The next big thing in technology shift is Edge Computing

Although cloud computing continues to play an important role in modern network architecture, the exciting possibilities offered by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which are capable of processing the data they gather closer to the source, are forcing companies to rethink their approach to IT infrastructure. Often touted as the “next big thing,” .

As many companies are wondering how edge computing differs from more traditional data processing solutions and how it could benefit their business. Edge computing not only has the ability to deliver a direct on-ramp to a company’s preferred cloud platform, but it also can help achieve flexibility and nimbleness when it comes to ensuring a streamlined, efficient IT infrastructure. There are challenges that demonstrate the growing need for an alternative to cloud computing.

Cloud computing is an inherently centralized computing paradigm. Edge Computing is a decentralized topology that is based on keeping data local, at the ‘edge’ of the network, as close to the source as possible. Today’s IoT devices are capable of gathering, storing, and processing more data than ever before. This opens up opportunities for companies to optimize their networks and relocate more processing functions closer to where data is gathered at the network edge.

As the data in cloud computing networks are centralized, with data being gathered on the outermost edges and transmitted back to the main servers for processing. This architecture grew out of the fact that most of the devices located near the edge lacked the computational power and storage capacity to analyze or process the data they collected. Even as more devices became capable of connecting to networks over cellular and WiFi, their functionality was relatively limited by their hardware capabilities.