The future of data centers is already on its way. With the data racks and server racks capable of guaranteeing a power density that is 100 times more than that of a large commercial office building, data center products only have one way to go: up! Or, in the case of edge computing, out.
These smaller centers put computing resources at the “edge” of the network for close proximity to the devices that clients and consumers rely on every single day. With over 40% of enterprising IT organizations expected to utilize an edge computing strategy this year, it’s only fitting that we take a look at some of the myths surrounding this booming technology.
MYTH: Edge Computing Is Resource-Intensive
FACT: Although edge computing requires on-premises resources beyond that of a typical data center, the resources required can be quite minimal. These infrastructures can be as small as an IoT device, or as large as a micro data center of multiple computing appliances. With edge computing, resources can be adjacent to other systems and data center products; they don’t always need to be purchased outright.
MYTH: Edge Computing Doesn’t Require Change
FACT: Building out an edge network means changing the way you manage and run data centers, it’s as simple as that. Having hardware deployed in modular buildings on remote sites (that often take time to reach) forces organizations to construct something closer to a cellular network; you’ll no longer have everything you need in one single massive building. Network performance within or near a data center is often taken for granted due to its standard high-availability connectivity and power systems; on the edge, it’s an absolute necessity.
MYTH: Edge Computing Is One-Size-Fits-All
FACT: Edge data centers change based on what is required of them. An installation could be anything from a single server to a self-contained rack of 20 or 30 servers. Remember that edge centers act as individual nodes that support business needs by taking high computing speeds and storage space directly where consumers are located; this will inevitably be different for each business, so the one-size-fits-all approach does not apply.
We may still be at the very beginning of discovering what edge data centers are capable of, but the future certainly looks bright.