Always on, always available, and always secure: Rethinking IT at the edge
As organisations generate, manage, and store more data than ever before, it's not hard to see why the ongoing march of Cloud transformation shows no signs of slowing down. But for all the Cloud's advantages in terms of flexibility, scalability, and cost control, it is not suitable for every application.
By its very nature, Cloud is largely divorced from on-premises IT infrastructure, which creates a number of singular challenges when data flows and application availability must be as close to real-time as possible.
Let's consider these challenges in greater depth, and explore whether it's possible to enjoy the key benefits of Cloud transformation while still supporting the most demanding edge computing requirements…
Optimising the performance of tomorrow's interconnected systems
The Internet of Things (IoT), that is, physical devices that generate and transfer data online - has rapidly evolved from concept to mature technology, with such devices now firmly established across a range of sectors, including transport, manufacturing, CNI, and retail.
Typical applications of these technologies involve sensors deployed across physical environments (e.g. factory floors, warehouses, transport hubs, shop floors, or power stations) to monitor the performance of on-site systems, the efficiency of routine processes, and the physical safety of employees.
This helps ensure safer, more efficient operations, while generating a steady stream of actionable data to support further optimisations and cost savings. The key challenge, though, is that such systems depend on the absolute minimal latency, in order to ensure their accuracy and effectiveness (especially important in environments where any error may put guests or employees at risk of physical harm). In other words, the underlying infrastructure will typically need to remain on-premises, which often makes for costly, complex deployments and management, and limits opportunities for Cloud transformation.
So, with this in mind, is it possible to develop infrastructure that supports the IoT systems certain sectors increasingly depend on, while still allowing these organisations to access the numerous benefits of the Cloud? I would argue that it's not only possible, but that the ideal launchpad is already here…
Is Hyperconverged Infrastructure opening the door to a new breed of edge computing?
Azure Stack HCI is the natural choice for organisations looking to develop hybrid Cloud environments that support the most complex IT requirements at the edge. By offering a highly flexible, software-defined environment that brings together computing, storage, networking, and management resources, Azure Stack HCI is able to deliver the always-on, low-latency performance that on-premises deployments demand, combined with the simplified deployment and management of a Cloud-based solution. Combined with additional capabilities to support intermittent connectivity, containerised workloads, and ironclad cyber security, this represents hybrid Cloud in its purest form, intelligently integrating multiple technologies in a single, user-friendly platform to fulfil a range of highly demanding use cases.
If you would like to explore these trends, challenges, and opportunities in greater depth, I would encourage you to read our recent whitepaper: Azure Stack HCI: The Good, The Bad & The Hybrid - in which I explore the nascent convergence of on-premises infrastructure and the Cloud, and Azure Stack HCI's unique capabilities in this regard.
Stay Informed
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
