Exploring 4 Types of Edge Computing and How They Are Used

Edge computing plays a key role in today’s distributed IT environment and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It brings compute and storage resources closer to users and devices where data is generated and consumed, enabling faster processing by reducing the distance that data must travel over the network. This improves the user experience and empowers real-time decision-making. In fact, Gartner projects that by 2025, 75% of enterprise-generated data will be created and processed outside of a centralized data center or cloud.

Obviously, the edge is more than one place. The edge model can be broken down based on the physical location of the computing resources. This roughly relates to the amount of network latency acceptable for the particular use case.

Following are four types of edge computing and how they are used to optimize the applications and services they support.

Device Edge

Also known as the IoT edge, the device edge encompasses a broad assortment of sensors, motors, machines, and processors that connect to the network. For a connected city, the IoT edge might include smart parking meters, lighting systems, and video cameras, while a retail store might have kiosks and electronic shelf labels. Smart cars, medical devices, smart vending machines, and more can be found on the device edge. While the types of devices are diverse, what unites them is the need for very low latency — typically 1 ms or less.

Branch Edge

As the name implies, the branch edge refers to an organization’s branch locations. It differs from the device edge in that it has a greater amount of computing power. The IT resources at the branch edge support a specific business-critical function, such as a point-of-sale application in a retail store or an electronic medical records (EMR) system in a doctor’s office. The branch edge may also aggregate, store, and process data from IoT devices, providing more compute power while still minimizing latency.

Enterprise Edge

An organization with multiple branch locations in a given geography may opt to aggregate computing resources for these locations to share. In this model, resources are implemented at the shared site rather than at each location. This type of edge computing provides economies of scale in terms of both compute power and operational processes. However, the enterprise edge is closer to branch edge sites than the corporate data center and thus provides low-latency benefits.

Data Center Edge

Can the data center be the edge? As more organizations migrate applications and services to the public cloud, they are building out smaller edge data centers for specific use cases and events. Rather than being centralized in corporate headquarters, these data centers are deployed closer to users to reduce latency. Some are even built into shipping containers for portability and rapid deployment. The data center edge may also be used for disaster management. 

All Types of Edge Computing Need a Strong Foundation

Regardless of the deployment model, edge computing requires a solid foundation — racks and cabinets, power, cooling, physical security, and management. In many cases, however, space is limited, and conditions are far from optimal. That’s why Enconnex has developed the EdgeRack line of micro data centers for edge computing.

Our EdgeRack cabinets are self-contained units with everything you need in a small footprint:

• The EdgeRack 3P has an integrated, self-contained cooling system that delivers up to 3.5kW of efficient cooling capacity. It also features power management, a UPS, environmental sensors, remote monitoring/management, and intuitive controls on a touchscreen display.
• The EdgeRack Industrial 8M includes a self-contained, side-mounted cooling unit that delivers up to 8kW of cooling capacity and has a built-in condensate water processing unit that eliminates the need for drainage pipes. Designed for harsh environments, it is NEMA 12 and IP55 rated to protect against dust and moisture.

Both EdgeRack cabinets are manufactured to the highest standards and engineered for plug-and-play simplicity. Learn more about our micro data centers for sale and contact our edge computing experts to discuss your use case.