As discussed in our previous blog, to ensure GDPR compliance, you must store your data in the right location. And for that, Edge Cloud computing has been emerging from the cloud innovation mill. But what is it, and how can it help companies comply with regulations?
Let’s say that you want the benefits of a public cloud without building a massive data center. With Edge Cloud computing, you can create a hundred mini public clouds and place them exactly where you want – in specific countries or regions.
A Localized Public Cloud
Edge means “edge of the network” – keep your data close to your bandwidth and its technical factors determine its benefits. Edge computing creates a group of mini interrelated public clouds – a tiny version of a vast, remote hyperscale data center. It’s closer, more accessible, and has many advantages. In most cases, when using public clouds data must be transmitted and processed over a network – from a public cloud server such as those located at Azure, AWS, Google, or IBM Cloud.
Edge clouds bring infrastructure closer to the data, closer to the bandwidth and effectively reduces lag times and latency. And by having your data closer, you can make better use of your network bandwidth – saving your company money in the process.
This technology poses strong competition to public clouds in some use cases, but there are differences and different use cases. It’s still in its infancy phase. Anyone can build one, even now – but the challenge comes in managing and bringing it together effectively.
Why Low Latency Is Critical
Companies all over the world rely on low latency times. For example, when you withdraw cash from an ATM, a connection is made over a network to your bank to verify your transaction. Your balance needs to be checked to see if there’s enough money to withdraw.
Latency is the amount of time it takes the network to process the request from the ATM. And for you to withdraw money fast – low latency is critical.
Another example of when latency can have an impact is on ticket websites. If 20,000 people attempt to buy tickets simultaneously for an event, with only 10,000 tickets available, the orders for the lowest latency ticket buyers would be the first to go through, possibly leaving some people without. I’ve oversimplified it here, but this illustrates the example well.
Of course, systems are intelligent and understand this. But still, latency can be an actual issue for many companies with apps. The main problem is syncing data with requests in an effective way.
Edge Makes Data Fast And Local
The need for faster transaction times and less latency is a significant innovative trigger now for Edge Cloud. By moving the computing location and bandwidth as close as possible to the data source, processing times can get effectively reduced. Companies currently have three options building compute infrastructure:
- On-premise (own) data centers
- Co-location in a fully managed hosting environment (a Managed Service Provider)
- Cloud with a “pay as you go” service model
But Edge Cloud is a different animal. It’s a portable micro data center that reduces the distance between the processing of the data and its use point. And the distance is much shorter than a public cloud. As a result of the reduced proximity, companies enjoy less latency, more bandwidth, and, ultimately, better compliance. Some applications must process time-sensitive data. Or your location might be very remote. These situations are suited to Edge Cloud.
Improved Mobile Bandwidth
You also see Edge computing combined with mobile networks. 5G mobile networks are now being rolled out worldwide. The technology promises speeds up to 10 Gbits per second (yes gigabits). That is 100 times faster than 4G. If you have a 5G data plan, processing capability gets even faster when combined with an Edge Cloud mini data center – which could be installed next to the 5G tower or access point. Many telecom companies are doing this already.
In many places, mobile networks with 5G now have better bandwidth than standard cabled access and WiFi. And with unlimited data, faster speeds, and often more bandwidth – a cabled internet connection is no longer needed. Edge Cloud proliferation will benefit from this technological leap. The author has already ditched cable-based internet, living fairly remote, but luckily close to a 4G tower where speeds vary from 60 – 100 Mbits per second depending upon the network load. 5G will make the bandwidth here ubiquitous.
However, mobile security is an issue that rightly so, gets more attention. Public clouds first drew valid questions about security yet are now generally safer than on-premise data centers, Edge Cloud will go through this phase as it gains more acceptance as an innovative technology.
Given all of these positives, it’s clear that interest in and use of Edge Cloud computing will accelerate in the next few years.
Contact us today to see how we can help you orchestrate and future-proof your cloud infrastructure.