Edge computing is the solution to various issues, such as cloud computing reaching its potential in technological advancements.
What Is Edge Computing?
At the start of the computing era, there was a single computer. In the Unix era, there were multiple computers connected via terminals. In the late 1980s, everyday people were obtaining personal computers and 30 years later cloud computing became popular, now the next stage has arrived – edge computing. In layman’s terms – edge computing is when the data is processed at the edge of the network or at the source of where the data is generated, in a device itself. With other forms of computing, the data is processed in a centralized warehouse or data center off-site or in the “cloud” itself.
Benefits of Computing at the Edge
When data can be processed on-site or closer to the source of generation it affects various aspects of the computing process. The data is no longer required or relying on the cloud for processing.
Bandwidth
As time elapses, the cloud ecosystem fills up with colossal amounts of data. Some predict that the cloud will no longer be enough to store everyone’s data or that it will become extremely slow at analyzing said data. Edge computing could be the solution to this space issue.
Edge computing becomes the solution when instead of sending all the data and slowing bandwidth capacities, devices are intelligent enough to process the data and send only the essential data, which frees up more bandwidth and allows for quicker speeds.
Latency
When your computer needs to send data or process something, it generally does so in the cloud and the roundtrip can be noticeable in delay time. Your computer must pack up the data, the cloud has to unpack it to interpret it, then repack the data with additional data to send back to its source, and your computer has to unpack it once more. With edge computing, there is less time spent in the cloud or sending information to a data center, giving you a lesser amount of latency, or delay time. You will no longer have to deal with the frustration of poor connectivity or some of the risks that come with sending all your data to the cloud or data center.
Privacy and Security
As cloud computing is coming to a bandwidth bottleneck, the emergence of edge computing brings its own unique features – real-time computing, parallel processing, content perception, and other attributes that support this form of computing. This high on-site processing data will face its own security challenges, such as:
- Privacy leakage
- Physical device damage
- Infected software in the device itself
- Rogue data centers
- Loss of access
However, the alternative computing methods associated with the Internet of Things or cloud computing face similar and perhaps more severe security challenges. Fortunately, there are safety features associated with edge computing. Due to the fact that computing is done on-site or closer to the device itself, the data has a lesser chance of being intercepted. The computing data does not need to travel exposed over a network. The generating of real-time data provides a unique safety platform in which data is analyzed on-site.
Edge Data Centers
Edge computing calls for the emergence of edge data centers. There will need to be more frequently placed data centers in locations that are in proximity or closer to cell towers to enable edge computing. According to Data Center Knowledge, these data centers have started development but the mitigation is far from completion. These new types of data centers will also require less manpower and could theoretically run on autopilot with the lights off and the doors locked. There will be a need for edge monitors to ensure operations are running smoothly, and in the rare case that the equipment fails or someone physically breaches the facility.
The Telecommunications Industry Association believes that edge computing and its new breed of data centers does not eliminate the need for cloud computing and its associated traditional data centers. “In fact, both types of DCs will be needed in the future. Machine-generated traffic might well dwarf current internet growth.” Data centers are not the only thing that will evolve with edge computing.
5g Relies on Edge Computing
The evolution of 5g will require processing massive amounts of data at instantaneous speeds. To ensure this is practical, the telecommunications infrastructure will have to evolve to support such connectivity. This will call for more cells, more cell towers, more satellites, and more data centers. The additional influx of data will coincide with the evolution of edge computing.
Artificial Intelligence and automation are developing and will also be major players in the next step of telecom tech. 5g connectivity will optimize network speeds and transform enterprises to have a need to adapt to edge computing. “The adoption of 5G and edge computing will drive new expectations for an always-on, high performing network and services, which will lead many enterprises to embrace automation.” The success of these technologies will all rely heavily on each other.
Conclusion
The evolution of computing data and the devices associated with such will continually have improvements and related challenges. It is essential to stay informed and learn how to combat challenges with various solutions. As various aspects of technology evolve, partnering aspects will need to keep up as well. Computing, connectivity, and processing facilities will all need to develop in synchronization towards the future of telecommunications.
No matter what stages of data centers or internet connecting features evolve, you can rely on GeoTel Communications to assist with this location-based information to its clients. If you would like to access specific telecommunication knowledge, then contact GeoTel today!
Author: Valerie Stephen
