Edge computing is a term that is used when data is to be stored and processed close to the source or users of the data. Instead of sending all data to a central data centre, or retrieving all data from a central location, the data is stored and processed online, saving both time and the cost of large data transfers.
Netflix, for example, has a solution where ISPs can place Netflix servers in their web. These servers are updated with the movies and series that users in this web watch most often. This means that a Netflix customer who wishes to watch a popular movie will have it delivered from a server nearby, which increases the speed and saves the ISP the substantial costs associated with international data transfer.
Today, edge computing is widely used in conjunction with 5G and IoT Edge, where the processing and analysis of data from IoT devices (objects connected to the internet) is carried out at the "edge" of the web, instead of the raw data being sent directly from the device to a cloud service. Either the device itself can cleanse, aggregate and analyse the data or, if it does not have the resources to do this (e.g. devices that should be capable of operating on a battery for years), then the data is sent to a service close to the device. Processed and aggregated data is then sent to the cloud.
The combination of 5G networks and edge computing enables the development of new technological solutions which were previously too expensive or difficult to establish, as well as the improvement of existing technologies.
As more equipment is connected to the internet, more data will become available. To accommodate the volume of data, companies must have a solid digital platform that can process the information. More and more companies are therefore switching to modern cloud solutions which can handle greater data volumes.
Edge computing is also responsible for ever-heavier data processing. This means that Edge platforms should be administered and integrated with respect to other cloud platforms in the most cost-effective way possible.
Cegal does not work directly with Edge computing at present, but we have many consultants within AI technology.
Find out more about our services within Data and Analytics >