Question 1

How does Managed IoT Hosting at merkaio differ from standard cloud hosting?

Accepted Answer

With traditional cloud hosting, you only rent empty infrastructure (servers, containers). Installation, configuration, networking, and especially ongoing operation of IoT applications remain 100% your responsibility. With merkaio Managed IoT Hosting, you get a ready-to-use, maintained technology stack. We don't just ensure the server runs – we ensure ChirpStack, ThingsBoard, and Grafana are correctly configured, communicate with each other, and stay up-to-date security-wise. You're not buying server capacity – you're buying functioning IoT operations.

Question 2

Does merkaio only build the platform or also operate it long-term?

Accepted Answer

We do both, and that's our core approach. Many service providers build a 'project' and then hand it over. This often leads to Day-2 operations problems (updates, scaling, security). merkaio acts as your long-term infrastructure partner. We design the architecture (Build), bring it live (Deploy), and then take full responsibility for availability, updates, and security (Run). We're not a project consultant who disappears after go-live.

Question 3

Do I retain control over my data and code (vendor lock-in)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. Our philosophy is based on open-source technologies (ChirpStack, Grafana, ThingsBoard, MQTT). We don't use proprietary 'black box' platforms where exporting your data is difficult. Should you ever decide to leave merkaio, you can export the entire stack and all data to operate yourself or with another provider. There is no technological lock-in.

Question 4

What exactly does 'Managed ChirpStack Hosting' include?

Accepted Answer

Our Managed ChirpStack Service includes provisioning a dedicated or multi-tenant LoRaWAN Network Server. We handle connecting your gateways (e.g., Milesight), device management, Packet Forwarder integration, and data forwarding via MQTT or HTTP to your application layer. We ensure the ChirpStack server performs stably even as the number of sensors increases.

Question 5

Can we have ThingsBoard operated as an IoT platform through merkaio?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer Managed Hosting for ThingsBoard (Community & Professional Edition). We handle database deployment (PostgreSQL/Cassandra), configure message queues, and ensure regular updates. This is ideal for customers using ThingsBoard for device management and complex rule chains, but who don't want to handle the operational overhead of Java-based microservices themselves.

Question 6

How are dashboards managed in Grafana?

Accepted Answer

As part of merkaio ops, we provide a fully configured Grafana instance connected to your data source (e.g., InfluxDB or Prometheus). Through merkaio dev, we can also assist with creating complex panels, alerts, and reports. You get full access to build your own dashboards without worrying about server updates or plugin compatibility.

Question 7

Does merkaio support hardware from manufacturers other than Milesight?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Although we recommend Milesight due to quality and deep integration with our core stack, our infrastructure is hardware-agnostic. As long as your gateways and sensors use open standard protocols (LoRaWAN, MQTT, HTTP, CoAP), we can integrate them into the merkaio infrastructure.

Question 8

Where is my IoT data physically stored (GDPR compliance)?

Accepted Answer

By default, we host our infrastructure in data centers in Germany or the EU (e.g., via Hetzner, Open Telekom Cloud, or AWS Frankfurt) to ensure full GDPR compliance. For international customers or specific latency requirements, we can also deploy infrastructure in other regions (US, APAC). You decide where your data is stored.

Question 9

How does merkaio secure communication from gateway to cloud?

Accepted Answer

Security is part of our 'Core' architecture. We use VPN tunnels (e.g., WireGuard) or encrypted MQTTS (TLS/SSL) connections between gateways and cloud infrastructure. We also isolate tenants at the network level and implement strict firewall rules and Identity Access Management (IAM) to prevent unauthorized access.

Question 10

What happens during an outage? Are there guaranteed SLAs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For our Managed Hosting customers, we offer Service Level Agreements (SLAs). These define guaranteed availability and response times for incidents. Our operations team uses Prometheus-based monitoring to proactively detect anomalies (e.g., gateway offline, disk space low), often before they impact business operations.

Question 11

Who handles software updates and security patches?

Accepted Answer

That's 100% merkaio's responsibility. Outdated IoT stacks are a massive security risk. We apply security updates for the operating system (Linux), container environment (Docker/K8s), and applications (ChirpStack, Grafana, etc.) regularly and in a controlled manner to minimize downtime.

Question 12

Can I start with a small setup and scale later?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. That's one of the main reasons for merkaio. You can start with a small 'pilot stack' (e.g., 5 gateways, 50 sensors). As your project grows, we scale the underlying resources (CPU, RAM, storage) and architecture (e.g., introducing load balancers) without you having to rebuild the platform.

Question 13

We already have a self-built solution. Can you take it over?

Accepted Answer

In many cases, yes. We call this a 'brownfield migration.' We analyze your existing stack. If it's based on compatible technologies (LoRaWAN, MQTT, standard databases), we can migrate it into the merkaio ops structure, stabilize it, and take over operations.

Question 14

What does Managed IoT Hosting at merkaio cost?

Accepted Answer

We use transparent fixed pricing rather than unpredictable 'pay-per-message' models that explode at scale. Our pricing is based on infrastructure size (number of gateways/devices) and chosen service level. This gives you planning certainty for your opex costs (operational expenses).

Question 15

Do you also offer custom software development when the standard isn't enough?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through our merkaio dev division. If you need special data parsers, custom API interfaces to your ERP system (e.g., SAP), or tailored visualizations, we extend the standard stack for you. The core remains standardized and updateable, while extensions connect cleanly via interfaces.

Managed IoT Hosting & Operations

What is Managed IoT Hosting?

Why self-hosted IoT platforms often fail in practice

Build and operate IoT platforms

Technologies we manage

ChirpStack Managed Hosting

Grafana Managed Hosting

ThingsBoard Managed Hosting

From initial setup to long-term operations

Architecture

Setup

Go-Live

Operations

Scaling

Security, reliability and responsibility

SLA-backed Operations

Who benefits from managed IoT hosting

FAQ – Managed IoT Hosting & Operations

Talk to an IoT Operations Architect