Enterprises are increasingly faced with the challenge of managing a dispersed workforce and infrastructure while ensuring robust cybersecurity and efficient automation—making a software-first approach to edge infrastructure increasingly crucial. An Executives at the Edge podcast hosted by Pascal Menezes, Chief Technology Officer of MEF, delves into these pressing issues. The conversation covers topics including what the software-defined edge is and why it’s important, cybersecurity, and automation. The full podcast, Software-Defined Edge: Unraveling Complex Distributed Environments, is available now at the MEF website.
The podcast highlights the seismic shifts occurring in the industry, primarily driven by the need for enterprises to adapt to a more distributed model of operation. This shift is necessitated by the fact that both the workforce and applications are no longer confined to traditional office spaces or centralized data centers. Instead, they are spread across various locations, accessing resources from the cloud. This dispersion has many benefits, but unfortunately also expands the attack surface for potential cybersecurity threats.
Bringing coherence to distributed resources at the edge
The conversation emphasizes the emergence of the software-defined edge as a solution to these challenges. The idea of the software-defined edge focuses on providing secure, intelligent connectivity through a more right-sized infrastructure that can be managed with zero-touch operations, accommodating the dynamic nature of edge computing environments. The idea is to use software-first approaches to ensure flexibility, scalability, and programmability across networks, especially as applications demand varying levels of bandwidth and quality of service.
One particularly compelling use case discussed involves an ambulance equipped with SD-WAN technology, enabling real-time video streaming of a patient in transit to a hospital for virtual care. The connected ambulance was a very popular demo at the recent Mobile World Congress. It showcased a mobile edge that turns any first-responder vehicle into a rolling office with the ability to use any connection from the most remote corners of the world. This example illustrates the need for network programmability to ensure mission-critical applications receive the bandwidth and quality of service they require, a concept known as network slicing.
The role of security at the edge
The conversation also touched on the crucial role of cybersecurity in this distributed environment. The application of zero-trust principles, continuous posture assessment, and secure web gateways are integral to protecting sensitive data against cyber threats. The integration of SD-WAN, Secure Service Edge (SSE), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) within VMware by Broadcom’s offerings aims to address these security challenges head-on.
The discussion concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the importance of embracing a software-first approach to edge infrastructure as part of an enterprise’s digital transformation strategy. This approach not only addresses the current challenges of connectivity and security but also sets the stage for future innovations in managing and securing the distributed enterprise.
For those intrigued by the complexities of managing edge computing, cybersecurity, and the role of AI in automating these processes, the full podcast offers a deep dive into these topics. Listeners are encouraged to explore these insights in detail by tuning into the podcast available on the MEF site.
