The edge works like an ATM. No matter where you are, there is always one close by, so getting cash is quick, easy, and predictable. Processing data close to where users and devices are makes access from any location fast and frustration-free by reducing latency. Latency is that annoying delay you might experience between navigating to a website and waiting for the page load, or that tap on a mobile app and the extended time it takes to complete an action. This usually happens because data processing and storage are physically far away from you. When these processes are moved to the edge, geolocated near you, near real-time digital experiences are possible.
An evolving term, “edge” can refer to an edge server, a user’s computer, or an IoT device. It’s a place where processing and data are spread out away from the core of the data center to bring data and decisions closer to users and devices to deliver better user experiences.
As industry expert Gartner VP analyst Bob Gill described in The Edge Manifesto, the edge is designed “for the placement of content, compute and data center resources on the edge of the network, closer to concentrations of users. This augmentation of the traditional centralized data center model ensures a better user experience demanded by digital business.”
The edge is architected to create nimble, massively distributed installations that provide access to services that help businesses minimize latency, maximize scale, and provide a consistent security posture for apps deployed on any platform. The result is a fast and seamless user experience.