The use of “edge computing” has caught on in the last couple of years and is now being employed in all kinds of situations. This includes virtualization, cloud computing, big data centers, and more. Many people are starting to see that there are many advantages to this style of computing and how it will soon be replacing many traditional computing models. So what exactly is edge computing and what do we mean by it?
With the advent of the Internet and smart phones there are many new ways to utilize technology. One example of this is the use of applications, or “widgets”, on mobile devices. As a result of this there has been an increase in the development of new edge solutions for computers. This is particularly true with smartphones and tablets which have increased their functionality when it comes to web browsing, accessing email and other common tasks.
Another advantage to the use of edge computing is in the area of security. As networks continue to improve they will also become more secure. As such the control of networks and servers will move to the edges of the network in order to provide improved levels of security. As well, as businesses continue to find ways to make their information more secure these services will move even further out of the reach of normal users.
There are many new applications that are being created every day. One of these is known as containers. Containers allow you to work with multiple applications on one computer without the need for installing them on individual computers. Think of the advantages of running web applications and data on your tablet while keeping it out of view on your television. This is just one example of edge computing at work, but there are many more.
One of the most important developments when it comes to the role of edge computing is the development of virtualization. Virtualization allows different operating systems to share a piece of a program or device without requiring that the actual program is installed. The virtualization provider can take over some of the processing of the device and use it as needed. You can use virtualization with your laptops, desktops, printers, scanners, network adapters, USBs, and other devices. Basically, anything that has an IP address can be virtualized. With this new technology you can run many programs on the same machine.
Another advance is known as containers. Containers are a new way of managing software on a virtual machine. It works like this: a user logs into the computer from a remote location and creates a new virtual machine. These containers can have multiple operating systems, applications, disks, networking technologies, and configurations. As you can imagine the possibilities are endless.
One of the biggest trends in the field of business and technology is the use of cloud computing. Cloud services allow for shared information and resources between multiple users in a centralized location. Many companies that implement this new technology will outfit all of their employees with new computers. Edge computing and containers will play a huge part in this new technology trend.
As the Internet becomes more prevalent in all parts of the world the playing field between small businesses and large corporations will widen. This will benefit everyone, but especially those companies that are starting out. If you have a good idea and need a helping hand, you may want to check into running a small business. There’s plenty of opportunity out there. Find out more about this exciting new field of business today.