Digital Transformation at the Edge

Edge Infrastructure Continues to Evolve

After a solid decade of pursuing industrial IoT-enabled business process improvement and innovation, the value of the edge tier within digitally transformed architectures is now widely recognized. Originally viewed as the point where IT and cloud-based applications intersect with the OT environment, the edge functional definition continues to evolve in important areas such as edge-to-cloud integration, edge compute, and the convergence of IT, OT, and security.

As this evolution continues, the role of the various edge components also evolves. This includes expanding compute and store capabilities in what ARC calls “thick edge” devices, as well as ongoing convergence of IT, OT, and security at the network-centric “thin edge.” Combined with the expanding capabilities of high-end endpoint devices, including increasingly mobile and autonomous devices enabled by 5G and private wireless, the choices of where to do what at the industrial IoT edge continue to expand.

Enterprise Cloud Providers Target the Digital Transformation at the Edge

Digitally transformed enterprises now have more opportunities to distribute functionality throughout the architecture as cloud-native technologies, IT, and IP-based networking are descending closer to the edge. Cloud solutions are extending to the edge to access their source data and fulfill their digital transformation value proposition. This is particularly evident in AI, ML, and video analytics applications, where edge capabilities promise significant value in both data preprocessing and local execution of cloud-trained models. Cloud providers are likewise adding edge functionality and associated services that are a natural extension of their core capabilities in areas such as device management and security.