How Does Edge Computing Work & What Are the Benefits?
People keep talking about edge computing and its- but do you know? It’s a relatively new phenomenon that’s only been around since early 2016. Edge computing leverages the processing power of devices near consumers to save time and money by not having to send data as far. In turn, this means that you can get information more quickly, with fewer delays.
What is Edge Computing?
Edge computing is a cloud distribution model in which data and applications are processed as close as possible to their intended end user. The term “edge” comes from the network’s edges closest to users and gathers data from connected devices.
In theory, the closer processing occurs to the edge compute, the faster you can deliver content and services. This is the primary benefit of edge computing. As processing occurs at the network’s boundaries, it can reduce latency and cut down on data transfers. This means that data will be delivered more quickly, and applications will be able to run faster.
How Does Edge Computing Work?
Edge computing captures and compels the information as close to the end-user as possible. When the data reaches the edges, it is aggregated and processed locally. This means less data needs to be sent over long distances because servers can process data nearer to the end-user.
Imagine having to send all of your research documents to a cloud service before you’re able to review them. You’ll have to wait for that data transfer to occur. Furthermore, imagine not being able to access those files while they’re screaming because you don’t have a strong enough internet connection or time on your subscription for smart home platforms.
With edge computing, this will all change. Your data will be stored locally and processed at the edge, which will allow you to conduct quick searches and analyses directly from your device. Furthermore, the more time you spend out and about, the faster your data travels. And with more data being processed locally, you’ll have an even stronger data connection.
Benefits of edge computing
Security
Can you imagine the level of damage a security breach can cause to an IoT system, mainly if it occurs at the central or even the edge? It makes sense to have the most robust security protection at both ends of the network. A breach could easily be avoided if you take your data processing a tiny closer home.
This means that, rather than sending all of your sensitive data across the internet and transferring it between devices, you could work locally, where a breach is less likely to occur. By working locally with local data processing, you reduce the risk of your system being compromised.
Scalability
Edge computing offers high scalability, meaning that the entire infrastructure for edge computing infrastructure is elastic, dynamic, and can adjust to changes in real-time. When you’re dealing with a distributed architecture of underground lighting fixtures, you can scale up or down as your needs change. This is a massive advantage over cloud computing, where infrastructure must be purchased in advance, and growth can occur only at certain times.
Faster Processing
IoT has so many applications working together. If they all use the same central server, the server will be slowed down. But having them processed at the edge will be performed locally and won’t slow down the rest of your system.
Cost-Effectiveness
Large networks are necessary because of the ever-increasing demands placed on the Internet of Things. And when a network’s size expands due to the number of connected devices and real-time applications, the anticipated operating expenditures in IoT systems also increase.
Conclusion
In huge systems like the Internet of Things, edge computing is becoming more prevalent. Edge computing applications are spreading to agile and real-time systems, such as traffic management, self-driving cars, security systems, fleet management, remote monitoring of oil and gas, smart grids, smart cities, and so on, due to its diversity of advantages.