Key Takeaways
- Self-hosted: the IoT platform is hosted on the business's own infrastructure.
- Delivers data ownership, compliance and predictable cost.
- Connecting to internal systems like ERP/MES over the local network is easier.
- Docker makes installation and upgrades repeatable.
- Look for ready energy/solar/SCADA applications, not just infrastructure.
As industrial IoT projects grow, one question comes to the fore: whose server will hold all this device data? A self-hosted IoT platform leaves full control of data and infrastructure with the business.
What Is a Self-Hosted IoT Platform?
Self-hosted means the IoT platform is hosted on the business's own infrastructure rather than the provider's cloud. That infrastructure can be a physical server, a virtual machine or the company's private cloud. Devices, rules, dashboards and historical data are fully under the business's control.
Why Self-Hosted?
- Data ownership: Production and energy data is competitively sensitive and companies prefer not to keep it outside.
- Compliance: Sector regulations or customer contracts may dictate where data lives.
- Predictable cost: Cloud costs grow with device and data volume; on your own infrastructure, capacity is in your hands.
- Integration: Connecting to internal systems such as ERP, MES and data warehouses is easier over the local network.
Self-Hosted vs SaaS IoT Platform
| Criterion | SaaS (Cloud) | Self-Hosted |
|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Very fast | Requires server preparation |
| Data control | Shared with the provider | Fully with the business |
| Internal system integration | Over the internet | Over the local network |
| Cost at scale | Grows with usage | Depends on your own capacity |
| Updates | Automatic | Planned and controlled |
Features to Look For in a Self-Hosted Platform
- 1Container-based deployment: Repeatable installation and easy upgrades with Docker.
- 2Multi-protocol: Direct connection to field devices via Modbus, MQTT and OPC UA.
- 3Gateway management: Configure and monitor field gateways centrally.
- 4Rule engine and alarms: Automatic action the moment data arrives.
- 5Ready applications: Not just infrastructure — energy monitoring, solar monitoring and SCADA screens should come ready.
The last point is critical. Many open-source IoT stacks collect data but offer no ready applications for energy and solar. Building those screens from scratch takes months.
SolarTools: Self-Hosted Industrial IoT
SolarTools now runs on your own infrastructure with Docker. Gateway management, rule chains, drag-and-drop dashboards, web SCADA and energy monitoring come ready. Your data and your servers stay with you. Talk to our sales team about deployment scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a self-hosted IoT platform?
It means the IoT platform runs on the business's own server, virtual machine or private cloud instead of the provider's cloud. Devices, rules, dashboards and data are fully under the business's control.
Should I choose self-hosted or SaaS?
Choose SaaS to start fast and hand over maintenance. If data ownership, compliance or internal system integration is the priority, self-hosted is the better choice.
Can SolarTools be self-hosted?
Yes. On the Enterprise plan, SolarTools runs on your own infrastructure with Docker. Gateway management, dashboards, SCADA and energy monitoring come with the same interface. Deployment scope is defined with our sales team.
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