Edge computing is transforming the way data is being handled, processed, and delivered from millions of devices around the world. The explosive growth of internet-connected devices — the IoT — along with new applications that require real-time computing power, continues to drive edge-computing systems . Bringing computation to the network’s edge minimizes the amount of long-distance communication that has to happen between a client and server.
WHAT IS EDGE COMPUTING ?
Edge computing is distributed computing model that brings computation an data storage closer to clients where it is needed to improve response times and save bandwidth.
Edge computing was developed due to the exponential growth of IoT devices, which connect to the internet for either receiving information from the cloud or delivering data back to the cloud. And many IoT devices generate enormous amounts of data during the course of their operations. The aim of edge computing is to move the computation away from data centers towards the edge of the network, exploiting smart objects, mobile phones, or network gateways to perform tasks and provide services on behalf of the cloud.
What Difference Will It Make ?
Edge computing can help lower dependence on the cloud and improve the speed of data processing as a result. Besides, there are already many modern IoT devices that have processing power and storage available. The move to edge processing power makes it possible to utilize these devices to their fullest potential . Shifting data processing to the edge of the network can help companies take advantage of the growing number of IoT edge devices, improve network speeds, and enhance customer experiences.
Here’s Five Benefits of Edge Computing .
Speed : Ability to increase network performance by reducing latency .
Security : Edge computing distributes processing, storage, and applications across a wide range of devices and data centers, which makes it difficult for any single disruption to take down the network .
Scalability : Edge computing offers a far less expensive route to scalability, allowing companies to expand their computing capacity through a combination of IoT devices and edge data centers .
Versatilty : By partnering with local edge data centers, companies can easily target desirable markets without having to invest in expensive infrastructure expansion.
Reliability : By locating edge systems in data centers geographically closer to end users and distributing processing accordingly, companies can greatly reduce the distance data must travel before services can be delivered .
Edge Computing And 5G
5G increases speeds by up to ten times that of 4G, whereas mobile edge computing reduces latency by bringing compute capabilities into the network, closer to the end user mobile edge computing reduces latency by bringing compute capabilities into the network, closer to the end user. He argues that both 5G and edge computing need to develop simultaneously for two reasons:
It is inherent in the 5G standards as it is the only way to meet the latency targets that have been set. Improvements in the radio interface alone will not achieve these.
The gradual approach operators are taking to deploy 5G — the 5G go slow cycle — will mean coverage of “full 5G” will be insufficient to cultivate an ecosystem of new applications. However, edge could seed a 5G market even before widespread coverage.
Looking To The Future
Many companies now are making a move towards edge computing. However, edge computing is not the only solution. For computing challenges faced by IT vendors and organizations, cloud computing remains a viable solution. In some instances, they use it in tandem with edge computing for a more comprehensive solution. Delegating all data to the edge is also not a wise decision. It’s why public cloud providers have started combining IoT strategies and technology stacks with edge computing.
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