Is cloud computing dying already?
The internet of things (IOT) is real and is a huge part of the cloud. But with companies predicting cloud traffic to fourfold by 2020 we need a solution that has a significant computing power, improvises on machine learning and can handle volumes of data from across devices.
Watching the pace at which IOT and cloud computing are creating a storm, controlling both these would be unmanageable. It’s bound to get wild.
Here enters a whole new revolution of computing- ‘Edge computing’ Basically, we will now see data being processed and stored at the device level itself.
What is edge computing?
Going into the details — Edge computing is the power of processing data at the edge of a network instead of holding that power in a cloud or a centralised system.
It consist of three essential elements-
- Available and distributed sensing — It consists of low-cost sensors that will not eat much power and would be internet connected via open protocols
2. Affordable and solid data storage solutions
3. Real time computing — Immediate and time sensitive solutions with the help of local processing
The goal is to process data that it requires near the device as quickly possible, so as to act on it. Over time, reaction value is going to hold key value in IOT systems, which is why moving data back and forth from the cloud prevents the quick reaction.
Potential devices
Just when companies were getting warm with cloud computing it is already being chased by edge computing. Devices like autonomous cars, commercial and consumer drones, physical security, home automation are going to require a rapid processing- so fast, that sending data to the cloud and waiting for an answer will simply be too slow.
Will Cloud Computing become extinct?
Looking at the possibilities of edge computing companies are ready to replace cloud computing and move on to the next paradigm. Cloud computing will not vanish completely, it will just have a different role to play in data processing.
Instead, it will be used for processing data for machine learning and will act as an agent for more immediate data processing needs.
All the public cloud providers have IOT strategies and technology stacks that will include edge computing in future. While both edge and cloud can work in harmony
Edge is for purpose-built systems that have special needs.
Cloud computing is a more general-purpose platform that works on an old system.
Shift of computing cycles
The concept of processing the data at the edge has been used previously. Computing has undergone massive cycles of change, shifting from centralised to distributed and back to centralised.
It is highly possible that the next system developments in computing would be distributed again. When we reach a point where the number of devices exceeds the number of humans, this will lead to a rise in technological advancements, which will force us to change in the way we think about computing in future.
Need for speed
One of the main reasons company are now switching to edge computing is because of the need for speed and pure practicality.
Certain machines are sensitive to latency, these automated devices need to make a decision in a fraction of second and the current cloud system is just time-consuming and delays the response.
Moving swiftly between devices will only be possible we have a faster system in place. Edge computing will efficiently store and will be more time-sensitive in its approach.
Processing massive data
Think about a self-driving car, it is a data center on four wheels, a drone is a data center with wings and a robot is a data center with arms and legs. These devices are developed to process a vast amount of data that has to be processed in real-time.
Any amount of lag or even the tiniest latency to pass information between these systems and the cloud takes too long. Edge computing will help process vast amount of data smoothly.
Early Bird Entry
Popular companies like AWS and Microsoft are always looking out for something new, so there is no doubt that they are already in the process of developing products aimed towards the edge market already.
AWS- Greengrass- provides computing services directly linked with IOT devices when public cloud devices aren’t available for whatever reason.
Microsoft- Azure stock- offers public cloud services in a data centre, giving the customer public cloud-like resources at the data-centre level without having to move it back and forth from the cloud computing
Look at the popularity of this system, in no matter of time other vendors will start entering this space offering their own versions of edge computing.
Will Edge Computing last long enough?
Today, almost most of the large-scale business across different sectors require near-instant data to be successful. Edge computing pushes applications, data and computing power from the centralised systems to logical extremes of the network. This empowers the company by helping them put the data in the right place at the right time along with a fast and secure access.
Adopting edge computing would result in better client experience which is often a strategic advantage.
Apart from that, new applications that are based on virtual reality and artificial intelligence have a requirement of collecting and processing massive data. Most of this data is real-time with extremely low latency that needs to process data at the edge of the network.
Conclusion
If edge computing is put to use, we are going to be witnessing a deep impact on computing. With this big move, there will also be advancements in ways of programming, security, storing data and will begin with a new perspective on machine learning.
This field of edge computing is going to shower us with new challenges and opportunities for IT professionals and entrepreneurs.
