How Edge Computing is Reshaping the Internet of Things (IoT)

The headlong rush of modern innovation has brought aboutamazing products and services that make life today easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable than ever before. Many of these improvements are the by-product of automation and the connectivity that the internet has made possible. The internet of things continues to drive these changes, particularly when edge computing is leveraged to maximize IoT’s capabilities.

Why Edge Computing Systems Are Necessary

The sheer volume of data being produced by IoT devices is staggering. Cloud computing allowed massive amounts of data to be centralized and analyzed, reducing the computing resources needed on-site, which transformed the way almost every business and industry did their work. 

As IoT devices become more prevalent and the volume of data collection grows exponentially, ironically, the need for more computing power on-site becomes crucial for effective IoT operations. Analyzing this data on the edge of the network (using fog computing and edge computing) as opposed to on the public cloud reduces a host of issues, allowing for quicker and more effective usage of IoT device data.

According to a recent interview with tech experts edge computing specialists NTT said “Edge computing can benefit businesses with an office full of employees, factories with a mix of employees and IoT devices, and warehouses that use IoT devices. However, the security that private 5G can give you should be in addition to any zero trust [security] implementation that you have. It is not a replacement for zero trust”

How Does the IoT Benefit from Edge Computing?

• Time-Sensitive Data

Some of the data collected and processed by IoT devices is time sensitive, meaning that it needs to be analyzed, processed, and acted upon quickly for it to be of any use. Alarm systems are an example of a system that depends on time sensitive data processing for effective operations. 

• Real-Time Analytics

Real-time analytics is crucial in the development and evolution of many industries, including self-driving cars. The ability to gather data about every aspect of a driving experience and use it, in real-time, to inform the systems of how to operate in the future is one of the amazing benefits of using edge computing in conjunction with IoT devices.

• Industrial, Manufacturing and Automation Applications

Using edge computing within the industrial and manufacturing space has changed the way these processes will continue to be done in the future. Using these edge computing models (with IoT devices) has allowed for better predictive maintenance, enhanced quality control and many other innovations.

• Less Reliance on Cloud Computing and Centralized Data Centers

Centralized data centres are great but for those businesses that create and analyze large volumes of data on-site, less reliance on the cloud is beneficial for operational, financial and efficiency reasons.

• Fewer Internet Connectivity Concerns

Many edge devices can operate with no or little internet connectivity, creating a level of peace of mind for any operations that are located in remote regions with poor internet service.

• Reduced Operational Costs

Sending large swaths of data over the internet has downsides other than the amount of time it takes. It is also expensive. By analyzing and processing data on the edge, you save money on internet costs.

• Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is finding its way into more and more applications across industries, touching most digital businesses in one way or another. The value of edge computing is particularly notable with AI solutions because of the volume and number of data streams that are typically consumed by the average AI program.