Cloud and edge computing are the only solutions that can provide the agility companies need to better serve their customers and provide their team members with what they need to do their jobs better.
This article is part of our Distributed Enterprise Series
Since its emergence on the technological scene, the cloud has been touted as a revolutionary solution that enables essential resources for companies of all sizes. The ability to replace internal physical infrastructures, the immediate availability of countless services over the Internet, and the potential for interoperability with many digital tools are just a few of the reasons why cloud computing has become so big during the 21st century.
However, demands for higher speeds and better performance have pushed the cloud beyond its own limits. Right now, distributed companies (or companies on the path to becoming one) want a faster experience and more sophisticated services. That's why many of them are already turning to edge computing, which optimizes the use of cloud computing and allows them to maximize the return they get from their assets.
Therefore, both cloud and edge computing are now essential for distributed companies, as they are the only ones that can provide the necessary agility so that companies can better serve their customers and provide their team members with what they need to perform better. your job. Let's see why.
Differences between cloud and edge computing
Before getting into the reasons why cloud computing and edge computing are necessary for modern distributed enterprises, it's important to understand what we mean by these concepts and how they differ from one another.
First, we have cloud computing, which is a style of computing in which a provider offers certain resources through Internet technologies to allow for greater scalability and elasticity. Basically, it involves using centralized servers to provide virtualized computing resources on demand. There are 3 types of cloud computing resources:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Providers rent processing power and storage resources to companies over the Internet.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS). Providers offer cloud-based environments for users to develop and deploy applications without worrying about software or hardware.
- Software as a Service (SaaS). Providers give access to different tools and programs for users to take advantage of without having to download or install them.
And then we have edge computing, which refers to the practice of moving processing power from centralized servers closer to where data is generated and collected. Edge computing has become ubiquitous since the emergence of the Internet of Things, as the interconnected smart sensors that make up this network need faster data processing to function properly.
The idea of “edge” comes from the fact that processing power is not centralized as in cloud computing, but rather at the edges of the network (the places where the devices or sensors that collect data actually are). By putting the processing power there, edge computing can process data faster, as it doesn't need to send it to central servers for processing. This is very important for many applications where speed of response is fundamental, such as in autonomous cars or security sensors.
Therefore, the first difference between cloud computing and edge computing is the location of your processing power . With cloud computing, processors are centralized on large-scale servers placed at the center of the network. With edge computing, this processing power is distributed throughout the network and closer to users.
That's not the only difference. Edge computing has reduced latency, as data does not need to travel long distances to be processed. Their processing capabilities, however, are more limited, even when they do not require a permanent Internet connection. Cloud computing, in turn, requires greater bandwidth and can have longer response times compared to edge computing. However, its processing capabilities are almost unlimited and highly flexible, as it can automatically adjust to new demands.
If you've read these differences carefully, you may have already anticipated what I'm going to say next: cloud computing and edge computing have different uses and are not necessarily opposite to each other. In fact, there may be times when a company needs to use both to achieve better results . This is precisely why both are essential assets for distributed enterprises. Let's explore this in more detail.
An unbeatable and powerful combination
No one can argue that cloud computing laid the foundation for remote work and distributed businesses. Without the possibility of using online tools of all types, distributed teams would not have been possible. Cloud-based tools connected distant teams, enabled real-time collaboration, and provided resources for people to work wherever they were.
However, cloud computing is not enough for some of the challenges modern distributed businesses face. The most urgent are those where response time, latency and resource availability have a direct impact on the user experience.
Let's go back to the example of autonomous cars. These vehicles collect data about the surroundings in real time and provide appropriate responses. As they need to act quickly (think, for example, that they need to reduce speed because of a sign indicating a dangerous curve ahead), cars cannot afford to send the collected data (the sign itself) to a central server for its processing and then wait for the response to actually slow down. In this case, edge computing is an absolute necessity.
However, this does not mean that cloud computing is useless in this example. Collecting performance data and analyzing it on central servers can provide interesting insights that, in turn, can lead to further improvements in navigation systems and the underlying AI. Thus, both edge computing and cloud computing can work in unison to achieve better results.
And that's it, really. Cloud computing and edge computing can join forces to deliver a superior experience across the board . The end user can benefit from the fast responses of edge computing, while the business can leverage the processing power of cloud computing. In a world where IoT implementation is on the rise, this approach seems like the best way forward.
In the context of a distributed enterprise, this combination can work wonders beyond products to end users. Employees can benefit from smart sensors equipped with edge computing, especially when it comes to applications focused on security and improving the performance of the tools they use every day. Combining this with centralized cloud computing can give them more processing power to further power these cutting-edge applications and experiences.
Given this, it is natural to expect that distributed companies will begin to migrate to the limits, seeking efficient content delivery, better performance for their tools and lower latency for their digital ecosystem. All of this can have a positive impact on both employees and users, creating a virtuous cycle of data processing.
This expectation is in line with recent predictions about edge computing. According to Gartner , “Enterprises that have deployed edge use cases in production will grow from about 5% in 2019 to about 40% in 2024.” This number demonstrates that business executives are beginning to realize that while cloud computing is still an important asset, they also need edge computing to unlock the full potential of their distributed enterprises.
This is why some experts are already pointing out that edge computing is one of the key technologies for this year. And that's why you shouldn't wait any longer to take a look at it and consider implementing it to complement your cloud computing infrastructure, because at the end of the day, cloud computing and edge computing are a winning combination that can boost your business.
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