The Steroid-Sim IoT Stack
Built upon connectivity – the central element of IoT – Steroid-Sim offers a
complete IoT Stack that addresses the three main stages of an IoT solution’s
lifetime: development, deployment, and operation
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Contents
Develop 3
Network and Signaling Logs 4
Traffic Monitor 5
Traffic Analyzer 5
No-Code IoT Cloud Integration - Connectors 6
IoT Cloud SIMs 7
Deploy 8
Network Lists 9
No-Code IoT Cloud Integration - Connectors 10
One Network, one SKU, one APN 10
Operate 11
Coverage 12
The Steroid-Sim Platform 12
Webhooks 13
Network and Signaling Logs 13
Traffic Monitor 14
Audit Logs 14
Technical Information 15
The Steroid-Sim Core Network 15
Steroid-Sim 16
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Develop
When developing IoT devices, it’s essential to analyze how devices behave in
real-life scenarios to avoid costly surprises in the future. Transparency is
invaluable during development. When you gain complete insights into what
goes on between the device, Radio Access Network (RAN), network core, and
the IoT cloud, you increase your chances of success.
Success is also reliant on developing a future-proof architecture for integrating
your device into the IoT cloud. You’ll need to ensure that device-to-cloud
connectivity is robust enough to handle whatever requirements the future
might bring while making large-scale deployments as smooth as possible.
Steroid-Sim offers a virtual networking lab and unmatched optimization tools.
• Develop and perfect hardware performance using any network as you would in a lab.
• Optimize power and data consumption by up to 90% with powerful integrations and analytics.
• Use your future production network as the development testbed.
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Network and Signalling Logs
Because Steroid-Sim has integrated every RAN into the same globally distributed core network, users
have 100% real-time data insights everywhere.
When you develop an IoT product, it is hugely beneficial to precisely see what is going on
between your device and the network, through to the core network, and on to the IoT
cloud.
Steroid-Sim’s Network and Signaling Logs allow you to tap into cellular protocols
directly. It’s easier to optimize your solution when you have historical and real-time
insights at your fingertips.
• Signaling Logs give you real-time insights into information shared between RANs and Steroid-Sim.
• Network Logs show why a device fails to authenticate with a network.
• All information from the RAN to core is available to you.
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Traffic Monitor
Traffic Monitor allows you to see real-time traffic sent to and from a device. With Traffic
Monitor, you can easily debug traffic issues between devices, the network, and the IoT
cloud.
Real-time insights into everything that your device sends is unique to Steroid-Sim.
We’ve achieved this level of transparency by handling all aspects of your device’s global connectivity.
• Traffic Monitor is like having Wireshark directly in the core network, globally.
• Easier debugging of devices in remote areas with real-time insights.
• See all the traffic between your device and the cloud.
Traffic Analyzer
While developing your IoT solution, one of your main goals is to optimize behavior. Data consumption
is a significant part of this optimization process. How much data your device uses directly impacts the
commercials driving the overall IoT project.
Traffic Analyzer takes the raw data of Traffic Monitor, analyzes it, and suggests ways to
optimize traffic. For example, reducing or removing superfluous traffic can optimize data
consumption by up to 90%.
• Maximize the efficiency of how your devices use data.
• Analyze traffic and receive reports on how to optimize.
• Understand the impacts of production updates in real-time.
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No-Code IoT Cloud Integration - Connectors
Steroid-Sim Connectors remove cloud SDKs from devices, reduce attack vectors, and lower data
consumption by up to 90%. In addition, Connectors can save up to 50% of power consumption.
We have built native integrations into the most popular IoT clouds (e.g., Amazon AWS
IoT and Microsoft Azure IoT). Connectors make it possible for any cellular-enabled
device to provision itself and transmit data directly into the cloud automatically.
Connectors are another unique feature of Steroid-Sim.
They offer the simplest device-to-cloud integration in IoT.
• Simplify device development by moving cloud SDKs into the network.
• Optimize data and power consumption from the outset.
• Reduce attack vectors by removing security keys from devices.
