Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing

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Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing-05

Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing, some people might get confused about these two being the same thing but in reality, these are two different terms and fields having some similarities and some major differences. In the fast-growing field of Science and Technology, these terms hold major importance and offer great pay to the people involved and working on them. Let us have a look at the comparisons between these two careers so that you can decide which one is better for you. Keep reading!

Definition

Edge computing

It is the phenomenon of processing and computing client data to make it closer to the data source rather than connecting it to a centralized server or to a cloud-based location. In simple terms, edge computing is about bringing computing resources, enterprise applications, and data storage closer to the platform from where the people can actually consume the relevant information. The vital components of Edge Computing through which it functions in sync are:

  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Cloud Computing
  • Communication Networks

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is generally referred to as the use of hosted services, which include data storage, databases, servers, software, and networking over the internet. The data storage is done on physical servers, which a cloud service provider manages. Computer system resources most importantly, data storage and computing power, are made available on-demand, without direct interference or management by the user in cloud computing. Different types of cloud computing based on deployment and service model are:

  • Private model (Deployment)
  • Public model (Deployment)
  • Hybrid model (Deployment)
  • Infrastructure as Service (Service Model)
  • Platform as Service (Service Model)
  • Software as Service (Service Model)
edge computing vs cloud computing
Source: eBiz Solutions

Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing: Differences

  1. In terms of speed and agility

Edge computing solutions have the ability to bring analytical and computational resources as close to the data source as possible. This ability helps to increase responsiveness and acts as a booster for the throughput of the applications that are hosted on edge computers. Edge computing when compared to the cloud platforms is far more ideal for applications that are in need of minimal response times for safe and efficient operation. Machines with the help of edge computing can mimic the perception speed of a human being, while the traditional cloud computing setup is unlikely to match the speed of a supervised and configured edge computing network setup.

  1. In terms of reliability

When compared to edge computing, cloud computing is often more reliable.

  1. In terms of scalability

Within an edge computing system, scalability means accounting for device heterogeneity. The reason is that different devices often have varied performance levels and energy considerations. On the other hand, scalability is one of the key benefits of cloud computing systems. Organizations are easily able to scale up their data storage, processing, and network capabilities using their existing cloud computing subscription or some in-house infrastructure.

Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing: Similarities

1. Futuristic Use Case benefits

The growing rate at which organizations and companies are creating and processing data in 2022 is much higher than ever before in the world of computing, and this expanding information is stored in various locations across the world. Edge computing and cloud computing will work together to address issues surrounding latency, security, responsiveness, management, analytics, and governance.

2. Accessible automation possibility

Automation will become the future of operations, and cloud computing and edge computing collectively will help to make it happen. Companies implementing the use case for internet of things (IoT) solutions use autonomous robots and other machinery operating at the edge computing. Alongside this, cloud platforms are getting deployed to automate enterprise tools and processes. The combination of edge and cloud computing together helps improve the efficacy of enterprise workloads, especially in comparison to the traditional deployment and operation of IT infrastructure.

Top Universities to Study Edge Computing and Cloud Computing

UniversityQS World Ranking 2022
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States1
Stanford University, United States2
Carnegie Melon University, United States3
University of California, Berkeley, United States4
University of Oxford, United Kingdom5
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom6
Harvard University, United States7
EPFL, Switzerland8
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology9
University of Toronto, Canada10

Career scope

Cloud computing

The scope of a career in cloud computing is sure to shine bright. According to reports, the cloud computing market in India is at a $2 billion high and is expected to have a growth rate of 30%. By going through this hike, the future cloud computing market in India is supposed to reach $4 billion and will be able to create more than one million jobs in the country. 

Some of the job roles in this domain are Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Cloud Enterprise Architect, Cloud Architect, and Cloud Software Engineer.

Edge Computing

Another report published in the year 2021 by MarketsandMarkets, predicted that the edge computing market will have grown from $36.5 billion in 2022 to $87.3 billion by 2026, with a growth rate of 19% during these four years. Some of the sectors where companies look for candidates specializing in edge computing are:

  • Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, and Charging Stations
  • Public Transit Systems
  • Traffic Management Systems
  • Retail Applications
  • Security and Worker Safety
  • Manufacturing
  • Industrial Process Monitoring
  • Agriculture

FAQs

Is edge computing part of the cloud?

Edge devices can become a contributing factor to a cloud device, if in this case the storage and computing capabilities provided by edge devices at the endpoints of a network are manually abstracted, pooled, and are shared across a network thus it becoming a part of larger cloud infrastructure. Other than this scenario, edge computing is not part of a cloud network.

Will edge computing replace cloud computing?

The possibility of edge computing replacing cloud computing is negligible because the need for centralized processing is likely going to continue for some more time. We can say that edge computing is a behavioral response to cloud computing, in a way that it covers some of its shortcomings.

What is edge computing’s role in cloud computing?

Edge computing brings about optimization in  Internet devices and web applications by bridging the gap between the computer and the source of the data. This in turn minimizes the requirement of long-distance communication between the client and the server, which ultimately reduces latency and also bandwidth usage.

What are two advantages of edge computing over cloud computing?

Two of the main advantages of edge computing over cloud computing include: The first one being better data management, lower connectivity costs, and better security practices. The second one includes reliability and uninterrupted connection.

This was all about the comparison between Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing. Now you are well aware of all the comparisons between these two fields and decide for yourself which you consider pursuing your career in. Get in touch with our Leverage Edu experts who will assist you in securing your admission to one of the top universities abroad. 

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