entire Engineering/Development Effort in Each Task that was Outsourced for Current Project
• Exhibit 47: Estimate of Number of Full-Time Engineers or Developers Employed by Organization
• Exhibit 48: Estimated Percent of Organization's Full-Time Engineers/Developers Working in Specific Roles
• Exhibit 49: Estimated Total Cost of Development for Current Project
• Exhibit 50: Estimated Bill of Materials for Current Project
• Exhibit 51: Estimated Units to be Shipped Per Year of Current Project
• Exhibit 52: Estimated Percent of Engineering Tasks/Domains Development Costs Spent on Specific Tasks
• Exhibit 53: Estimated Percent of Engineering Tasks/Domains Development Costs Expected to be Spent on Specific Tasks for a Similar Project Three Years From Now
• Exhibit 54: Estimate of Fully-Loaded Labor Costs for a Typical Engineer Involved with IT/Enterprise/Embedded Systems
• Exhibit 55: Estimation of Number of Defects Reported by Customer Per Year for Most Current Project
• Exhibit 56: Estimation of Number Software Patches Required by Customer Per Year for Most Current Project
• Exhibit 57: Estimated Total Combined Man-Hours of IT and Engineering Time Required for Each Defect Remediation
• Exhibit 58 Estimated Total Combined Man-Hours of IT and Engineering Time Required for Each Software Patch
• Exhibit 59: Estimated Percentage of Devices that Will Become Inoperable Each Year
• Exhibit 60: Primary Method for Updating Devices Once Deployed in Field
• Exhibit 61: Biggest Obstacle to the Development and Growth of the Connected/Software-defined Vehicle Industry
• Exhibit 62: Level of Automation of Respondent's Current Vehicle/Component Work
• Exhibit 63: Current Major Competition in the Software-defined Space, Automotive Respondents Only
• Exhibit 64: Expected Major Competition in the Software-defined Space Three Years From Now, Automotive Respondents Only

*For the full list of the 416 loT & Embedded Technology Voice of the Engineer Survey Exhibits available with this report, please see the Market Data .XLS.