As many of us are seeing across every industry, the promise of edge computing is no longer hypothetical. It’s here now, and it’s bringing data storage and analysis closer to the actual source of that data, enabling faster response times for accessing, analyzing, and acting on real-time events. This is driving new applications that allow companies to monitor people, places, and devices — at any time — across diverse physical-digital environments to fundamentally change how organizations deliver near real-time awareness, efficiencies, safety, and sustainability.
The edge is a dynamic environment consisting of a network of sensors, devices, and legacy enterprise systems integrated to power next-generation business applications. It provides real-time visibility into events that allow companies to avoid the potentially long-lasting and devastating impact of a negative situation when coupled with the ability to respond immediately. From better managing operational processes, resources, and materials to preventing and mitigating accidents before they cause substantial damage, the ability to see when problems arise and immediately respond to these critical events is a business imperative. Unsurprisingly, the mission critical applications that run at the edge can be highly complex.