Edge computing, the process of bringing compute and storage closer to where it’s needed, has some obvious benefits, including:
- Reduced latency from workloads being closer to data
- Improved data security
- Reduced bandwidth needs
Despite these benefits—and the rapid increase in edge computing as a whole—there remain a number of myths about what edge computing can actually mean for a company.
In an article from The Enterprisers Project, writer Stephanie Overby has provided a useful guide for helping organizations understand what edge computing is and, more importantly, what it is not. The piece is well worth reading in full, but here we’d like to highlight—and debunk—three main myths about computing at the edge.
Myth 1:
Edge computing is a cloud killer
This, in our opinion, could not be further from the truth. The major cloud providers have embraced the edge with solutions that extend their offerings out of their cloud environments with tools such as Google Anthos, Azure Arc, and AWS Outposts.
The investment and innovation made by the cloud providers signal, not only is the edge a cloud killer, it’s an immense opportunity for the providers to expand their services beyond their own massive datacenters.
Myth 2:
Edge computing and IoT are one and the same
Yes, edge computing complements IoT, but it’s not the only use case.
Take one of our edge projects, where our customer needed pods deployed to aggregate geography dispersed workloads without communicating with the core. Or our work with a retail organization that needed help building cloud-native edge solutions that provide better customer experiences while also enhancing the stability of their operation platforms.
In other words, edge computing already has more than one purpose, and there are sure to be other purposes coming down the road.
Myth 3:
Edge computing is theoretical or immature
Again, this is incorrect. The reality is that a number of companies across industries are already leveraging edge computing models and reaping the benefits.
That number is only going to increase as 5G technology continues to roll out, offering consistently high-speed connectivity wirelessly. When systems like point of sale are made all the more portable, the very idea of what constitutes a location will change.
At the end of the day …
Edge computing is, in many ways, still in its infancy.
As the forward march of technology continues, new innovations—and new ways for organizations to leverage the edge—are going to arrive. That means having an understanding of what edge computing is (and what it is not) sooner rather than later will turn into a competitive advantage.
Did you know you can optimize your operations, reduce costs, and deliver better experiences for your customers with edge solutions? Learn more in our white paper Taking it to the Edge. Get your free copy now.
