The network edge has become more complex and harder to define as the expansion of digital strategies has driven more and more processes away from centralized processing. Edge computing is expected to experience more growth and churn as data is increasingly handled at branch locations and extended out to mobile devices and business partners.
From investing in software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) to interconnected cloud solutions that link enterprises with partners and the Internet of Things (IoT), the perimeter of the cloud is changing dramatically. In fact, Gartner reports that by 2023, over 50% of enterprise data will be processed away from the cloud or a data center, a major growth from 10% in 2019.
Edge computing is part of a shift in how technologies are supported, with information processing, creation, and delivery occurring closer to the sources of the information. The result is a reduction in network latency, as well as improving autonomy at the edge.
This shift is also impacted by the changing scope of WAN networks. Enterprises no longer operate within a model whose boundaries are comprised of the brand edge and data center edge. The boundaries now comprise individual devices on one end, with data moving across the WAN to individual containers or clouds at the other end. There ends up being edges at branches, devices, data centers, clients, and servers, and the edge quickly becomes hard to define.
Business applications are no longer centralized, with enterprises operating containerized workloads that are more effectively managed when the edge is closer to the application and its data. This is forcing the network to change to meet the needs of modern technology infrastructure.
With cloud solutions, mobile and IoT technology, and the integration of networks with business partners, the edge is more difficult to define, but there’s sometimes a perception that there no longer is an edge. IT professionals sometimes say the device is the edge, and while it may be true that there’s no single defined perimeter, there are perimeters defined in smaller segments.
Edge computing is being supported by SD-WAN technology that seeks to meet the needs of digital strategies, equipping Software as a Service (SaaS) apps and hybrid cloud environments. SD-WAN allows enterprises to optimize application performance and user experiences with automated application awareness and centralized orchestration.
One of the key improvements rolling out for SD-WAN solutions that differentiates the best options is baked-in security — an approach that means enterprises aren’t forced to bolt on security solutions that may see gaps at the edge. Networking solution providers are combining networking and security to protect the edge in a strategy called secure access service edge (SASE). While the technology is still in its infancy, enterprises can expect to see more advances that work to secure the edge and address the gaps that can occur as the security plane is broadened by edge computing.
Is your enterprise in need of better networking and security for edge computing capabilities? Contact us at Cloud Source for guidance in choosing the right solutions for your digital strategies.