4 Challenges of the Edge to Cloud Evolution

While the use of edge-to-cloud setups has risen strongly, issues of latency, data security, scalability, and more remain key issues, hindering adoption.

April 3, 2023

  • Organizations around the world are increasingly facing challenges with the unprecedented volumes of data generated every day. 
  • This problem is only expected to keep growing with the rapid influx of the internet of things (IoT) and the demand for real-time data processing capabilities. 
  • Consequently, the demand for cloud computing is likely to continue rising, creating myriad opportunities for the adoption of edge-to-cloud setups.

While cloud computing allows for superior scalability, and robust computing resources, edge computing has the benefit of minimized latency, faster processing, and higher process efficiency. Edge-to-cloud computing provides the benefits of both enabling real-time data operations, leveraging the resources of the cloud, cutting downtime and optimizing production.

Key Benefits Drive Edge-to-Cloud Implementation

Deploying edge-to-cloud environments offers the following benefits to organizations:

  • Using hybrid cloud infrastructure: Organizations can leverage the capabilities of hybrid cloud infrastructure while avoiding the issues associated with managing a combination of on-and off-premise setups. The availability of as-a-service platforms allows organizations to maintain older user experiences without having to learn new skills.
  • Modernization of applications: Taking advantage of the cloud for implementing container technology, organizations can minimize memory and computation use, supporting faster app development and effective portability.
  • Agility in operations: The implementation of edge-to-cloud infrastructure gives organizations a greater degree of flexibility for faster capitalization for market opportunities, speeding up product and service development. Furthermore, in cases of large organizations, large-scale and operations-critical data sets cannot be completely moved to the cloud. In such cases, edge-to-cloud platforms offer superior availability of data with minimal latency for analytics and artificial intelligence purposes.

While organizations using edge-to-cloud don’t have to make large compromises on mission-critical operations, there are a number of challenges that they need to consider prior to implementation:

1. Latency Issues Hurt Real-Time Applications

Edge-to-cloud setups can often suffer from connectivity issues. Reliance on satellite connections and large geographic distances between data receivers and transmitters make the data transfer between edge and cloud potentially unreliable, with growing chances of higher latency.

Higher latency hinders the use of edge-to-cloud setups, particularly in terms of real-time data processing applications. It is important that organizations consider the deployment of hybrid networks combining wireless and wired systems to minimize the chances of high latency for data transmission from edge devices to the cloud.

See More: Cloud Infrastructure Trends That Are Here to Stay

2. Higher Costs of Maintaining Edge Networks

An efficient edge-to-cloud setup can require the deployment of a large number of edge devices, each of which requires periodic maintenance throughout their lifespans. This creates problems in terms of downtime periods and frequent maintenance costs.

Also, with the frequent innovations in hardware and software technology, edge devices also need frequent updates and replacements to keep up with the growing data requirements. The use of cost-efficient and energy-efficient edge devices without compromising on reliability, the use of artificial intelligence for predictive maintenance, and the use of cloud resources for updates can mitigate cost problems. 

3. Scalability is Challenging With Edge Devices

Infrastructure built for edge computing needs to be easy to implement. Scalability with a high number of individual sites, each containing several devices, creates challenges in terms of resources required for the deployment of complex hardware and managing the sites.

Scalability can be achieved through the use of computational offloading, which still creates issues of higher latency and energy consumption. Each edge device is capable of limited computing operations, creating bottlenecks in real-time data processing. Leveraging cloud resources and optimizing edge infrastructure is key to improving the use of edge-to-cloud operations.

See More: 6 Main Types and Capabilities of Connected Worker Technology

4. Data Security and Privacy Remain a Problem

One of the more significant challenges in using edge-to-cloud technologies is maintaining the security and privacy of data resources. As data is transferred in edge-to-cloud setups, there is a notable risk of data being intercepted and tampered with. Such attacks largely take place as edge devices transmit data to the cloud.

Malicious actors can use edge devices to compromise the availability of services and the integrity of apps.

As edge-to-cloud setups multiple devices and system networks, technological compatibility can be problematic. Best practices involving secure transmission protocols for robust authentication and encryption and the use of compatible edge devices are critical to securing edge-to-cloud setups.

See More: Network Intelligence: Unlocking New Opportunities for Digital Transformation

In conclusion, edge-to-cloud setups hold a lot of promise in optimizing operations for a number of end-user industries. However, organizations must take into account the various challengesOpens a new window before making a transition.

Addressing these challenges through the use of best practices covering maintenance, data transfer, management of resources, and data security will remain important for the foreseeable future. Joint efforts involving software and hardware creators, in addition to networking players, will be crucial to the successful implementation of edge-to-cloud technologies in the long term.

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Anuj Mudaliar
Anuj Mudaliar is a content development professional with a keen interest in emerging technologies, particularly advances in AI. As a tech editor for Spiceworks, Anuj covers many topics, including cloud, cybersecurity, emerging tech innovation, AI, and hardware. When not at work, he spends his time outdoors - trekking, camping, and stargazing. He is also interested in cooking and experiencing cuisine from around the world.
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