In an enlightening LinkedIn Live session, Saadat Malik, the head of edge computing at VMware by Broadcom, offered his invaluable insights on the future of the edge. This emerging field, says Malik, presents one of the largest growth opportunities in the tech landscape. Now it’s more critical than ever to grasp its implications and potentials.
As a 20-year veteran of the field, Malik has seen edge compute evolve from a novelty to a fast-growing technology area that offers real value to businesses. Now, with the help of VMware Edge Compute Stack™, Malik and his team are putting that experience to work solving real-life business problems. Watch the full video of the LinkedIn Live session to get Malik’s top ten list of points organizations must consider before they implement an edge strategy.
The future and challenges of edge computing
Malik anticipates that in the next three to four years, there will be a massive shift of 60% to 70% of data to the edge. This move means that information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) will begin to converge, underlining the importance of collaboration in this new environment.
While the opportunities are vast, Malik doesn’t shy away from discussing the challenges of edge environments. Legacy systems, space constraints, regulatory compliance, and highly distributed infrastructure all require careful consideration and strategizing.
Organizations often fall into the trap of focusing solely on the technology side. Malik emphasizes the equal importance of people and processes. Employees need comprehensive understanding of the technology at play and its benefits, reinforcing the need for a culture embracing change and fostering IT-OT collaboration.
Design effective edge infrastructure, including AI and ML
Edge environments come with unique limitations and constraints. Consider factors such as space, connectivity, storage and physical safety when developing the design process.
AI and machine learning play a crucial role in developing edge computing applications, according to Malik. However, constraints at the edge necessitate using models that demand fewer resources while maintaining precision.
Create edge-specific applications and strategy
Applications for the edge should be explicitly designed for the environment’s unique constraints and benefits. Proximity to data production, low latency, and the capacity to leverage distributed edge environments are incredibly beneficial elements to consider.
A comprehensive edge strategy is non-negotiable for success. This involves breaking down departmental silos and adopting a holistic approach to achieve business objectives at the edge.
And now, cue the drumroll. Here is Saadat Malik’s top ten list of tips and tricks for success at the edge:
- Line up your people and processes with your strategy. Malik shared an example of a retailer that experienced unexplained outages at around the same time every weekday. Turns out, an employee was switching off a server when the fan noise got so high that he couldn’t have conversations with his customers.
- Understand that product lifecycles are different at the edge. Hardware at the top of a utility pole will not be replaced as often as consumer-grade hardware.
- Physical safety, physical security and regulatory compliance are much more critical in certain edge environments. Factory machinery can cause injuries if it is not calibrated and maintained according to very specific parameters. A software upgrade never physically harmed a corporate IT employee (emotional distress over losing your weekend to a DNS error doesn’t count.)
- Small or hard-to-access spaces, dust, crowds, storms, extreme hot or cold: Physical constraints for placing hardware at edge locations can be radically different from slotting a new server into a data center rack.
- Edge locations often have bad or no connectivity, and visibility into systems can be poor.
- Edge environments must be built out with new capabilities of AI and machine learning in mind.
- Develop edge apps with the understanding that you won’t have the unlimited compute and storage of a traditional IT environment.
- Don’t apply data center principles to the edge. The edge is highly distributed, not centralized.
- Don’t spend years figuring out what your use cases will be, only to find out that those use cases are outdated when it’s time to implement – what Malik calls “death by PoC.” Build a platform that meets your business needs now and is extensible when the time comes.
- Have a holistic strategy that encompasses points 1 through 9. Step back and take the long view of your business.
By following these top ten tips and tricks, you’ll be well-equipped to implement a successful edge computing strategy that delivers tangible benefits to your organization. Embrace the power of edge computing and unlock new possibilities for innovation, efficiency, and growth.
