Business on the Edge

Name: Xplore Business
Address: 5 Granite Road, Brandon, MB, R7A 7V2, Canada
Telephone: 855-638-7381
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What exactly are edge computing and edge networking, and what can they do for your business?

If you pay attention to what’s happening in the world of technology, chances are you’ve already heard someone talking about “the edge.”

Computing on the edge. Processing data on the edge. Networking on the edge.

But what does any of that even mean?

In today’s technology landscape, where massive amounts of data need to be processed online every minute of the day, the edge is adding new efficiencies and speed to our online capabilities. It helps process data more quickly, even when there’s a lot of that data coming in. And that lets businesses stay on track, with all of their devices, servers and applications working efficiently.

But how does the edge actually work? And what’s the difference between edge computing and edge networking? Let’s look at each in turn.

What Is Edge Computing?

Edge computing works on the “edge” of a cloud network, allowing devices and servers to process data closer to their physical location, to act more quickly and benefit from lower latency. It’s especially ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which require real-time data processing to thrive. But it’s also great for devices in remote or rural locations, where data may have to travel further to get to centralized data centres.

Edge computing is enabled by telecom providers through micro data centres and partnerships with cloud providers, allowing them to disperse data processing away from centralized cloud data centres. Edge computing is also closely linked to 5G technology, helping to ensure low latency in 5G networks while 5G keeps processing speeds high, allowing edge computing to thrive.

Edge computing can help businesses save money and stay productive while allowing certain Internet services to run more smoothly. It can add to your overall bandwidth, enable real-time business decisions and give you more control over your sensitive data. It also better empowers applications like virtual reality or cloud gaming, which require low response times to work best.

But there are a variety of other use cases for edge computing too. For example, it offers faster response times and quicker data processing for autonomous vehicles, patient monitoring in healthcare and monitoring of remote facilities in the oil and gas industry. And that’s just the start of its potential use cases.

What Is Edge Networking?

Edge networking, on the other hand, also works on “the edge.” But while edge computing is focused on moving data processing closer to where that data is being used, edge networking utilizes the edge to distribute all aspects of connectivity and your application workloads.

In other words, edge networking distributes your application workloads across the edge to make them more reliable and improve performance. It also helps businesses stay less reliant on individual data centres.

Through specialized branch routers and network edge routers, an edge network helps take traffic away from the main network and cuts out any bottlenecks that might otherwise exist. All of which builds new efficiencies into your networking capabilities.

Edge networking is especially useful in distributed workforces or businesses with multiple locations, as it allows those businesses to optimize the infrastructure they already have without more major investments.

Conclusion

The edge isn’t going anywhere. Not when it can help build new efficiencies and increase performance in the way you do business. By integrating the edge into your business connections, you can make the most out of the technologies you use and get more from your workforce as a whole.

The result? A more productive, high-performance business.

Find out more about Xplore Business connectivity options. Contact a Client Executive today.