Data continues to explode, and according to the IDC Data Age 2025 report, nearly 30% of data by 2025 will require real-time processing. This trend is forcing many enterprises to adjust the way they handle data. Part of the answer to today’s data challenges lies in the proliferation of edge computing and data centers.
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That’s according to a new report from Evoque that contends as edge computing expands, “everyone from data center providers to carriers will need to expand with this new data origination horizon.”
The report explains that although traditional data centers likely won’t be abandoned, edge data center solutions may “become a larger — and necessary — part of the puzzle.”
The rise of the Internet of Things, Smart Cities and increased connectivity — wherever consumers are, not just at home or work — has contributed to the proliferation of edge computing. Today, in fact, there’s very little that data doesn’t touch in some way, and providers are turning to the edge to meet demand.
Evoque said as data continues to explore, colocation providers won’t be able to address the problem through simply building more core data centers.
“The edge is where data gathering intersects (the user’s location) with consumption or compute. Today, that’s just about everywhere, with more connected devices than anyone ever imagined.” — Evoque
“Instead, this is a global phenomenon that needs to be addressed at the hyper local level,” the report states.
The challenge will be building out the edge data centers with an adequate footprint, infrastructure, and connectivity to meet fast-growing demand. While there are many elements of edge data centers, Evoque shared the most critical components can be broken down into three general categories:
- Networks
- Real Estate
- Interconnectivity
Common edge use cases include the IoT, retail, healthcare, financial services, Smart Cities, and most recently, self-driving cars.
The report explores recent collaboration in the edge computing world, as well. Partnerships between edge data centers and established technology can help “ensure the edge environment can immediately meet basic demands, be successful, and continue to quickly expand.”
As for delivery method, since the solutions are so new, and edge needs can vary, edge data centers come in many forms, including containers and micro data centers, that the report covers in detail. Evoque asserts its likely that a mixture of delivery approaches will be used for the foreseeable future.
The new report from Evoque covers the following:
- What is the edge?
- Common edge use cases
- What are the most important components to satisfy the edge needs?
- Collaboration on the edge
- Edge data center delivery methods
- The right edge data center approach
- The opportunity of edge data centers
Download the new report from Evoque, “Exploring the Edge with Adequate Data Centers, ” that highlights how edge computing and data centers can address the big data challenges of today.
Data Center Frontier is edited by Rich Miller, the data center industry’s most experienced journalist. For more than 20 years, Rich has profiled the key role played by data centers in the Internet revolution.