For most companies, the cloud is part of the mainstream at this point. Whether driven by increased desire for innovation, access, and availability or in response to the events of 2020, many leaders have embraced this delivery model and have been able to reap the rewards.
But an improved delivery model doesn’t mean a perfect one. Despite offering a wide range of benefits for end users and providing companies with cost effective technology, a cloud computing environment doesn’t exist without flaws. Well-built to handle the processing power needs of today’s company, it’s important to ask yourself whether this model is suited for your needs in the future.
The problem with the cloud often comes down to one word—location. While today’s processing power needs can be served by a data center hundreds or often thousands of miles away, what happens when you’re trying to do the same with 100 times the data? Companies are embracing digital transformation, people are running increasingly data-intensive applications, and internet-connected devices are proliferating. In fact, by 2025, data needs will skyrocket:
All of this combines to present a traffic jam between the user and the processing power. For all the benefits that centralization offered, in the coming years, it expects so create a latency and performance problem. But by shortening—or eliminating—the distance between a request and the processing power, the latency issue can be eliminated.
The goal of edge computing is to put processing power as close to the user as possible. According to Gartner, Edge Computing is defined as,
“An emerging topology-based computing model that enables and optimizes extreme decentralization, placing nodes as close as possible to the sources and sinks of data and content. Connectivity and latency challenges, bandwidth constraints and greater functionality embedded at the edge favors distributed models.”
Edge computing promises to deliver three key benefits—speed, security, and scalability.
But what does this mean? In essence, less distance between data creator and processor. Think of a self-driving automobile that needs to make the millions of tiny decisions and adjustments that a human does. Latency can’t be an issue and the computing has to take place within the car.
The same goes for anything in need of rapid execution. Rather than offering a limited list of commands, voice assistants will be able to handle context much more effectively in the edge. IoT devices will be able to operate much more effectively, and predictive maintenance will become easier. As the processing power gets closer, the benefits ramp up.
If you need real-time data to complete mission-critical tasks that keep your company profitable and safe, then it’s time to tie all these systems together using Edge Computing technology.
If your company has plans to compete in markets where getting an edge on the Edge means more market share, then select a service provider that can navigate all the different products and services without costs jumping over the barrier and sending the project right over the edge.
At Virtually Managed IT Solutions, we specialize in getting companies to the Edge. Delivering support, expertise, and insights for digital transformation, our team works with you to get your company up and running. Get to know more about us, our services, and our partners—and be sure to contact us to learn more.
Learn more in Playing at the Edge – Maximizing Edge Computing for your Business.
Related articles
Running a business involves juggling multiple responsibilities – from product development to sales, HR, and, not to mention, IT. One crucial aspect of IT that can't be overlooked is infrastructure implementation. But what does this entail? And how do professional IT companies assist businesses in this process? Allow me to simplify this for you.
Running a successful business in today's digital world often means navigating a maze of complex IT jargon. Among these, 'server monitoring' is a term that frequently comes up. But what exactly is it, and why is it meaningful to your business? Let's demystify this critical aspect of IT with the help of Virtually Managed IT Solutions, your local IT support partner.
In our increasingly digital world, the phrase “time is money” rings truer than ever. For small and medium-size businesses, especially, any downtime could result in lost sales, diminished customer trust, and potential harm to your brand. One critical line of defense against downtime is 24/7 server monitoring and reporting.
We’re happy to answer any questions you may have to help you determine your needs.
1. We schedule a call at your convenience
2. We do a discovery and consulting meeting
3. We prepare a proposal just for you