Edge computing is a growing trend in cloud computing. Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and large enterprises with cloud-native applications are increasingly adopting edge computing to achieve high availability (HA) for certain business critical services. But why are these organizations implementing edge computing? What does edge computing do that the public cloud can’t offer? How does edge computing differ from public, private and hybrid cloud? How does an organization deploy an edge computing network? Which application use cases are best suited for edge computing?
Edge computing is the idea that data is processed at the periphery of the network instead of in centralized data centers. This can result in lower latency and greater processing power for applications using artificial intelligence, as well as greater security for IoT devices.
It’s a concept that’s been around for about a decade, but only now starting to gain traction among data center and enterprise IT professionals, who are always looking for new ways to reduce latency, improve performance and boost application efficiency.
Edge computing takes work away from the cloud and down to the device.
The edge has become a buzzword in the tech industry. But what does it actually mean?
The answer is simple: The edge refers to devices on the periphery of a network that are capable of processing data. In contrast, cloud computing processes data in centralized data centers (i.e., the cloud).
So, essentially, edge computing takes work away from the cloud and down to the device. This allows for faster, more reliable processing than if data were sent through and back from a centralized location. Devices that can be at the edge include smartphones, laptops, tablets and IoT devices such as thermostats, cars and more.
The move to the edge builds on a trend that’s been going on for years: distributed computing.
The move to the edge builds on a trend that’s been going on for years: distributed computing. The cloud is just a fancy word for this concept. Your favorite apps and services probably don’t reside on one big server somewhere; they’re likely spread out across multiple locations, in part because that provides redundancy and reliability but also because it allows them to respond faster.
Edge computing takes that a step further. Instead of putting data centers all over the map, the idea is to put them in locations closer to the people using them, which could be as simple as a server rack in your company’s office building or as complex as a network of servers embedded in shipping containers that can be easily deployed anywhere they’re needed.
Edge computing has benefits, but it also introduces new challenges, beginning with security.
Edge computing is a new IT architecture that pushes some of the applications and data storage away from centralized data centers to the edge of the network, where devices and users are located. It’s a response to an increasing number of IoT devices and their demand for computing power, as well as to users’ need for low latency.
Edge computing allows data processing to occur at the source rather than in a cloud or a data center. The closer the information is processed to its origin, the faster it can be made available to users. That’s why edge computing is critical for a wide range of activities, from predictive maintenance for factories to autonomous vehicles.
It also helps overcome bandwidth issues when connecting IoT devices to cloud-based applications. Gathering data from sensors and other devices at the edge cuts down on bandwidth requirements, which can reduce costs and improve performance.
Edge computing has benefits, but it also introduces new challenges, beginning with security. As companies add more endpoints along the edge they extend their attack surface and increase their exposure to threats.
Edge computing isn’t all that new — or that cool once you get past the name.
Now there’s this thing called “edge computing,” which sounds very cool but isn’t all that new — or that cool once you get past the name. It is, however, important because it’s driving big changes in how businesses and consumers will use computing power.
The idea behind edge computing is simple and mirrors how the Internet itself works. The Internet was meant to ensure that if one part of it went down, another would be able to route around the broken part and keep data flowing. Edge computing is just a way of taking that same concept and applying it to data analytics.
The rise of IoT and 5G networks are helping drive the growth in edge computing.
A second driving factor: 5G networks promise to be much faster than today’s 4G networks. However, they also will be more complex, requiring more distributed processing to address latency concerns.
As edge computing grows, so will current trends including containers, serverless and microservices architectures.
The distance between the application and where the data is stored and processed has a lot to do with how fast the request can be handled. In traditional cloud computing, data travels from connected devices over the internet to data centers in faraway locations. As edge computing grows, so will current trends including containers, serverless and microservices architectures.
The future of Edge computing allows for more efficient use of the mobile internet and allows developers to bring near-limitless potential to the mobile platform. The technology is still in its early stages, yet the possibilities are endless. Stay tuned.
