Edge computing for business can increase the speed of data processing and analysis. The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to grow significantly, predicted to reach about $1.6 trillion USD by 2025. Edge technology can help process the copious amounts of data that this surge in IoT-enabled devices will produce.
Because edge computing processes data at the location where the data is being generated, it stores, processes, analyzes and informs actions of users instantaneously. The benefits of edge computing over cloud computing is the speed at which data is analyzed and acted on. See a few ways it can transform a business in the next year.
Real-Time Data Analysis
Data is normally sent to one central location so that it can be analyzed in order to take proper action. However, edge computing allows for the data analysis to take place near the area where it is created. With edge technology, the data can be kept close to its origin point, which is optimal for nearly real-time decision making.
Augmented Reality
Edge computing has the chance to improve augmented reality. Users will gain a more vivid and realistic augmented reality (AR) experience. By taking advantage of this technology early on, technology firms can be one of the first to provide this upgraded experience to their customers.
Smart Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies can improve their production floors with edge technology. With almost real-time data analysis, it helps improve efficiency and margins. Companies can help avoid line shutdowns by identifying problems while edge computing allows analyzes the collected data.
Security Systems
Large organizations need fast and accurate security systems to help keep their information and buildings safe. Edge computing makes security systems more efficient when operating at a lower bandwidth. Data from security cameras are frequently collected and stored in the cloud through a signal. Edge computing allows each device to have an internal computer that is able to transfer footage to the cloud when it is needed.
Lowered Operational Costs
Because edge computing helps collect data, it does not require a central server to determine what action should be taken. This helps reduce operational costs by needing less storage to hold the information.
Get Close to the Edge with Customized Solutions
Not many organizations know what edge computing means or what impact it can have on their business. For one company, it could mean installing on-site servers that are capable of nearly real-time IoT data analysis. For another company, it could mean reducing organizational costs by using smaller deployments. One key benefit to edge computing it that is can be customized to meet the company’s needs.
Prepare your organization for edge computing integration. Designed to train your entire team to support edge computing, IEEE Introduction to Edge Computing is an online five-course program. The on-demand courses included in this program are:
- Overview of Edge Computing
- Practical Applications of Edge Computing
- Research Challenges in Edge Computing
- Designing Security Solutions for Edge, Cloud, and IoT
- Tools and Software for Edge Computing Applications
To learn more about getting access to these courses for your organization, connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today.
Interested in the course for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) to learn more.
Resources
(23 December 2019). 13 Ways Edge Computing Can Benefit Businesses. Forbes.
Lital, Marom. (13 December 2019.) Enter A New Era Of Edge Computing. Forbes.
With the constant growth of connected devices, as well as persistent phone and tablet use, traditional centralized networks may soon be overwhelmed with traffic. Gartner predicts that 25 billion connected devices will generate unprecedented amounts of raw data by 2021. This problem will demand next-level responsiveness and reliability— and it’s just two years away.
Edge computing promises to address the impending data surge with a distributed IT architecture that moves data center resources toward the network periphery.
Meeting Needs
Edge computing topology can reduce latency for time-sensitive applications, support IoT performance in low bandwidth environments, and ease overall network congestion.
- Latency: By virtue of physical proximity, time-to-action drops when data analysis occurs locally rather than at a remote data center or cloud. Because data processing and storage will occur at or near edge devices, IoT and mobile endpoints can react to critical information in near real-time.
- Congestion: Edge computing can also ease the growing pressure on the wide-area network. This can improve efficiency and keep bandwidth requirements in check This is a significant challenge in the age of mobile computing and IoT. Instead of overwhelming the network with a constant flood of relatively insignificant raw data, edge devices can analyze, filter, and compress data locally.
- Bandwidth: Edge computing topology can support IoT devices in environments with unreliable network connectivity. Such environments include cruise ships, offshore oil platforms, rural agricultural plants, remote military outposts, and ecological research sites. Even with a hit-or-miss connection to the cloud, local compute and storage resources can enable continuous operation.
Edge Challenges
The more intelligent an edge device, the more intensive its configuration, deployment, and maintenance requirements. Organizations will need to decide on a case-by-case basis if distributed computing benefits (like cheaper WAN connectivity) justify the increased overhead at the network’s periphery. Gartner Research Director Santhosh Rao cautions that the costs associated with deploying and operating edge computing technology can pile up quickly. Although edge computing comes with many benefits, IT leaders will have to make sure a they outweigh its costs.
Security is also a major concern associated with edge computing. Some IT professionals worry that a decentralized computing architecture will make a network more vulnerable to attack by creating excess backdoor entry points. However, other people argue that placing an edge-computing gateway between network endpoints and the internet can actually improve security. Because more data will be processed and stored locally, travel to and from the cloud will be reduced.
Despite uncertainties, analysts expect organizations will increasingly rely on edge computing technology in the years to come. According to Rao, just 10% of enterprise data was created and processed outside of a centralized data center/cloud in 2018. He predicts that number will climb to 75% by 2025.
Introduction to Edge
Prepare your organization for the future by training your entire team to support edge technology now. IEEE Introduction to Edge Computing is a new five-course program designed for organizations investing heavily in edge. Courses include:
- Overview of Edge Computing
- Practical Applications of Edge Computing
- Research Challenges in Edge Computing
- Designing Security Solutions for Edge, Cloud, and IoT
- Tools and Software for Edge Computing Applications
Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist for access today.
Resources
Irei, Alissa. (Apr 2019). Understand why edge computing technology matters. SearchNetworking.
Jones, Nick. (Sept 2018). Top Strategic IoT Trends and Technologies Through 2023. Gartner.