Edge computing is being considered the next consumer-based evolutionary step in web-based systems. Alongside developments in the IoT, cloud systems, and Industry 4.0, distributed computing also offers lowered IT costs and faster large-scale data analysis.
Quicker Serve Times
The shift to a distributed computing paradigm means data is processed much closer to end user devices. Because of this, latency is dramatically reduced. Although solid cloud applications and servers today offer lightning fast data execution, there is a case to be made for faster server times from a critical data center offering fast response for real time performance. Industries that benefit from edge systems include manufacturing, oil, mining and gas, and even video gaming.
Optimized IT Expenses
The time taken to transmit data between local systems and the cloud is dramatically reduced with edge systems. This has a direct impact on bandwidth and storage, both of which come with considerable costs that scale based on how much you need. Because edge systems are so much faster, both of these are reduced, optimizing your company’s IT expenses. Further, more data is available to process locally instead of using cloud services, further reducing IT costs.
Edge Computing Enhanced Security
Cybersecurity is a major threat to any business, no matter its size. All companies should take cybersecurity in the cloud pretty seriously, as even the best systems can be breached. Large-scale companies may consider using edge systems, yet even SMBs can benefit:
- Edge systems are decentralized, so it is harder for a hacker to target a single point.
- There is limited data storage on an edge system, but only the data is actually needed.
- It is relatively easy to configure an edge system with security and user access control.
Edge computing is vital for small ventures. In 2024, 61% of SMBs were targeted by hackers. However, the risk of a breach is reduced because data is kept locally, regionally or on premises.
Faster Data Analysis
The world today relies on vast amounts of data. Many of the most robust cloud, AI and Ml systems such as Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure offer incredible data analysis services. However, these rely on uploading data to the cloud to be processed elsewhere. With an edge system, data is processed closer to the source, allowing for quicker analysis and faster decisions, making edge systems invaluable to IoT apps that analyse numerous data streams.
Continuity During an Outage
Most companies today rely on some form of networking, whether via the internet, intranet or both. When a network goes down it can be a disaster for a business that operates via cloud systems and networked storage access. But for modern companies, uptime is critical for infrastructure, and even safety for specific industries, such as manufacturing. Edge systems continue to operate during an outage because they don’t rely on external data processing tools.
Summary
Data can be served much faster to an end user through edge computing systems. Your business can benefit from enhanced security as data is kept and processed locally. Further, an edge system doesn’t rely on a network or cloud system, so will continue during an outage.
