IS FOG COMPUTING THE FUTURE OF THE CLOUD?

The IoT already produces massive amounts of data. It’s time to start dealing with it. Is Fog and Edge Computing inevitable?



What happens when the cloud isn’t enough? This is a modern problem if there ever was one. Experts are saying 2016 will mark the rise of a new system: fog computing. Fogging involves extending cloud computing to the edge of a network. It helps end devices and data centers work together better.

Fog computing is one answer to several questions. In fact, the term “fog computing” is a recent creation of Cisco, and is often interchanged with “edge computing”. The “edge” simply refers to points nearer where data is produced than to the database and centralized processing centers. This means the edge of a network, or even access-providing devices like routers.

THE ROLE AND EFFECT OF THE FOG

The IoT and interest in big data means that the future will hold a lot of data, physically. Many are already wondering where to put all of it. From smartphones to driverless cars to wearables, everything is generating exponentially more information. The current life of regular web server hardware is almost six years. For components related to cloud servers, that number plummets to around two years. For the businesses gathering and harnessing data, that is not only number some, but expensive. It means dealing with more parts more often. It means being stuck in upkeep instead of investing. In a proper edge computing system, regular web server components could live up to eight years. A study from Wikibon also found that cloud-only computing was far costlier than cloud with edge computing. For companies large and small, that could make a huge difference, both in the short and long run of technology.

Another problem within cloud computing is speed. The people fully analyzing data aren’t average folks, but major enterprises looking for quick insight and help in making split-second decisions. Some data is most useful right after it is collected. Days or weeks later, it may not hold the same weight. Edge computing affords the chance to analyze data before sending it off for collection, making that data exponentially more valuable. For example, a hacker or breach will be caught much more quickly when analysis occurs near the source. Waiting for that data to transfer back to a centralized data center wastes precious time.

Read More: http://dataconomy.com/fog-computing-future-cloud/