What are the features of edge computing?

 Edge computing (EC) allows data generated by the Internet of Things (IoT) to be processed near its source, rather than sending the data over the network to be analyzed at remote servers. IoT devices will eventually handle most processing on their own, but edge computing lets that data move through the network faster and reduces the workload on back-end servers.

Data locality

Edge computing (EC) allows data generated by IoT devices to be processed at or near its source, rather than sending all data to a centralized cloud. Processing at or near IoT endpoints allows businesses to control processing resources more effectively while improving security and saving money on network traffic charges, according to IDC. In order for edge computing systems to function efficiently, there must be a high-speed network backbone in place that supports low-latency transfers between edge nodes and server clusters. This makes data locality a vital feature of an edge compute system.

Optimized latency

The reduced number of hops and faster connections between devices, people, and applications enabled by edge computing can result in as much as a 30-fold increase in application response times. Decreased latency is particularly important for real-time video, voice communication, gaming, and vehicle command and control systems. For example, if an autonomous car has to stop abruptly because a pedestrian unexpectedly enters its path, reducing latency will allow it to begin braking far sooner than before. Reduced latency can also lead to significant improvements in areas such as fraud detection and market surveillance. Consider a security camera that uses edge computing to analyze multiple video streams simultaneously while performing other data analysis tasks. Fraud detection in real time at locations all over a city or even around the world could become possible.

Costs

Edge Computing offers a greater cost-savings opportunity because it allows data to be processed locally instead of sending it to a central location. The combination of lower networking costs and fewer components needed on site lead to fewer system failures, which in turn help businesses improve their systems’ uptime (availability). Edge Computing allows companies to choose when and where updates occur so that updates can be made during times when load is lightest for example, at night. By reducing energy consumption, Edge Computing helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint. Plus, with less hardware being shipped from supplier locations, there's less waste going into landfills. 

 Multiple services

Edge computing (EC) allows data generated by IoT to be processed near its source, rather than sending it all to a centralized cloud-based service. This could help in scenarios when high-quality local processing or services require data from multiple sensors, devices and applications. Edge devices can provide these additional services locally with minimal latency. For example, say you want to develop an AI application that IT job objects around your home using AI algorithms running on edge devices. In such cases, integrating multiple AI models for different kinds of objects in edge devices is easier than in cloud-based servers due to network delay constraints.

 Key players in this market

Cisco, AT&T, Verizon and Ericsson. Edge computing is a service that has been established to have a good business profit margin as it is one of latest technologies in big data and IoT. Key players are beginning to roll out their versions with Cisco expected to launch edge-computing solutions in 2017. In 2016, Verizon announced it will invest $3 billion into building its network for 5G internet and IoT products. Such companies usually implement edge Cloud computing technology on their premises and deliver more reliable networking as well as security solutions to end users. Also it provides reduction on infrastructure cost as all applications will be closer to their source, rather than sending them over long distances.

How edge computing is taking off

From IoT to IIoT, cloud-edge collaboration to edge analytics, there's a lot of hype around edge computing. With some common sense and definition of terms, you can translate that hype into real business value. To do so, you must identify where you can gain efficiency by leveraging edge processing or where your current infrastructure is limiting your ability to use data in new ways. Remember Your infrastructure determines how fast you can process data and how far it travels. Here's a look at how different types of processing can improve both speed and distance while reducing costs

How edge computing can make infrastructure more efficient

Edge computing (EC) is an emerging method for hosting applications and data processing closer to end users in order to reduce latency, increase connectivity, and boost performance. It allows data generated by the Internet of Things (IoT) to be processed near its source, rather than sending it back and forth between edge devices connected through a cloud computing network. One of edge computing’s primary benefits is that it has very little overhead when compared with cloud-based services. By providing immediate access to a wide variety of useful information right where it's needed no internet connection required edge devices can significantly improve operations at manufacturing facilities and distribution centers across multiple industries.