K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
The basic concepts of edge computing are relatively simple to understand. Similar to a centralized data center, edge infrastructure delivers compute and other resources that applications need – but it brings these requirements much closer in physical proximity to those apps and their data.
So while the term “edge server” might sound, well, edgy – it really just refers to moving the functions of a traditional server closer to their most optimal location, whether for performance, security, cost, or other reasons.
Here’s how we defined it in one of our previous explainers: “Edge servers exist outside of a traditional data center to perform compute, networking, storage, and security functions close to where users need them – for example, where data is created in a healthcare setting or manufacturing site.”
Another way to think about it: Edge computing expands the meaning of the traditional IT term “on-premises.” Instead of referring to a physical data center or other centralized location, with edge, the “premises” could be virtually anywhere your applications and data reside.
Once you grasp the concept, the natural next question is: What can I do with edge computing?
This is a very busy area, and some use cases are forward-looking. There’s much ado about the relationship between edge, IoT, and 5G, for example – even if the latter piece of that trio is not quite ready for primetime. But these categories feed off of one another in exciting ways, which creates further interest and excitement.
“Edge is driving [enterprise] 5G adoption and is an enabling platform to run a variety of use cases,” says Shamik Mishra, CTO for connectivity, Capgemini Engineering. “These use cases can benefit from having a massively distributed cloud environment that’s connected to 5G low latency networks. This enables automation, new innovation, and new business models that leverage data and cloud.”
There’s sort of an enterprise power trio of edge-cloud-data emerging here, even if it’s still relatively early days for real-world applications of edge computing.
According to Dean Bogdanovic, CTO of Alef, most enterprises are still in a learning phase with edge computing. The network operators (aka telcos) themselves are the real early adopters with the most deployed use cases, such as virtualized Radio Access Networks and content delivery. Red Hat technology evangelist Gordon Haff notes that vRANs will become an increasingly important use case in 2022.
As operator-driven use cases mature, they’ll pave the way for wider edge adoption and innovation.
Continue reading: https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2022/2/edge-computing-3-ways-you-can-use-it-now
So while the term “edge server” might sound, well, edgy – it really just refers to moving the functions of a traditional server closer to their most optimal location, whether for performance, security, cost, or other reasons.
Here’s how we defined it in one of our previous explainers: “Edge servers exist outside of a traditional data center to perform compute, networking, storage, and security functions close to where users need them – for example, where data is created in a healthcare setting or manufacturing site.”
Another way to think about it: Edge computing expands the meaning of the traditional IT term “on-premises.” Instead of referring to a physical data center or other centralized location, with edge, the “premises” could be virtually anywhere your applications and data reside.
Once you grasp the concept, the natural next question is: What can I do with edge computing?
This is a very busy area, and some use cases are forward-looking. There’s much ado about the relationship between edge, IoT, and 5G, for example – even if the latter piece of that trio is not quite ready for primetime. But these categories feed off of one another in exciting ways, which creates further interest and excitement.
“Edge is driving [enterprise] 5G adoption and is an enabling platform to run a variety of use cases,” says Shamik Mishra, CTO for connectivity, Capgemini Engineering. “These use cases can benefit from having a massively distributed cloud environment that’s connected to 5G low latency networks. This enables automation, new innovation, and new business models that leverage data and cloud.”
There’s sort of an enterprise power trio of edge-cloud-data emerging here, even if it’s still relatively early days for real-world applications of edge computing.
According to Dean Bogdanovic, CTO of Alef, most enterprises are still in a learning phase with edge computing. The network operators (aka telcos) themselves are the real early adopters with the most deployed use cases, such as virtualized Radio Access Networks and content delivery. Red Hat technology evangelist Gordon Haff notes that vRANs will become an increasingly important use case in 2022.
As operator-driven use cases mature, they’ll pave the way for wider edge adoption and innovation.
Continue reading: https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2022/2/edge-computing-3-ways-you-can-use-it-now