STANDARD SDKs CONNECTIVITY MODULES STEROID-SIM CONECTORS
MANUALLY CONNECT DEVICES TO INSTAL e.g. AWS EXPRESSLINK OF AZURE MOVE SDKs TO STEROID-SIM CORE NETWORK
THE CLOUD SPHERE
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IoT Cloud SIMs
Plug a Steroid-Sim IoT Cloud SIM into any cellular device, and voilà, you are connected to the world’s
leading IoT cloud platforms. Data is automatically transmitted to the cloud as messages, and it’s encrypted
all the way.
There’s no need for SDKs or other client software on the device; the SIM automatically provisions itself in
the IoT cloud platform.
Connecting your devices to IoT cloud platforms is a simple process with Steroid-Sim Cloud SIMs:
Step 1 Plug in.
Step 2 Power on.
Step 3 Enjoy data.
• Automatic provisioning in the cloud.
• Real-time data across the entire global network.
• A secure and efficient link to the IoT Platforms.
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Deploy
When deploying thousands of devices locally or globally, you will shift from a predominantly technical
perspective to a combined commercial and technical focus.
A global cellular footprint consists of hundreds of individual RANs, all with individual coverage, pricing,
and technologies.
IoT solutions have different needs – some prioritize quality of service (better coverage) while choosing
networks with the lowest prices (cost optimization) is the main priority for others.
It’s also vital to think of new practicalities, from manufacturing to how your devices register
themselves with the IoT cloud counterpart.
Steroid-Sim offers a smooth deployment solution with global scalability.
• Touchless deployment anywhere, no activation process.
• Costless idle time, no cost creep from production inventory.
• Automatic device to cloud connection, no configuration process.
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Network Lists
The Steroid-Sim Network covers 700+ RANs spanning 180+ countries, giving you unequaled
flexibility when building coverage maps.
When you use Steroid-Sim, you can customize your coverage map using Network Lists to suit your solution’s
unique needs. This level of flexibility is only possible with Steroid-Sim because a) we’ve built deep
integrations with all RANs in our network, and b) all data packets are routed directly between RANs and
Steroid-Sim’s globally distributed core.
You can configure Network Lists at any time via the Steroid-Sim Platform or API. Then, as your
solution evolves, freely update static or dynamic Network Lists for your entire fleet or a single
SIM.
With Steroid-Sim, you have total flexibility. For example, do you have a subset of devices you only
want to attach to networks under a specific price threshold? Then use Network Lists to configure your
devices however you need.
• Tailor your coverage map to suit your needs (e.g., maximum coverage or minimum cost).
• Configure Network Lists at any time via the Steroid-Sim platform or API.
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No-Code IoT Cloud Integration - Connectors
When deploying thousands of devices, it’s vital that your devices correctly activate and provision
themselves with their IoT cloud counterpart.
By utilizing Steroid-Sim’s unique Connector technology, activation and provisioning
are seamlessly handled by Steroid-Sim, rather than on a device-by-device basis.
By controlling cloud connectivity in the network, your solution will better adapt to future
requirements from IoT cloud platforms and have a longer lifespan.
Forget about individual device manufacturing, personalization of each device, configuration, and
reconfiguration during and after deployment - Steroid-Sim’s Connectors are the only pure plug-
and-play solution available for creating a direct link between device and IoT cloud.
• SIMs automatically provision themselves in the cloud.
• Putting cloud SDKs in the network futureproofs deployments by streamlining updates.
• Severely limit malware risk – you can instantly flag suspicious traffic as all data is routed to your
endpoint (IoT Cloud).
One Network, one SKU, one APN
Steroid-Sim offers you a unified network with one Access Point Name (APN). Life is more straightforward with
our global SIMs – APNs are often hardcoded into the device logic and trying to do it dynamically dramatically
increases complexity and headaches.
You don’t have to customize devices per region because of connectivity limitations; you can just make
one. Then, simply control which operators your SIMs can connect to through the Steroid-Sim Platform
or API and watch your solution take off.
• All devices use a single, global APN – “Steroid-Sim”.
• Don’t differentiate devices during manufacture due to connectivity constraints.
