Edge computing companies offer a more efficient way to process and transmit data, solving two problems: the need for more IT infrastructure, and the massive amounts of unused data generated by edge points. With the rise of 5G networks, some believe edge computing is the next evolution in this space.
If you’re trying to find the best edge computing company for your business, this article will help you narrow your search.
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Table of Contents
- What Is Edge Computing?
- Best Edge Computing Companies
- Edge Computing Use Cases
- How Do You Choose the Best Edge Computing Company?
What Is Edge Computing?
Edge computing minimizes the latency of cloud communication between a client and a server by bringing the infrastructure closer to the edges of the network. With edge computing, companies gain near real-time insights with less latency and lower cloud server bandwidth usage.
With edge computing, companies gain near real-time insights with less latency and lower bandwidth usage.
Cloud computing fulfills the “need to deploy edge servers, gateway devices, and other gear that reduce the time and distance required for computing tasks,” according to Datamation. “Part of this infrastructure may include smaller edge data centers located in secondary cities or even rural areas, or cloud containers that can easily be moved across clouds and systems as needed.”
The best edge computing companies also allow users to harness comprehensive data analysis, with many possible applications like internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cybersecurity, and remote workforce support.
Top Edge Computing Companies
AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a cloud-edge hybrid model that allows a consistent experience on both the edge and the cloud. AWS includes services and solutions that package IoT, AI, ML, robotics, analytics, and compute and storage capabilities to achieve business outcomes across common industrial workloads.
Amazon Web Services also provides solutions like its Connected Vehicle solution, IoT Device Simulator, and AWS IoT Camera Connector. AWS also sells edge products — including Alexa and Echo devices. AWS edge computing is good for those in the industrial and commercial markets.
ClearBlade
In 2020 ClearBlade released its Edge Native Intelligent Asset Application. This app allows edge maintainers to connect IoT devices, define asset types, and build alert systems without needing any coding ability.
ClearBlade allows a single platform to enable customers to leverage local compute, operationally solve business problems, and artificial intelligence. It also offers real-time location and asset tracking, and its middleware platform helps connect various parts to IoT.
ClearBlade will make sense if your company is in the following industries: mining, facilities, oil and gas, rail, logistics, healthcare, and energy. It can also be great if your business is in the public sector.
Dell
Dell has invested heavily in edge computing. Through OpenManage Mobile, Dell EMC offers edge-computing management and orchestration capabilities.
Dell EMC divides the company’s edge computing hardware into three different categories. These are the Mobile Edge portfolio (which includes cloud-enabled hardware for mobile or remote locations), the Enterprise Edge portfolio (consisting of the VEP460 Open uCPE platform), and the IoT Edge portfolio, which offers Edge Gateways for manufacturers, retailers, and digital cities.
EdgeConneX
EdgeConnex focuses on positioning data facilities where they’re needed the most for better network and IT connectivity. Its thinking is that the edge is an amorphous and non-specific in location, with IoT sensors anywhere and everywhere.
In addition, EdgeConneX offers EdgeOS, a self-service management application meant for high observability, with a single universal dashboard to manage it.
EdgeConneX’s far edge use cases include artificial intelligence, AR/VR, IoT, low latency media streaming, connected and automated vehicles, immersive gaming, and machine learning.
They work closely with customers to ensure tailored scalability, power, and connectivity. As a result, EdgeConneX is ideal for hyperscale customers. Its main clients include content providers, network and cable operators, and colocation companies.
ADLINK Technology
ADLINK offers users a super-specialized focus on edge computing, making it stand out from others on this list.
With features like IoT hardware and software, AI software, and robotics solutions, ADLINKS would be suitable for those in the military or aeronautics spaces, as well as companies whose focus is healthcare, manufacturing, networking, or communications.
Google Cloud Platform
With its global network and reach, few companies have the technical infrastructure to support edge computing like Google.
Many consumers already have a Google device in their home. Google offers a line of connected home products for edge computing. It also provides cloud computing services for managing edge data — most notably with its Cloud IoT Core service.
Google uses Edge TPU hardware to run analytics and AI at the edge. In addition, Google’s other AI cloud services are an excellent complement to its edge computing products.
HPE
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) offers both wireless and wired networking products that enable edge computing, such as its network security solutions. These include control systems, telecommunications, industrial networks, and IoT data acquisition.
HPE allows telcos to deploy innovative new edge computing services to customers via IT infrastructure located at the edge of networks or on customers’ premises. Edge Orchestrator drives new revenue streams, exploring use cases such as AI-powered video analytics, VR retail services, and industrial automation.
HPE is well-positioned to serve larger companies, particularly with cloud deployments, and has a long-standing interest in enterprise IT.
IBM
IBM has a strong relationship with large businesses and offers an IoT solution for enterprise asset management, facilities management, and system engineering.
IBM’s edge computing platform is based on OpenShift technology, and the Watson IoT applies its AI technology there.
The company touts an advantage in cloud computing by offering a way for organizations in the telecommunications, retail, and automobile industries to manage the infrastructure at the edge of their networks, using edge computing for servers.
Intel
Intel is well-known as a chipmaker. However, its family of edge computing products puts them on the list as a top edge computing company.
The Intel IoT Platform products include gateways for IoT, the Intel Secure Device Onboard (SDO) service, Wind River Helix Device Cloud, and Wind River Titanium Edge, in addition to edge computing components featuring Intel processors and storage.
Intel also has reference architecture, developer kits, tools, and SDKs for IoT deployments. It chiefly sells products that your company can use to create its IoT products and services.
Mutable
Mutable’s software platform runs enterprises’ existing servers. It automatically prioritizes the workloads of the owner while selling the unused compute capacity through its own public cloud to unlock the full revenue potential of existing servers. This handles the increase in internet traffic both effectively and sustainably.
Mutable Public Edge Cloud harnesses the ultra-low latency of 5G networks to provide consistent connectivity between wired and wireless devices on the edge. Mutable also allows developers to deploy their apps to end users without having to maintain their own cloud footprint.
Mutable OS is an edge computing software solution designed for container organization and multi-data center server management.
Section
Section is an edge computing platform focused on DevOps — the edge platform fully integrates with application engineers’ workloads. Section’s newest launch, the patent-pending Adaptive Edge Engine technology, paves the way for complete edge computing.
Users can understand how their edge performs in real-time using Section’s traffic visualization console, which provides next-gen observability tooling for DevOps teams.
Section’s edge computing platform powers next-generation applications for SaaS, PaaS, and application providers to deliver more secure and quicker digital experiences. Additionally, Section allows developers to deploy a workload where, when, and how they need to.
Edge Computing Use Cases
Machine Learning
The most used case in edge computing, machine learning, helps reduce reliance on cloud networks by performing deep dives into learning algorithms and processing data locally.
AI
Edge AI allows better performance with faster insights, faster computing, better data security, and continuous operation. This therefore keeps operating costs down and enhances the performance of AI-enabled applications.
Cybersecurity
Companies use edge security to protect both users and applications at the farthest reaches of their network, where sensitive data tends to be more vulnerable.
Remote Workforce Support
Edge computing allows those working remotely to increase efficiency and preserve bandwidth. COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to edge computing to help those now working remotely.
How Do You Choose the Best Edge Computing Company?
Every company on this list has pros and cons that may make or break them as the best edge computing company for your business. For example, not every edge device offers the same security, analytics capability, or remote workforce support as others.
When deciding on the best edge computing company, consider which features are most important for your type of business. Then, use the list above to compare and contrast the best companies that can help deliver the solutions you need.
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