Edge computing provides the capability to collect and analyze data at or near its source, rather than sending it to a central server or cloud for processing and analysis. This capability ensures that potential problems can be quickly detected and corrected before they cause lost productivity and costly downtime. Edge computing doesn’t replace on-premises data centers or cloud environments, it complements them. The edge delivers the right information to the right place to enable real-time decisions and actions. This new infrastructure involves sensors to collect data and edge servers to securely process data in real time onsite, while also connecting other devices, like laptops and smartphones, to the network.
Edge computing is important because it creates new and improved ways for industrial and enterprise-level businesses to maximize operational efficiency, improve performance and safety, automate all core business processes, and ensure always-on availability. It is a leading method to achieve full digital transformation of your business.
Real-World Challenges at the Edge
Less IT equipment and space at the Edge can cause management and processing issues.
Slower and more expensive Internet connectivity are required.
Fewer onsite IT staff means remote access from the corporate headquarters to commodity IT equipment in the edge location can be challenging, with limited remote management tools and no hands-on capabilities.
Solving Challenges with an Edge Computing Platform
Monitoring and control at the edge.
Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) data collection and analysis.
Cloud/enterprise IT architecture issues such as performance, latency, bandwidth, security, and proximity.
Building Your Business Case for an Edge Computing Platform
Better security: Secure operations can be maintained with modern edge computing platforms, closing the gap created by sensors, interprocess communication (IPCs), standard servers, and other smart edge devices.
Greater flexibility: As customer demands change, edge computing enables the scaling or shifting of operations to meet their needs.
Reduced ongoing support burden: In the same way that reducing repetitive tasks saves time, fewer physical machines will reduce the time your IT staff spends troubleshooting hardware problems, managing upgrades and patches, and performing backups.
Reduced engineering hours and greatly improved productivity: Instead of performing a single task multiple times on multiple physical machines, the task is only performed once.
Simplicity: Edge computing platforms are easy to install, deploy, and manage across applications and existing infrastructure, and scale to new areas of operation.
Stronger competitive advantage: Moving from physical machines to virtual machines provides a competitive advantage for end users. Virtualization protects data analytics and systems in a simple and secure environment that’s easy to deploy and helps reduce the number of PCs and software licenses needed, in order to save costs while driving strong performance. This approach also allows for protected data by offering high availability and software fault tolerance.
Data availability, integrity, and protection: Critical business operations and applications must be always available in order to collect and analyze the data needed to make decisions that impact the business. There can be no downtime. But this data also must be protected, secure, and free from integrity issues. Data security and redundancy ensures that no data is lost. Edge computing platforms, such as the Stratus portfolio, provide the highest levels of availability as part of a simple, protected, and autonomous set of solutions for customers.