Edge Servers might sound like something out of science fiction, but they are a vital part of modern internet infrastructure. Essentially, edge servers perform the same core functions as traditional servers, but their strategic location at the “edge” of the network makes all the difference.
As Jacob Smith, VP of strategy at Equinix Metal, aptly puts it, “Edge servers work just like regular servers. The key difference is that they are located at the ‘edge’ of the network, and as such often have different requirements.” This shift in location unlocks a world of possibilities for faster, more efficient, and more reliable digital experiences.
What Exactly is an Edge Server?
At its heart, an edge server is a server that provides the necessary compute resources for applications to operate effectively. The term “edge” signifies that these servers are strategically positioned as close as possible to the applications, the data they process, and the end-users or devices that rely on them.
Unlike traditional servers housed in centralized data centers, edge servers reside closer to the source of data creation or user interaction. This proximity is crucial for performing compute, networking, storage, and security tasks right where they are most needed. Imagine healthcare facilities or manufacturing plants generating massive amounts of data – edge servers can process this information locally, reducing latency and improving responsiveness.
While centralized data centers remain essential for many enterprise applications, the increasing demand for distributed technology consumption necessitates a more localized approach. This is where edge servers become indispensable, particularly in domains like the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G networks, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). These technologies thrive on real-time data processing and require infrastructure that can keep pace with their demands.
Man using laptop in server room
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Edge Servers and IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT), with its vast network of connected devices, perfectly illustrates the power of edge computing. By placing server resources closer to the countless IoT devices and the data they generate, edge servers offer significant advantages. This proximity minimizes latency, mitigates reliance on cloud provider performance, and ensures a smoother, more responsive user experience.
Whether it’s for businesses, government operations, or everyday consumer applications, edge computing translates to faster and more dependable interactions. Furthermore, edge servers often bolster security measures, a critical aspect as IoT data sets from applications like smart vehicles and medical devices expand. As concerns around data security and privacy escalate, the localized processing capabilities of edge servers become even more vital.
How Edge Servers Function: A Banking Scenario
To grasp the practical application of edge servers, consider a common online banking interaction. When you log in to review your recent transactions, you’re engaging with an edge server. Mark Sami, a director at West Monroe’s technology practice, explains that edge servers act as intermediaries between separate networks.
Banks, like many organizations, are hesitant to expose their entire backend systems directly to the internet for security reasons. This is where the edge server steps in. It acts as a secure gateway, presenting the online banking website to you while simultaneously retrieving data from backend core banking systems that remain shielded from direct internet access.
Network diagram illustrating edge server placement
“The bank exposes an edge server to the internet to present a website to the end consumer. That same edge server is pulling data from back-end core banking systems that aren’t directly exposed to the internet,” Sami elaborates. “Edge servers allow an organization to expose a much smaller footprint of their environment to outside networks, giving them a smaller point of entry to secure.”
Edge servers, especially those tailored for specific use cases like industrial sensors or video surveillance, are often designed with more specialized requirements than general-purpose servers.
Equinix Metal’s Smith points out, “For instance, while servers in a more centralized public cloud may be focused on performing generic tasks at scale, edge servers tend to be more specialized and focused on things like network functionality (for video streaming) or inference (for AI-enabled workloads).”
These specialized applications are becoming increasingly prevalent across various industries. Gartner predicts that by 2025, a significant 75% of enterprise data will be processed outside traditional data centers or clouds, a dramatic increase from just 10% in 2018.
Rosa Guntrip, Senior Principal Marketing Manager, Cloud Platforms at Red Hat, highlights the role of edge computing in telecommunications, stating, “edge computing helps solve the key challenges of bandwidth, latency, resiliency, and data sovereignty” for telco network functions. She adds that edge computing complements hybrid models, where centralized computing handles intensive workloads, while edge computing addresses near real-time processing needs. Edge servers are not just meeting current demands but are poised to become even more critical in the future.
The Future is Edge: 5G and AI Integration
While 5G networks are already operational, we are only beginning to realize their full potential and the crucial role of edge servers in optimizing 5G performance. As Guntrip noted, edge servers are instrumental in helping telecommunications companies manage 5G traffic efficiently. Locating edge servers near cell towers will be essential for handling the data influx from smart vehicles and advanced camera systems, for example.
AI and machine learning are also significant drivers for the growth of edge computing. Sami from West Monroe emphasizes that cloud computing’s vast processing power has made it ideal for training complex AI/ML models. However, edge servers bridge the gap between the cloud and on-premises environments, optimizing data flow.
“An edge server in the cloud allows organizations to access historical analysis or pull down models for use in real-time analytics in their on-premises data,” Sami explains. “The AI/ML scenario is a prime example of how to centralize heavy compute workloads by utilizing edge servers. If an enterprise wanted to analyze on-premises data in real-time, having an edge server locally with a cloud-trained model allows them to leverage cloud compute power without having to send massive amounts of local data at the point of analysis.”
Edge and Hybrid Computing: A Natural Partnership
The synergy between edge computing and hybrid cloud architectures is undeniable. Edge computing is a key factor driving enterprises toward hybrid cloud strategies, as it inherently embodies a hybrid approach to computing.
Gordon Haff, Technology Evangelist at Red Hat, emphasizes this point: “Edge computing has emerged as one of the most important drivers [of hybrid cloud] given that edge is an explicitly hybrid approach to computing.”
Edge servers, when integrated into a hybrid cloud framework, can dramatically enhance speed and reliability. This aligns with the “right tool for the right job” principle, where edge servers optimize specific workloads within the broader hybrid environment. Stephen Blum, CTO at PubNub, notes that edge computing can even lead to significant productivity gains in enterprise settings.
Furthermore, edge and hybrid approaches provide IT leaders with flexibility. Stu Miniman, Director of Market Insights on the Red Hat cloud platforms team, highlights the growing reality of hybrid and multi-cloud environments, stating, “If there is any remaining argument that hybrid or multi-cloud is a reality, the growth of edge solidifies this truth: When we think about where data and applications live, they will be in many places.”
Miniman also points out the diverse perspectives on edge computing across different sectors: “The discussion of edge is very different if you are talking to a telco company, one of the public cloud providers, or a typical enterprise.” He emphasizes the importance of collaboration with vendors to ensure edge deployments are seamlessly integrated into the overall distributed hybrid environment, particularly within the context of Kubernetes and cloud-native ecosystems.
Enhanced Reliability with Edge Servers
From a reliability perspective, edge servers offer the advantage of increased points of presence (PoPs). In traditional setups, if a server fails, the next closest PoP might be geographically distant, leading to performance degradation. However, with a denser network of edge servers, failures can be mitigated more effectively.
Blum explains, “Edge can re-route the application execution path to the next-nearest point-of-presence, providing fewer interruptions while maintaining a positive high-speed workday experience.”
Ultimately, the core benefit of edge servers for end-users is faster speeds and reduced loading times, achieved by bringing application data closer to their devices.
“The closer the server to your phone or computer, the faster the app – and the happier and more productive the team is,” Blum concludes.
Edge servers are not just a technological trend; they are a fundamental shift in how we approach network infrastructure, paving the way for a more responsive, reliable, and efficient digital future.
