By Victorio Duran III
Edge
computing is a type of computing that processes data, digital assets, and other
information far closer to the original source. This means that instead of
storing data on the cloud, it is stored locally. Essentially, you are bringing
the cloud to you. Edge computing can be more cost-effective, lower latency, and
increase your computing architecture’s overall reliability. Statistics show that:
- The current edge computing market is
worth almost $4 billion, but this will increase to over $40 billion by 2027. - Businesses will spend around 30% of
their tech budgets on edge computing by 2023.
This
sounds great, right? But despite all of this, there is still a lot of confusion
surrounding the world of edge computing. In this article, we will be looking to
dispel any myths or misconceptions people have about edge computing.
1.
There’s a war between edge and
cloud computing
There
is a common misconception that edge and cloud computing cannot co-exist in the same
space. In fact, many people believe that edge computing will bring about a
decentralized era of computing, and outcompete the cloud. A similar comparison
can be made to when people went from fax to email service.
To
assess if this is really the case, we need to establish some definitions. Cloud
computing is the process of storing digital assets, processing information, and
general computing data on a server. This is known as cloud migration. These servers, and this is
the crucial part, are remotely located. The distance between the data andcloud computing
companies‘ remote servers can result in lag time.
On
the other hand, edge computing is located at a far shorter distance to the
original data, which reduces the lag time. Another thing to note is when we
refer to “lag time,” we mean milliseconds, not a slow buffering YouTube video.
But, this lag time is significant for time-sensitive processes and applications
such as self-driving cars. Here, information needs to be computed rapidly, and
any delay could result in severe consequences.
The
main thing to consider when discussing cloud and edge computing is that one is
for storage, and the other focuses on improving the processing of specific
applications that rely on speed. Edge computing and the cloud are not rivals.
They are companions.
2.
Edge computing is way out of my
budget
Costs
and expenses are always a central talking point whenever the subject of edge
computing arises. The reality is, edge computing prices will vary. If you’re a
small business that creates high quality screen
sharing software, then your costs will be far less than, let’s say, Amazon.
When
trying to assess whether or not edge computing is cost-effective for you, the
size of the business isn’t the only factor you should consider, but the
specific industry too. For example, a company that processes large video files
would need more servers and storage capabilities. In contrast, companies that
process smaller datasets could create an edge computing set-up that runs on a
simple, commercially available server.
Essentially,
edge computing can be as you want it to be. It is incredibly versatile, can
adapt to your business, and most importantly, is scalable.
3.
Edge computing is reliant on 5G
5G
seems to be what everyone in both the tech and mainstream world is talking
about, and rightly so. Experts estimate that 5G networks will provide coverage
to 33% of the world’s population by
2025. It can produce average data rates of over 100 megabits/second, and at
its peak, this rate can even reach 20 gigabits/second.
Many
people are under the impression that edge computing, which processes and
computes data at much faster speeds, would require a 5G network to operate.
This isn’t the case. Here’s why:
Let’s
say you’re a consumer looking to purchase a product on Black Friday, you live
10 miles from the store, and there is one product remaining. Regardless of
whether you walk, drive or jet pack to the store, an individual who lives 10m
from the store will always get there first, and you’re left searching for that
product the next day onCyber Monday. 5G will allow the data to
travel to the endpoint faster, but the distance, which affects the processing,
will still stay the same.
4.
Edge computing is brand new
Asynchronous
communication is defined as communication that doesn’t happen in
real-time, such as emails or, more historically, letters. Parallels can be
drawn between this example and edge computing. Edge computing is a new term for
something that has existed for decades.
Sure,
there are apparent differences between computing back then and edge computing.
For example, edge computing is far more distributed, AI-powered, and in
general, a lot smarter. But, the core fundamentals and architecture are still
the same.
5.
Edge computing is not secure
Data
security is a concern for every single company. A breach could result in loss
of reputation, customers, and expensive lawsuits. There is a common
misconception that because edge computing uses smaller-sized data centers and
devices, then the chance of a security risk significantly
increases. This is not true.
A
well-implemented edge computing system ensures that all digital information is
stored, analyzed, processed, and computed using more than one device. This is
advantageous as it decreases the probability of one breach disrupting the
entire network.
Not
only that, this distribution allows you to shut off the specific device that is
experiencing the cyberattack without affecting the other devices. Edge computing
only computes digital assets and data that have been collected locally. This
means less data is available for hackers and cyber attackers to exploit and
potentially intercept.
6.
Edge computing is irrelevant to my
business
Edge
computing is more than just an IT gimmick exclusive to Tesla. Edge computing
has a variety of advantages that many businesses can exploit in lots of
different industries.
Most
businesses, whether you provide remote IT support or a manufacturing service,
have and use equipment. At some point, this equipment may falter, which could
lead to financial loss and a reduction in overall productivity. Edge computing
allows your business to collect a vast amount of data from sensors located on
the equipment to monitor its efficiency and forecast a fault. This is known as
predictive maintenance.
Even
though using edge computing in this fashion may not currently be as widespread,
businesses need to stay competitive. This is because many start-up businesses
and competitors may be implementing these strategies to get ahead, and it is
crucial for you to do the same.
7.
Edge computing is a fad that will
fade
As
we have mentioned above, edge computing is a powerful analytics tool that
various businesses can harness in numerous industries. Data collection and
analysis is crucial to business success. Whether you’re a small business that
provides a virtual phone number solution or Google, data
allows you to predict customer behavior and help you to make correct business
decisions. Studies have shown that over 50% of
US organizations believe that fast and accurate data collection and analysis is
an essential aspect of their strategy.
So,
it is unlikely that edge computing will disappear in the near future.
Statistics
also show that the edge computing service market is set to increase by 50% in the next year, especially
with the increase in AI technology that requires
fast machine learning. Right now, around 10% of data is collected and processed
outside of conventional cloud computing methods. But, a
study by Gartner predicts that by 2025 around
75% of data will be processed outside of the cloud.
To sum up
Edge
computing is a reinvented concept that is here to stay. Edge computing’s
versatility and scalability make it perfect for both start-ups and
well-established businesses. It has a variety of uses in a plethora of
industries, and due to its security, companies can provide their customers with
a data safety guarantee. Edge computing is rapidly expanding, and businesses
should be considering their options to ensure that they stay competitive.
##
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Victorio Duran III
– RingCentral US
Victorio is the Associate SEO Director at RingCentral, a global leader in
cloud-based communications and collaboration solutions. He has over 13 years of
extensive involvement on web and digital operations with diverse experience as
web engineer, product manager, and digital marketing strategist.
Leave a Reply