8 edge computing trends to watch in 2021>
The Enterprisers Project – Stephanie Overby
Noting the steady maturation of edge computing capabilities, Forrester analysts said, âItâs time to step up investment in edge computing,â in their recent Predictions 2020: Edge Computing report. As edge computing emerges as ever more important to business strategy and operations, here are eight trends IT leaders will want to keep an eye on in the year ahead.

1) Edge meets more AI/ML Machine learning at the edge will enable faster decision-making. âMoreover, the amalgamation of edge and AI will further drive real-time personalization,â predicts Mukesh Ranjan, practice director with management consultancy and research firm Everest Group.

2) Cloud and edge providers explore partnerships IDC predicts a quarter of organizations will improve business agility by integrating edge data with applications built on cloud platforms by 2024) That will require partnerships across cloud and communications service providers, with some pairing up already beginning between wireless carriers and the major public cloud providers.

3) Edge management takes center stage âThe discussion of edge is very different if you are talking to a telco company, one of the public cloud providers, or a typical enterprise,â Miniman adds. âWhen it comes to Kubernetes and the cloud-native ecosystem, there are many technology-driven solutions competing for mindshare and customer interest. While telecom giants are already extending their NFV solutions into the edge discussion, there are many options for enterprises. Edge becomes part of the overall distributed nature of hybrid environments, so users should work closely with their vendors to make sure the edge does not become an island of technology with a specialized skill set.â

4) IT and operational technology begin to converge 5) Edge eases connected ecosystem adoption Edge not only enables and enhances the use of IoT, but it also makes it easier for organizations to participate in the connected ecosystem with minimized network latency and bandwidth issues, says Manali Bhaumik, lead analyst at technology research and advisory firm ISG. 6) COVID-19 drives innovation at the edge âFrom social distancing to thermal imaging, safety device assurance and operational changes such as daily cleaning and sanitation activities, computer vision is an essential technology to accelerate solutions that turn raw IoT data (from video/cameras) into actionable insights,â Mann says. Retailers, for example, can use computer vision solutions to identify when people are violating the storeâs social distance policy. 7) Private 5G adoption increases âUse cases such as factory floor automation, augmented and virtual reality within field service management, and autonomous vehicles will drive the adoption of private 5G networks,â says Ranjan of Everest Group. Expect more maturity in this area in the year ahead, Ranjan says.

8) Edge improves data security As organizations adopt DevSecOps and take a âdesign for securityâ approach, edge is becoming a major consideration for the CSO to enable secure cloud-based solutions, says Pace Harmonâs Wright.
Link: https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2020/12/8-edge-computing-trends-2021