Edge Computing vs Cloud Computing: Pros and Cons

Introduction

Edge computing vs. cloud computing is a hot topic of debate across many different industries. Some people believe that cloud computing is king, whereas others believe that edge computing has an important role to play, especially in the healthcare and automotive industries. Here, you can learn about these two computing forces and their respective pros and cons.

What is Edge Computing?

Firstly, let’s talk about edge computing.

Edge computing is when computing resources, such as tiny little computers, are intentionally placed as close as possible to the information-generating sources. Hence, this is where the “edge” name comes from.

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Pros of Edge Computing

There are lots of different pros that come with edge computing, which is why it’s quickly growing in popularity. Here are some of the best pros:

• Reduced latency and bandwidth usage
• Reduced costs
• Improved safety and security
• Faster speed
• Decreased downtime

For example, you get improved safety and security due to the fact that the majority of data is processed locally instead of at remote cloud locations. Because it remains local, it’s incredibly difficult for hackers to steal any data.

Cons of Edge Computing

Like with anything in the tech industry, edge computing does come with a few cons:

• Less computing power than cloud-based AI
• Easier to lose or accidentally discard data
• More machinery and hardware involved

Despite the cons, though, edge computing remains a highly beneficial type of computing for businesses to optimize – no matter which industry they’re in.

What is Cloud Computing?

Over the past decade or so, cloud computing has exploded in popularity.

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services – such as storage, software, and analytics – over the internet.

Pros of Cloud Computing

Because of cloud computing’s flexible nature, it’s able to offer the following benefits:

• Efficient scalability
• Data loss prevention
• Automatic updates
• Remote work for employees
• Improved collaboration

Let’s say that you’re the manager of a call center with over 100+ employees. With a cloud computing system in place, you can easily scale up when you add new employees to your offices, as there’s no physical hardware involved.

Cons of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is exclusively internet-based, so there are naturally going to be some drawbacks. Here are a few to consider:

• More bandwidth is needed
• Internet delays and other problems can be quite common
• Increased number of security risks

The security risk factor is a big one, as it’s much easier for hackers to steal data. In some cases, data can even accidentally leak over the cloud, which is a nightmare prospect for business owners.

Summary

As you can now see, edge computing and cloud computing both come with their own unique pros and cons.

If your business currently operates in a remote location and you care a lot about security and reliability, then edge computing is the best choice for you.

On the other hand, if you keep adding employees to your business and also have remote team members, then cloud computing makes more sense.

Whichever option you go with, you’re going to experience the respective benefits!