• Handle network access in the Steroid-Sim Platform or API.
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Operate
Whether you’ve deployed dozens, hundreds, or thousands of devices, it’s critical you have insights into how
they behave and have enough control to act when needed.
Troubleshooting devices deployed in remote locations has traditionally been complicated. Often resolving
issues would require tickets and long wait times to gain insights into foreign networks.
Steroid-Sim puts control at your fingertips. There are no third parties, and you enjoy direct access to
connectivity insights for streamlined debugging.
With Steroid-Sim, you enjoy unified global operations with complete control and insights
• One unified interface for all interfaces and all networks.
• Lab-quality debugging of globally deployed devices.
• Open API to integrate all features natively into your business systems.
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Coverage
Alongside global coverage, Steroid-Sim also offers the freedom to control
precisely which networks your devices connect to.
Steroid-Sim delivers SIMs with no steering built into them.
By removing steering, your devices benefit from the range of RANs available in an area,
including the latest IoT cellular technologies LTE-M and NB-IoT.
• Always connect to the allowed network with the strongest signal in a given location.
• Access multiple networks per country to maximize coverage.
The Steroid-Sim Platform
Our management system gives you total transparency and control over your SIMs’ allowances in the
network. Log into app.Steroid-Sim.com to view current connection status, trace traffic streams, and locate
devices – globally and in real-time.
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Webhooks
All information from devices and the Steroid-Sim network is available as real-time
webhooks. Build no-code custom logic on top of our global network to open new
possibilities for your IoT solution.
You have access to all information available when devices come online, from
their data consumption to whether they’ve reached custom limits you’ve
added to your devices.
Network and Signalling Logs
Insights into what is happening between device, network, and the network core is even more
vital after deployment. Do not waste time creating help tickets with us or a 3rd party; simply
tap into real-time logs for everything in the network.
Network Logs show you which networks your devices authenticate with and attach to, including which
technology was used (2G, 3G, 4G, LTE-M, and NB-IoT). Additionally, if a device fails to authenticate with a
network, Network Logs will show the reason for that.
Signaling Logs give you an instant overview of the packets sent between the RAN and Steroid-Sim.
• Troubleshoot faster with real-time information.
• Don’t rely on third parties for insights.
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Traffic Monitor
After deployment, Traffic Monitor is the ideal way to gain real-time insights into all traffic
sent to and from your devices. Capture, debug, and analyze all traffic on a device no
matter where it’s located in the world, live.
It’s like running Wireshark on the network instead of on the device. Most operators will tell you it
can’t be done. But we’ve made it possible to analyze traffic globally and in real-time thanks to 700+
deep network integrations.
• See live traffic from your entire fleet of devices.
• Solve issues quicker with deep insights at your fingertips.
Audit Logs
As most businesses require, Steroid-Sim makes audit logs available for security-
relevant chronological records.
Audit logs help you keep track of all actions in the Steroid-Sim
platform and lets you know which of your users performed
Technical Information
Steroid-Sim is an approved Mobile Network Operator (MNO) by the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) and manages its own Mobile Network Code (MNC).
Steroid-Sim acts as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) towards multiple MNOs globally and is
responsible for and handles all signaling and data packet transfers across its entire footprint.
Rather than just acting as a reseller, Steroid-Sim is a Full MVNO with value-added technology built on top of
our connectivity solution.
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The Steroid-Sim Core Network
Steroid-Sim has built and operates its own full mobile core, consisting of GSM/2G/3G (STP, HLR/AuC, SMSC,
GGSN) and LTE (4G) (DRA/DEA, HSS, PGW).
A SIMPLIFIED OVERVIEW OF CORE ELEMENTS
Mobile Station (MS) Visited Mobile Network Operator (MNO) Steroid Sim
User Equipment (UE)
Steroid-SIMs
Steroid-SIMs are free of custom code and applets. Instead, all functionality, logic, and innovation happen
within the network itself.
Putting logic in the network and keeping SIMs basic is a far more efficient and future-proof solution to
distributing custom logic onto IoT devices which need to last for years to come.
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