11 Ways Edge Computing Can Improve Your Cloud Computing Strategy

The larger the amount of data and applications that are stored off-premise, the greater the concerns related to speed, security, and expenses. 

Enter edge computing, which is a distributed computing model that brings data processing and applications closer to users, devices, and other IoT-connected nodes. Still, a nascent technology, edge computing, is already positioning itself as the new cloud, aimed at helping solve some of the bothersome issues while supporting more innovative advancements such as Artificial Intelligence and the fifth generation of mobile technology, also known as 5G. 

In this post, we will delve into the 11 approaches that smart IT managers can use to incorporate edge computing into their cloud computing plans. 

1. Lower-Than-Expected Bills Bring Satisfaction

Increasingly, petabyte-scale IaaS clouds are becoming more unpredictable as their usage rises. Edge computing decentralizes computations by bringing them closer to the sources of original data, which minimizes traffic and workloads sent to the cloud. 

This relieves the load on cloud servers and databases, thereby reducing the charges that accompany computing and data transfer. Fewer data packets traveling over long distances also lead to lower network connectivity charges. Cost-conscious buyers find mobile edge computing to be a boon to their IT operations.  

2. Step-Up Results For Distributed Workers  

Users engage with cloud applications and virtual desktops in organizations’ distributed workplaces globally. However, they increase latency, which significantly affects the performance and productivity at large distances. 

This is solved by mobile edge computing, which puts miniature data centers nearer to the users. Instead of reaching out to apps located thousands of miles away, users are provided with local access to an edge site. There, quick caching and processing assist apps in functioning smoothly. The advancement of edge solutions enhances the productivity of distributed teams by enhancing the responsiveness of applications in the cloud.

3. Power Next-Gen Technologies   

Advancements in 5G, IoT, AI, and simulation technologies offer the exciting prospect of restructuring business and society. However, many are very intensive in terms of data, requiring considerable and virtually real-time connection and data processing. 

But sometimes cloud computing can not provide such capabilities to manage large networks of devices. This is where integrating the cloud with local edge resources proves to be beneficial. Edge 5G in smart factory robots is used for accurate position control. Thus, mobile edge computing, complementing the cloud, lays the groundwork for disruptive advancements.

4. Bolster Cyber Resilience  

Of course, the more organizations adopt the cloud computing system, the more vulnerable they become to cyber threats since valuable information is kept in a central database. Edge solutions stand in contrast to this model with multiple nodes, thus preventing data concentrations. 

This minimally exposes the edge site if the site is compromised. In the same way, edge networks help to process some data locally before sending only the results to the cloud. The type of segmentation shown above correlates with the best cyber security practices, such as the zero-trust model. When weighing the benefits of the cloud against the threat of cyber incidents, mobile edge computing provides decentralized protection for CIOs.

5. Enable Effective Data Management

The ever-growing, ubiquitous cloud data lakes pose management and analysis problems. Finally, the dispersed nature of edge solutions helps rein this in. These data reduction and analysis practices are implemented at the edge to filter out junk that should not even go to cloud destinations. 

The choice of which data to retain and which to discard shrinks, allowing organizations to get better value from their cloud data repositories. Fewer instances of writing data to these services also help with compliance, as it thwarts accumulation problems. In other words, edge intelligence is ideal in data-driven IT departments where data integrity is valued.  

6. Boost App Reliability  

As it will be illustrated, Cloud outages, while rare, guarantee that applications hosted in the cloud will inherit availability problems. This is addressed by cloud computing through nodes that add redundancy and failover to compute infrastructure. 

This means that if cloud resources are no longer available, vital applications will continue to execute at edge nodes. This resiliency minimizes the time that employees are out of service or away from selling and thus reduces the company’s revenue loss. The integration of cloud computing with cloud apps and platforms improves the overall application robustness and company resilience.

7. Facilitate Scalability  

This means that even the mightiest of cloud data centers have their limits of elasticity and performance penalties. Edge Solutions has a rather convenient method of bringing extra capacity online and nearby whenever required. 

Temporary edge resources are more economical for addressing the extra demand on cloud workloads during Black Friday sales, the launch of a new product, or similar events. This enables organizations to grow and standardize without incurring high costs. The elasticity edge enabling cloud computing unlocks helps ease the management of growth.  

8. Keep Data Compliant  

Tight rules on data localization and sovereignty are significant obstacles because they undermine the convenience of cloud hosting; these rules prevent global companies from moving data freely across borders. Such mandates fit local edge data centers better, as these localize processing and storage within compliant geographies. 

This makes it easier to adhere to compliances, thus allowing international business entities to embrace the use of the cloud and at the same time recognize varying data laws across the world. It also decreases the costs of compliance and the associated dangers.

9. Drive Operation and Efficiency 

As illustrated in the map below, adding new edge sites near local facilities, suppliers, and operation centers facilitates JIT coordination. As opposed to leaning on remote cloud applications, edge-based analytics and inventory tracking solutions offer real-time insights. 

Closely related to the former point, supply chain and logistics personnel exchange information more frequently to improve the functioning of the supply chain. Real-time, complex algorithms for the computation of wind farm operations work within the turbines. It, therefore, paves the way for huge productivity improvements and cost reductions in business processing.

10. Support Strategic Initiatives

Strategic projects such as new product development or M&A target evaluation require sensitive information to be collected, analyzed, and protected. Using only an external cloud application may not encourage enough confidence for such ventures among unenthusiastic leadership groups. Local edge solutions solve this issue by hosting proprietary data on-premises while utilizing cloud strengths. Such hybrid setups provide key decision makers with comfortable assurance to deploy cloud tools for critical strategic processes where necessary.

11. Pioneer New Business Models  

Apart from business-to-internal-use cases, pioneering organizations leverage edge computing to create fascinating new external services. As the future job titles show, edge functions are the key to such innovations as autonomous vehicle networks, smart communities, precision agriculture, AR-enhanced entertainment, and numerous other groundbreaking business models. 

The solutions combine the advantages of local processing with the scalability and dependability of cloud technology to provide extraordinary consumer experiences. And it is with edge computing that the leading enterprises can diversify service delivery and get a hold of new revenues.

Final Thoughts

Experienced IT managers and directors have started to look at edge computing as a critical component of their cloud solutions. Collaboration with specialist edge providers also enables using available turnkey edge infrastructure, solutions, and talent, which helps save resources. This helps IT teams concentrate more on exploring new, exciting, cutting-edge services to market rather than spending their time establishing the fundamentals of edge computing from the ground up. Thus, it is logical to outline an overarching edge computing strategy to lead such innovative endeavors effectively.

Read More: What Tools and Platforms Support Edge and Cloud Computing Integration?