Edge Computing
Edge computing is a distribution of the efficiency phenomenon of computation and storage of data towards the location of the generation of these data, for example, IoT devices rather than relying entirely on the cloud or on data centres. While definition limitations to the edge computing concept relate to the place where data is generated, this computation can be done anywhere around the network’s perimeter at the connection of devices such as mobile phones, laptops, sensors, industrial robots and more.
The Need for Edge Computing
This notion of centralized data processing is becoming obsolete and inefficient as there has been an upsurge in the Internet of Things (IoT).
The infrastructure needed for data centres and the provision of cloud services is also costly as there is a need to cater for the huge amounts of data processed and generated by the IoT. Additionally, some use cases such as industry all but require instantaneous interactivity. For instance, how a data centre defers a call to an end user for assessment as it analyses collected information can be damaging due to latency in highly sensitive scenarios.
Advantages of Edge Computing
There are some benefits that come with edge computing:
Reduced Latency: Embracing edge computing reduces the period of time from when a device is given instruction or an action is expected to be executed. This leads to quicker response rates.
For instance, in a petroleum plant, instead of waiting for ‘high pressure’ data readings transmitted for processing in a remote data centre, the downstream refinery control may issue high pressure trip command orders almost instantaneously from plant sensors.
Lower Bandwidth Cost: Further, in edge computing devices, edge devices can also reduce the amount of data sent over previous networks expense by first processing or filtering data before it is sent over to a more centralized location.
Better System Scalability: Edge computing breaks down computing resource constraints by the use of a number of devices thereby making it possible to increase in the number of devices interconnected to the system with less difficulty.
Challenges of Edge Computing
Edge computing is also beneficial, but it has drawbacks:
Even though edge computing is beneficial in many aspects, it also bears certain worrisome aspects:
Security Concerns: Edge computing devices are often deployed in less secure areas which make them susceptible to security attacks.
Safeguarding these devices and the information they collect are of utmost importance.
Single Point of Failure: It is also possible for the edge device itself to be a single point of failure.
Network topologies should also have redundancy and failover methods to saddle standby devices so as to avoid client application downtimes when primary edge device fails.
The Trends in Edge Computing
A great deal of Progress has been made in the sector on how to meet the demands and challenges of edge computing which is on fast track to grow to be mainstream.
As applications that need near real time latency like self-driving cars and smart cities start to increase in number with time, the edge computing demand is expected to skyrocket.
add security challenges and other challenges of edge computing
Security, Risks, And Other Problems Associated with Edge Computing.
While the advantages of computing at the edge like better latency and reduced bandwidth costs no doubt exist, some challenges are inevitable. One of the most important of these is the issue of safety. Security breaches are possible with edge devices as they are usually used in a range of locations that are not very secure.
For instance, edge computers in a factory may be placed on the factory floor, hence, risking them to being physically interfered with, or damaged by other factors.
It is very important to secure such devices as well as the information they gather.
Since data is one of the most prized possessions of any organization, every device that aims to store data on its infrastructure becomes an easy target for hackers. If successful, such devices will assist in compromising other devices within the same network.
This signifies that security measures are required to be enforced on every layer of the Edge computing architecture, right from the devices to the networks they base themselves on. Another concern is the chances of having a single point of failure.
Edge devices have the potential of also becoming single points of failure in that they can be responsible for the entire system or section of it in case that one device fails. However, this can be managed by ensuring that the network architecture used is able to support a certain degree of redundancy and failover contingencies.
As an illustration deploying several edge devices within a cluster means that in the unfortunate event of the failure of one device, the functions that device performed can seamlessly be picked by the other devices.
Lastly, controlling and managing a significant population of scattered edge devices is a considerable challenge. This consists of activities such as installing software on the devices, setting it up, checking its status, and also upgrading it. These are some of the tasks that can be made easier by the use of containerization platforms and edge management solutions.
