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IoT.NETSecurityWindows

Secure Local-First IoT Platform

We replaced a fragile centralized cloud server with a local-first architecture that put 200+ manufacturing sites in full control of their IoT devices, data, and security.

Client: Haytek • VectrForce Technology StudioIn collaboration with Reality Engine
200+Sites Migrated
10×Faster Response
99.99%Local Uptime
4 minAvg Install Time
12 wksKickoff to Release
01
Chapter

The Challenge

Haytek's entire IoT infrastructure depended on a single centralized global server. Every device command, sensor reading, and configuration change had to transit the internet. This architecture created five critical problems:

Security RiskAll device credentials and telemetry transited a single internet-facing server.
Single Point of FailureIf the central server went down, every site lost control of its devices simultaneously.
Privacy ConcernsCustomer data left their facility and was stored on third-party infrastructure.
LatencyEvery device command round-tripped through a remote data center, adding 200-500ms of delay.
Vendor Lock-InThe architecture was tightly coupled to a specific cloud vendor with escalating costs.
02
Chapter

Our Approach

We designed four interlocking components that together form a complete local-first IoT management platform.

Core

Device Communication Hub

  • WebSocket + MQTT dual-protocol support
  • Automatic local network device discovery
  • SQLite-backed device registry and state store
  • Offline operation with sync-on-reconnect
Security

Authentication & Security

  • JWT-based auth with role-based access control (RBAC)
  • TLS/SSL encryption for all local traffic
  • Optional VPN tunnel for remote management
  • AES-256 encryption for data at rest
API

REST API Server

  • 50+ endpoints covering devices, users, config, and telemetry
  • OpenAPI/Swagger documentation auto-generated
  • Rate limiting and request throttling
  • Webhook system for third-party integrations
Deploy

ClickOnce Installer

  • Single executable download for Windows
  • Step-by-step wizard for non-technical site managers
  • Background service installation with auto-start
  • Automatic updates via delta patching
Installer Performance
98%First-Attempt Success
4 minAvg Setup Time
03
Chapter

What We Delivered

01Mini PC Server Software with full local device management
02ClickOnce Installer for one-click deployment on Windows
03REST API Server with 50+ endpoints and OpenAPI docs
04Web Admin Dashboard for device monitoring and user management
05Migration Tools for moving sites from centralized to local architecture
06Documentation Package including runbooks, API docs, and training materials
04
Chapter

The Results

MetricResult
Sites Migrated200+
Install Success Rate98%
Average Install Time4 min
Response Time Improvement10×
Local Uptime99.99%
Support Ticket Reduction60%
Net Promoter Score Change+35
Business Impact
Zero external server costs — each site runs on a $200 mini PC
Unlocked new enterprise markets that required on-premises data sovereignty
Customers own 100% of their data with no third-party dependency
GDPR and HIPAA compliance dramatically simplified
“
The transition from cloud to local was seamless. We now have complete control over our IoT infrastructure, our data never leaves our facility, and everything is faster and more reliable. The click-once installer meant our non-technical site managers could deploy it themselves.
Haytek — Engineering Leadership
Full Tech Stack
.NET/C#SQLiteREST APIClickOnceMQTTWebSocketJWT/RBACTLS 1.3AES-256
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