Cloud computing is bringing innovations to almost every industry but the technology has limits—and this is when Edge deployment comes in. Instead of keeping the computing power in a centralized location, Edge deployment brings it closer to the people responsible for creating and using the data.
While bringing data closer to the source is an advantage, it’s not always enough to motivate some industries to combine Edge deployment and cloud innovation. Sometimes, businesses need to understand the additional benefits before adding Edge deployment to their cloud ecosystem.
Benefits of Edge Deployments in Cloud Ecosystems
If you’re still on the fence about including edge deployment in your cloud ecosystem, here’s a look at some of the benefits you may be missing out on.
Lower Latency Speeds
A low latency speed isn’t something only gamers look for, real-time processing can also be critical for devices and applications. An example is wearable devices. Whether the user is checking their number of steps or monitoring heart rate, they want to see their data in real-time.
In other words, they want to know what their current heart rate is and not what it was five minutes ago. Lowering latency speeds boosts consumers’ experiences and this is good news for companies’ bottom lines.
Boost Scalability
Edge technology spreads tasks across your devices giving you architecture that’s more easily scalable. Edge technology can handle a sudden increase in the number of connected devices without straining your existing system. You can easily add and remove Edge devices as workloads increase or decrease.
Think of Edge computing as being a type of plug-and-play technology. Even though users may need to make a few adjustments as devices are added, it’s noticeably less than if they’re relying solely on cloud computing.
Improve Bandwidth
Bandwidth issues can still pop up even in the cloud. The occasionally slower processing speeds are a minor downside associated with cloud computing. The issue is typically caused by the distance between the user and the processing center.
However, this issue is usually resolved with Edge deployments. Remember. Edge technologies bring the data processing back to a location closer to the user. With Edge deployment, most of the processing is down close to the site. Only the final results are dependent on cloud processing.
Using Edge deployment to boost bandwidth can have another advantage. Some cloud providers charge fees to transfer data. You can eliminate most of these fees from your operating budget since you’re no longer completely reliant on the cloud.
Unlock New Applications
Cloud models often run into problems processing huge or intricate chunks of data, which can limit your ability to create new applications. The AV/VR field is a direct example of this.
The amount of data necessary to create an immersive user experience is immense and is often more than cloud models can handle. Edge deployment can provide the support your team needs to create and sustain new apps.
Edge Technology and Cloud Computing Make Sense Together
The cloud significantly simplifies your IT infrastructure by centralizing resources and reducing hardware dependency, while edge computing enhances your technology capabilities offsite by processing data closer to where it’s generated. This proximity reduces latency and bandwidth use, leading to more efficient operations overall.
Together, these technologies allow you to achieve greater performance and functionality without a proportional increase in your operating budget. Leveraging both cloud and edge computing means that you can optimize your IT deployment to be both cost-effective and powerful.
