Reasons why you should choose edge computing over cloud computing

For organizations looking to break beyond the limitations that traditional cloud-based networks impose, edge computing can make all the difference. Although cloud computing continues to play an important role in modern network architecture, the exciting possibilities offered by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which are capable of processing the data they gather closer to the source, are forcing companies to rethink their approach to IT infrastructure.

Often touted as the "next big thing," many companies are wondering how edge computing differs from more traditional data processing solutions and how it could benefit their business. While the basic principles behind edge computing are relatively straightforward, the substantial benefits of this new approach to network architecture are a little more complex. Edge computing not only has the ability to deliver a direct on-ramp to a company's preferred cloud platform, but it also can help achieve flexibility and nimbleness when it comes to ensuring a streamlined, efficient IT infrastructure.

Whether they're trying to break into the IoT market or find better ways to deliver content services, companies need to be aware of the advantages and the future of edge computing.

Traditional cloud computing networks are highly centralized, with data being gathered on the outermost edges and transmitted back to the main servers for processing. This architecture grew out of the fact that most of the devices located near the edge lacked the computational power and storage capacity to analyze or process the data they collected. Even as more devices became capable of connecting to networks over cellular and WiFiWi-Fi, their functionality was relatively limited by their hardware capabilities.

As a result of the miniaturization of processing and storage technology, the network architecture landscape has been significantly altered. 

Today's IoT devices are capable of gathering, storing, and processing more data than ever before. This opens up opportunities for companies to optimize their networks and relocate more processing functions closer to where data is gathered at the network edge. There, it can be analyzed and applied in real-time much closer to intended users.

Five Benefits of Edge Computing

 1. Speed

Speed is absolutely vital to any company's core business. Take the financial sector's reliance upon high-frequency trading algorithms, for example. A slowdown of mere milliseconds in their trading algorithms can result in expensive consequences. In the healthcare industry, where the stakes are much higher, losing a fraction of a second can be a matter of life or death. 

For businesses that provide data-driven services to customers, lagging speeds can frustrate customers and cause long-term damage to a brand. This may not sound as serious as life and death, but poor network performance and slow speeds can spell the end of your company altogether. Speed is no longer just a competitive advantage—it's a best practice.

2. Security

While the proliferation of IoT edge computing devices does increase the overall attack surface for networks, it also provides some important security advantages. Traditional cloud computing architecture is inherently centralized, which makes it especially vulnerable to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and power outages. 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 entire network.

3. Scalability

As companies grow, they cannot always anticipate their IT infrastructure needs. Building a dedicated data center is an expensive proposition, which makes it even more difficult to plan for the future. In addition to the substantial up-front construction costs and ongoing maintenance, there's also the question of tomorrow's needs. Traditional private facilities place an artificial constraint on growth, locking companies into forecasts of their future computing needs. If business growth exceeds expectations, they may not be able to capitalize on opportunities due to insufficient computing resources.

4. Versatility

The scalability of edge computing also plays into its versatility. By partnering with local edge data centers, companies can easily target desirable markets without having to invest in expensive infrastructure expansion. Edge data centers allow them to service end-users efficiently with minimal physical distance or latency. This is especially valuable for content providers looking to deliver uninterrupted streaming services. They also do not constrain companies with a heavy footprint, allowing them to nimbly shift to other markets if economic conditions change. Edge computing empowers IoT devices to gather unprecedented amounts of actionable data. Rather than waiting for people to log in with devices and interact with centralized cloud servers, edge computing devices are always on, always connected, and always generating data for future analysis.

5. Reliability

Given the security advantages provided by edge computing, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it offers better reliability as well. With IoT edge computing devices and edge data centers positioned closer to end-users, there is less chance of a network problem in a distant location affecting local customers. Even in the event of a nearby data center outage, IoT edge computing devices will continue to operate effectively on their own since they handle vital processing functions natively. By processing data closer to the source and prioritizing traffic, edge computing reduces the amount of data flowing to and from the primary network, leading to lower latency and faster overall speed. Physical distance is critical to performance as well.