What Is Edge Technology and Why Does It Matter?
This quandary is the driving force behind edge computing, a new method of storing, analyzing, and processing data closer to the source. This decentralization has the potential to relieve network congestion and improve overall network performance.
Edge computing is a decentralized Internet of Things methodology in which data processing and storage take place at or near the network's edge, where individual IoT devices are located. To comprehend the definition of edge computing, it is necessary to first examine a traditional IoT network.
The majority of IoT networks use a centralized client-server architecture. Consider the website from which you are reading this. The webpage's text and images are all stored on a web server. To get the webpage data and display it on your screen, the browser on your mobile phone or computer (the "client") must connect to this server.
The client/server approach has the disadvantage of being a centralized system. When there are a large number of concurrent users and data traffic, the server and its network can become clogged. This can cause a performance slowdown. Furthermore, the server is a weak link in this model. When it fails, the entire system fails.
Devices located further away from the server will also cause some delay, known as latency. Because it is physically impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, such delays are unavoidable over long distances. As a result, web pages and applications run slower.
This lag issue is unacceptable for IoT devices that must operate in real-time. Can you imagine if an IoT sensor in a smart car experiences a delay? It could lead to a disastrous accident.
Edge computing solves the problem by distributing processing and storage loads across the network. Instead of dumping all tasks onto a centralized server, some are routed to IoT devices at the network's edge. Following processing, only relevant data is returned to the central server for monitoring and storage.
Consider an IoT sensor that monitors the condition of factory equipment. Some raw measurement data can be processed on-site rather than transmitted to a server. Only specific data, such as which machines require maintenance, is sent back to the server.
What exactly is Edge Devices?
An edge device is a machine that handles storage, data processing, and input/output operations on the edge network. Most of the time, this will be your IoT or consumer device, such as a computer or smartphone. The function and limitations of an edge device vary greatly depending on the industry. In healthcare, for example, edge devices are frequently in the form of wearable devices and implants. These are in charge of taking vital signs from patients and, in some cases, responding to them. They are also frequently used to tailor a person's treatment plan.In some cases, multiple devices can act as collective edge devices, forming a "mini client-server network." Manufacturers, for example, use edge IoT devices such as sensors to monitor equipment performance and inventory. These devices send data to an on-site computer (known as an edge gateway), which processes it and sends it to the central server. Edge devices reduce the processing load on the central server and improve overall security. They can act as gateways, preventing malicious attacks from reaching the central server; if a hack occurs, it affects only that portion of the edge network, leaving the rest unaffected.
Advantages of Cutting-Edge Technology
Edge processing decentralization enables critical real-time applications with IoT technology, such as self-driving cars and smart city traffic systems. This is due to the fact that such an approach assists in overcoming several physical network limitations, most notably bandwidth, congestion, and latency.The amount of data that can flow through a network is defined as bandwidth. This capacity is limited due to underlying network hardware and physical distances. Even if faster technologies such as 5G are developed, there will still be a bandwidth limit.
Because of the massive amount of data flowing through the Internet today, bandwidth constraints cause congestion. The issue of data capacity is not the only one; there is also the issue of latency. The truth is that a signal moves at a finite speed from point A to point B, regardless of how small the network bandwidth is. As a result, there will always be a time lag between when the data is sent and when it is received. The greater the separation, the longer the lag.
Rather than overcoming these constraints, edge computing takes a smarter approach by simply decentralizing the network. This effectively reduces the distance data must travel for processing (eliminating latency) and reduces the network's bandwidth load (solving congestion).
And, as previously stated, security and privacy are two of the most important advantages of edge computing. This is especially important with IoT devices, which may lack the same robust security features as your smartphone or laptop.
For example, your smart refrigerator may be a more appealing target than your iPhone with Face ID and password protection. However, with edge computing, an edge gateway can have its own security measures in place to prevent hackers from further infiltrating the network.
Finally, two more advantages of edge computing should be mentioned: compliance and autonomy.
Due to conflicting privacy laws, data cannot always be moved from one location to another. For example, data transfers to and from the European Union must adhere to GDPR guidelines. Edge computing, on the other hand, can ensure compliance by storing and processing sensitive data within the jurisdiction of the regulation. As a result, it is the preferred method of handling sensitive personal data in industries such as finance and healthcare.
Autonomy also allows the edge layers to function independently, whether or not they are connected to the primary network. This is a boon for operations in remote locations where Internet connectivity is unreliable or non-existent, such as mines or oil rigs.
Examples of IoT Edge Computing
With IoT, there are numerous exciting use cases and possibilities that can be enhanced further with edge computing. Let's go over a few of them.
System of Security
One of the most significant technological advances is the implementation of AI processing on edge devices rather than servers. The advantages of this can be enormous.
Consider a company's network of security cameras. By default, it will record and transmit footage to headquarters for monitoring and archiving. Consider how much congestion your network will experience if you have hundreds of them.
AI is the solution. Because the majority of camera footage is useless, an AI system at the edge can select only the important footage to send to HQ while storing the rest locally.
Self-Driving Vehicles
The issue with self-driving cars is that they collect massive amounts of real-time data - up to 20TB per day. And with thousands of them on the road, it can quickly clog any network and negatively impact the performance of each vehicle.
Edge computing is the practical approach here. In the car's onboard computer, metrics such as speed, location, traffic conditions, and other variables can be processed. This way, only relevant data is sent to a monitoring hub.
Retail establishments
IoT devices are also useful in the retail industry for gathering data such as inventory, sales, and customer purchasing habits. Apart from monitoring each store's performance, management at HQ can also customize marketing initiatives and optimize supply for each branch.
However,
The problem is that retail stores in different locations will have different environments and factors to consider. As a result, it is more advantageous to use edge computing to process these data locally.
Which Industries stand to Gain from Edge Computing?
IoT and edge computing technology can benefit almost every industry on the planet. Some of them have already been mentioned, such as security and retail. However, the industries that benefit the most from edge computing are those that require real-time performance. Manufacturing and automotive are two examples. Any downtime in these industries will be disastrous, both in terms of lives and money. Edge computing is also a good fit for industries that deal with sensitive data, such as banking and healthcare.
How to Make Edge Computing Work for You
Edge computing is unquestionably a powerful approach that can improve the performance, security, and privacy of your network.
Choose a provider with extensive industry experience and a suite of networking and security solutions, such as Fusion Connect, to make it work for your company.
Contact us today to discuss how you can incorporate edge computing into your network.
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Ashwini Kamble
Blogger-Digital Marketer
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thanks for your supports