EXPERT OPINION
as fewer opportunities are presented
for cybercriminals to access all data
simultaneously. Delivering and keeping
data in smaller repositories makes it
much simpler to compartmentalise data
according to type and region for example,
instead of having to pull extracts of data
from one central database. It makes for
easier aggregation of data as well as the
provision of analytics in real-time.
Incorporating Edge computing
into your data centre strategy
There will always be a need for centralised
computing – it’s easier to change, re-
organise or analyse data that resides in
a central data centre location. But as we
continue to incorporate more devices
into our everyday lives and businesses,
the ‘data monster’ will keep growing. It’s
estimated that by next year, 1.7MB of data
will be created every second for every
person on earth.
It’s therefore important for data centres to
be aware of this growth in order to adapt
and plan for it.
It is not an easy fix or an instant
adjustment – executing an Edge
computing strategy will take time and
careful planning, as well as resources and
geographical readiness.
Eltjo Hofstee, Managing Director of
Leaseweb UK
check in on them, so systems need to be
reliable and have longevity
Automation – due to location, automation
is key to keep the systems running without
too much manual attention
Self-healing – Edge computing systems
must run with as little management as
possible with any tasks needed being
performed remotely and with ease
WHILE SOME DATA
WILL ALWAYS NEED
TO BE PROCESSED
IN AN ACTUAL
DATA CENTRE,
BUSINESSES
CAN MINIMISE
INTERNET
BANDWIDTH
USAGE AND BOOST
PERFORMANCE
AND
RELIABILITY BY
INCORPORATING
EDGE LOCATIONS.
Scalability – Edge computing needs often
vary depending on the type of business, so
these systems should be able to scale up
and down again
Future proofing the Edge
Don’t put all the focus on the
short-term goals.
When planning, organisations need to ask
themselves where they are now, where
they will be in five years and what will
they do to enable change?
Some key considerations when planning
an Edge computing strategy include:
Easy deployment – as the compute is
often in more remote locations without
full IT staff to attend to it, any Edge
computing strategy needs to be easy and
quick to install and get up and running
Reliability – businesses that rely on Edge
computing can have hundreds of sites and
cannot afford to constantly be travelling to
42
Issue 06
Edge computing is primed to play a
major role in the continuing deployment
of IoT devices.
The online gaming and gambling
industry for example will also start to
drive a different type of IoT market as
controllers strive to provide even more
realistic experiences.
As IoT devices continue to insert
themselves into all aspects of society, the
demand for a solution like Edge computing
will become much stronger.
The time for preparing for Edge computing
and data centres is now. By planning your
strategy ahead of time, you will be better
equipped to serve your customers. ◊
www.intelligentdatacentres.com