Edge computing means so many different things to different businesses. For some, edge computing is a far-edge deployment of small-footprint, purpose-built facilities that have very discrete needs. For others, it can mean IoT deployments in almost any industry-agriculture, automotive, aerospace, the list is literally endless. Yet, for others it can mean an intermediate processing point for connecting to the cloud.
Customers want to use the edge to get faster, more secure access to the cloud. They want to distribute content intelligently. They need interconnections to networks and proximity to an ecosystem of service providers that can help them succeed with cloud migrations and digital transformation projects.
Today, the edge is literally where you need it, when you need it, and at the scale you need it, for virtually any business. Our customers drive us to be more creative, responsive and agile, and we empower our customers to be able to do whatever they need to do to push the boundaries of what’s possible for their businesses.
With EQT as its backer since 2019, EdgeConneX has expanded many of its edge markets to become core campus markets. Throughout 2021, ECX continued to grow as a leading player in both edge computing and hyperscale data center markets.
The need for edge computing developed as more and more businesses have engaged in digital transformation. Data volumes and velocity are accelerating at unprecedented rates, so the edge has taken on increased importance as a facilitator of the global digital economy. Edge data centers first started by serving up streaming content and evolved into making it easier, faster, and more secure to access cloud services. The edge began by connecting underserved markets in countries and regions that were already at the forefront of digital transformation. Consumers now heavily depend on data delivered to the workplace, the home, the car, and everywhere in between, worldwide. However, recent studies suggest that well over 50 percent of business IT leaders believe that cloud migration is either ‘very difficult’ or ‘failing’.
A hybrid multi-cloud ecosystem at the edge helps enterprises overcome those challenges by delivering: hybrid flexibility-to run some workloads on-premises, some in a private cloud, and some in public clouds; multi-cloud agility-to choose the right cloud for the right workload in the right place; ecosystem choice-to choose from best-of-breed providers that can help optimize the cloud journey with an integrated cloud solution; and, at the edge proximity-a hybrid multi-cloud ecosystem local to the enterprise that yields both the optimal low latency performance and cost-savings benefits.
Service providers of all types looking to join a hybrid multi-cloud ecosystem at the edge should consider if it is in the right place and if the timing and configuration are right.
EdgeConneX recognizes that enabling cloud services at the edge is essential to moving enterprise digital transformation initiatives forward. Our strategic collaborations help to bring essential hybrid and multi-cloud solutions to those enterprises, IT leaders and edge markets that need it most.
Key benefits of the edge are found in performance, user experience and reduced costs. The edge helps reduce the distance data has to travel and provides more proximity, both to the servers and to the end users of these applications. With better network routing, you can get better performance. The edge helps service providers deliver more data consistently and to more locations-faster. For service providers, the edge offers cost savings over a more centralized solution. Intelligent, distributed architectures can anticipate where your data needs to be stored and also helps save directly on bandwidth costs. The edge is elastic, flexible and scalable.
Now the edge also is delivering cloud, content, connectivity and capacity to markets, businesses, end users that are beginning to demand better performance, better user experiences, and better economics for Internet-enabled services.
The edge brings the ability to take these benefits across the globe, and even into markets once thought to be inaccessible. We still need faster networks and more powerful computing chips to make this all a reality. The everywhere edge, can get you there from here-from everywhere.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phillip Marangella
Phillip Marangella has nearly 25 years of international marketing, strategy, and business development experience working in the data center, telecom, and technology sectors for leading service providers. Currently serving as Chief Marketing and Product Officer at EdgeConneX, Marangella is focused on developing, evangelizing, and executing the marketing and product strategy ecosystem development for the company. Marangella also serves on the marketing advisory boards for Lokker, Salute Mission Critical, and Infrastructure Masons.
