The Internet of Things (IoT) era introduces new network management challenges, such as increases in data volume and flow and latency as data travels over long distances. For many organizations, edge computing provides the answer to both eliminating latency and streamlining the data storage and processing component of interacting with devices.
Here’s your primer on edge computing and what it’s doing for network management:
What edge computing does: Edge computing consists of a mesh of micro data centers processing data from devices nearby. Each data item is analyzed for content and importance, then directed to either a central data processing center or the cloud. It is useful in an IoT environment, where it is beneficial to make processing as local as possible before directing some data to a permanent storage facility.
The benefits of edge computing for network management: Edge computing is valuable in situations where large amounts of data are compiled, but are not necessary for changing a course of behavior. For instance, the monitoring of a manufacturing line may be important, but data only needs to go to a certain location if there is an error or other problem on the line.
This streamlining of data communication allows for critical data to be transmitted to a long-term storage center and reduces the amount of data traveling over network lines.
Edge computing also makes sense where latency is a concern. The healthcare industry utilizes many devices for monitoring patients and inputting data, but latency can be a concern, particularly in an intensive care unit or emergency department. It may even impact the health outcome for a patient. Edge computing allows for mission-critical data to be prioritized over less sensitive information in a streamlining of network management.
Security concerns surrounding edge computing: With every new network management solution, there are questions to address about security. It could be argued that edge computing is safer than other options because data is not traveling over a network and is staying closer to its point of origin. Less data that is transferred to a corporate data center or into the cloud is less data that is vulnerable to compromise.
The opposite could be argued, positing that because edge devices may have a more vulnerable security system, they may be more at risk than a centralized data center or a cloud-based storage solution.
The spread of the IoT in a variety of industries means there needs to be network management that addresses challenges like latency and data processing.
Your business has unique telecom needs, which may include a strategy for handling data transfer from devices in your organization. At Access Tech, we discover, design, and deploy a plan that cuts costs and improves both productivity and performance. Tell us about your goals for the future of your company, and we’ll help you identify the telecom services that will assist you in achieving those goals.