2024 in Review: How HiveMQ Fueled IoT Innovation Across Industries

In 2024, HiveMQ continued to push the boundaries in IoT, IIoT, and edge-to-cloud connectivity, empowering industries to unlock the power of their real-time data. With innovative updates and enhancements to our platform, we continued to deliver scalable, reliable, and secure solutions that help businesses find new levels of efficiency and aid in their digital transformation.

But 2024 wasn't just about delivering products; it was also about fostering a thriving IoT and IIoT community. From launching new tools and resources to celebrating milestones like MQTT's 25th birthday, we have worked to connect with and support the community. 

This year-in-review highlights the products, solutions, and milestones that defined HiveMQ in 2024, showcasing how we’ve transformed industries and strengthened the global IoT ecosystem. Let’s dive into the products, solutions, integrations, and milestones that defined HiveMQ in 2024.

2024 HiveMQ Recap

Each product release and initiative this past year showcased HiveMQ’s unique ability to bridge the gap between operational and enterprise systems, delivering the tools needed to transform IoT data into actionable insights across industries.

Improvements to HiveMQ Products

HiveMQ Platform

This year, the HiveMQ platform has evolved to deliver enhanced performance, seamless integrations, and advanced edge-to-cloud features to help businesses optimize their IoT and IIoT deployments with unmatched efficiency and flexibility.

• Enhanced Broker Performance: Delivered significant improvements in stability, throughput, and reduced CPU usage, enabling efficient operations on many-core instances.

• New Extensions: Introduced Kafka record header configurations and released the new Enterprise Extension for Microsoft SQL Server.

• Advanced Features: Introduced detailed Health API, behavioral policies via the release of HiveMQ Edge, and expanded audit logging for better insights and compliance.

• Streamlined Configuration: Enabled custom module creation for the Data Hub, providing flexibility and reducing complexity.

• Control Center Improvements: Enhanced the HiveMQ Control Center with advanced monitoring and management features, including expanded logging capabilities and a revamped user interface for an intuitive and efficient user experience.

These are just the highlights. Download our free trial version to try the new features, or better yet, get a demo from our team.

HiveMQ Cloud

HiveMQ Cloud introduced powerful new features and integrations, enhancing usability, security, and scalability to support businesses in managing their IoT deployments with greater flexibility and control.

• Improved Cloud Console Features: We introduced Access Tokens for full/custom access. On the UX front, we enhanced Cluster Overview, Organization Overview, Profile Overview, and Access Management. We added an AI Chatbot for better customer support.   

• Flexible Authentication & Authorization: We enabled flexible authentication and authorization for MQTT. Supported REST APIs for roles and permissions management. Added JWT and Certificate endpoints to API Gateway.  

• Enhanced Logging Capabilities: We introduced structured JSON logs for Access Logs, Datahub Logs, and Customer Logs. We added customizable log management options.    

• Added Kafka Integration: We released Kafka Integration for the HiveMQ Cloud Starter Plan. 

• Improved Organization Management: We introduced Org IDs that can be assigned to primary emails associated with clusters. 

If you haven’t signed up for HiveMQ Cloud yet, give it a try.

HiveMQ Edge

HiveMQ Edge continues to add powerful new features and capabilities, enhancing edge-to-cloud connectivity and operational efficiency. Apart from announcing the general availability, here’s a highlight of the major releases:

• Expanded Protocol Support and Industrial Integration: Added several adapters like the Rockwell Allen-Bradley Ethernet/IP protocol adapter and adapters for Modbus, OPC-UA, and Siemens S7, enabling integration with diverse industrial systems.

• Advanced Data Handling and Transformation: We released offline buffering to ensure message retention and delivery during network interruptions. We also released UNS Prefixes that help organize and standardize data for better consistency.

• Enhanced Policy Management and Customization:  We launched a policy-building interface and support for behavioral policies to monitor client behavior against predefined models for anomaly detection.

• Development and Deployment Flexibility: We released a protocol adapter SDK, batch subscription mapping, and file input adapter that broadened data integration possibilities.

Empowering the MQTT, IoT, and IIoT Community

At HiveMQ, our commitment to the MQTT, IoT, and IIoT ecosystems goes beyond creating world-class products. This year, we focused on empowering the community through education, recognition, and support, helping individuals and organizations unlock the full potential of IoT technologies.

We enriched the community with valuable resources, including eBooks and guides like:

• Architecting a Unified Namespace for IIoT

• Enhancing Data Security in IoT Deployments

• Standards for Edge AI System Compatibility with MQTT 

• Asset Performance Management Playbook

As part of MQTT’s 25th anniversary, we launched the inaugural MQTT Innovation Awards, spotlighting visionary projects like Eli Lilly’s Equipment Connectivity Platform and Tulip’s voice-command solutions. These awards honor innovators transforming industries and improving lives through MQTT.

In addition to the awards, we also added inspiring new success stories to showcase the tangible impact of HiveMQ solutions, such as Air France-KLM’s passenger experience improvements, LEC’s secure water monitoring, Lumo’s smart agriculture application, and Anglian Water’s IT/OT integration to build a Unified Namespace (UNS).

Unforgettable Moments of 2024

This year was filled with remarkable milestones that further solidified HiveMQ’s position as a leader in the MQTT, IoT, and IIoT space. These key moments exemplify our dedication to innovation, education, and excellence:

• Celebrating the MQTT birthday with Andy Stanford-Clark: In two exclusive sessions, we had the privilege of hosting Andy Stanford-Clark, the co-inventor of the MQTT protocol. He joined us for an engaging podcast episode and an insightful Q&A webinar. Both sessions explored the origins, evolution, and future of MQTT, highlighting its pivotal role in digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and IIoT. It was a defining moment for HiveMQ as we reflected on the protocol’s journey and its profound impact on connected industries.

• Expanding Educational Resources: We released several HiveMQ University courses designed to equip developers, IT architects, and industry leaders with the tools and expertise to drive innovation using MQTT. We significantly broadened our course catalog, launching new offerings, such as:

  • UNS for Business Leaders

  • Smart Manufacturing

  • MQTT v5

These courses have empowered professionals to master cutting-edge technologies and apply them effectively in real-world scenarios, reinforcing our mission to democratize MQTT.

• Industry Recognition: HiveMQ was recognized and loved by customers on G2 – reflected in new reviews, new badges, and leadership in the Grid® Report for Message Queue Software. We earned accolades that highlight our commitment to excellence across multiple categories: Best Support, High Performer Enterprise, Users Love Us, Easiest to Do Business With, and continued leadership in the Grid for Message Queue Software. These accolades are a testament to the trust and satisfaction of our customers and community, reflecting the exceptional value HiveMQ brings to IoT and IIoT ecosystems.

These moments are not just milestones but also celebrations of the progress we’re making together with our customers, partners, and the broader community. They inspire us to continue shaping the future of connectivity and innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we reflect on the milestones of 2024, we’re filled with excitement for what lies ahead. The progress we’ve made this year—building transformative products, empowering the community, and driving innovation—has set the stage for an even more impactful 2025.

Next year promises to bring groundbreaking advancements as AI, IT, and OT continue to converge, reshaping the future of connected industries. At HiveMQ, we’re ready to lead this evolution, ensuring our solutions remain at the forefront of empowering businesses to harness these transformative forces.