INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
When we think about cloud computing, we often picture large data centers in major capital cities where the biggest hubs are located
lengths up the winding road ahead
The faster your car can react, the safer you are
If that data had to travel to a far-off cloud server in London and back, even a tiny delay could be a problem and cause an incident
But if that task is performed with an edge Native App, the response happens almost instantly, right where it matters.
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This can
happen because the app is supported by an edge server in a regional city like Edinburgh, or a local town, or even a specific internet point
This geographical shift in where computing actually happens makes a big difference in speed and efficiency.The same principles apply to
whether the mobile phone is also in Marseilles, whether the transaction originates from a familiar device, and even subtle behavioral cues
like typing speed or touch patterns.By making this decision instantly at the edge, rather than relying on a central fraud system in Paris,
the app can block fraudulent activity while avoiding unnecessary card declines for genuine users
This results in both stronger security and a smoother customer experience.John BradshawSocial Links NavigationDirector for Cloud Computing
Technology and Strategy EMEA at Akamai.Specific definitions Now that we understand some use cases and why distance matters, what do edge and
native actually mean?Simply put, the "edge" is where the action happens
wearable health device, or real-time energy grid monitoring
If apps, data and computing power can happen closer to the edge where it is needed, the service the end-user enjoys will be faster and more
efficient, compared to a more traditional centralized data center architecture."Native" means the application is designed specifically for
that environment, just like mobile apps are built differently for phones and tablets
natively built for that device.Edge native apps work the same way
low, enabling them to be run at the edge rather than in a centralized data center.What are the key features?An edge-native application is
software designed to run primarily at that this edge of the internet, close to users or data sources, rather than in centralized data
These apps use distributed edge computing infrastructure to give businesses several key benefits when compared to traditional
applications.Speed and low latency is a key advantage
Edge native apps allow businesses to move faster by making it easier for data to be processed closer to users, rather than waiting for it to
travel to a distant cloud data center
A great example is in the telecom sector
Imagine a customer based in London landing in Barcelona and instantly needing access to their organization's cloud firewall
With an edge-native approach, those services can be deployed locally, avoiding unnecessary delays.Open source software also plays a crucial
role, making edge native apps more interoperable and flexible
Enterprise-grade solutions like NATS.io and Kubeflow offer robust support while allowing workflows to move freely between environments
without major rework.What about cost? Well, with data travelling shorter distances, businesses can reduce costs associated with bandwidth,
latency, and cloud processing fees
Instead of constantly sending data back and forth to centralized cloud servers, edge native apps handle processing locally, making
operations more efficient and cost-effective
while optimizing performance.Another big advantage of edge native applications is data locality
Edge native applications, by their very design, store and use data closer to where it is generated
This improves privacy, enhances efficiency, and helps ensure compliance with data sovereignty requirements.Real world applicationsWhile most
Industries like manufacturing, defense, and agriculture are leading the way, using edge technology for predictive maintenance,
become the standard, not the exception.The future of cloud For businesses looking to stay ahead, now is the time to embrace edge Native
Enterprises can optimize infrastructure, improve performance, and reduce costs by shifting away from traditional, centralized cloud models
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