Vertiv, formerly known as Emerson Network Power, has released the report "Defining the Four Edge Archetypes and Their Technology Requirements," a comprehensive analysis based on research into Edge Computing use cases, which identifies four main archetypes for edge applications and the technology needed to support them.Vertiv's Edge experts, along with an independent consultant, identified more than 100 use cases and narrowed the list down to the 24 that are estimated to have the greatest impact on businesses and end users, based on their growth forecasts, critical importance, and economic impact.
The experts identified data sets focused on workload requirements for each edge use case and the corresponding performance, availability, and security needs. In this regard, they studied specific performance requirements, including latency, availability, scalability, and security, along with the need for encryption, authentication, and regulatory compliance. They also analyzed the need for integration with existing or legacy applications and other data sources, while considering the number of edge locations within a given network.
“The opportunity presented by edge computing is significant, but so is its complexity. The goal of this research is to shed more light on the main edge use cases and their implications for the design and operation of digital infrastructure,” said Giordano Albertazzi, President of Vertiv in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “By analyzing which benefits are truly meaningful in all their different forms—from content delivery to autonomous vehicles—we can help our customers, partners, and other stakeholders streamline and focus their edge strategies.”.
The four archetypes are:
• Data-intensive applications – This includes use cases where the amount of data makes direct transfer over the network to the cloud or from the cloud to the point of use impossible due to issues with data volume, cost, or bandwidth. Examples include smart cities, factories, and homes/buildings, high-definition content distribution, high-performance computing, limited connectivity, virtual reality, and the digitization of oil and gas. The most common example is high-definition content distribution, where major content providers like Amazon and Netflix actively partner with colocation providers to extend distribution networks, bringing data-intensive streaming videos closer to users and thus reducing costs and latency.
• Human Latency Sensitive Applications – This archetype includes use cases where services are optimized for human consumption, and speed is paramount. Delays in information delivery negatively impact the user experience with the technology, likely contributing to reduced profitability and sales for the retailer. Use cases include smart retailing, augmented reality, web optimization, and Natural Language Processing (NLP – a field of computer science, artificial intelligence, and linguistics that studies the interactions between computers and human language).
• Machine-to-machine latency-sensitive applications – Speed is also the defining characteristic of this model, which includes stock trading, smart grids, smart security, real-time analytics, low-latency content distribution, and defense force simulations. Because machines can process information much faster than humans, the consequences of slow distribution are far greater than in the human-latency model. For example, delays in commodity and stock trading, where prices fluctuate in milliseconds, can turn potential profits into losses.
• Life-Crucial Applications – This model encompasses use cases that directly impact human health and safety. Therefore, speed and reliability are vital. Use cases include smart transportation, digital health, connected/autonomous cars, autonomous robots, and drones. For example, autonomous vehicles must have updated information to operate safely, as must drones, which can be used for e-commerce and parcel delivery.
“As edge computing continues to evolve and grow, our goal is to illuminate and simplify the critical infrastructure needed to support its future by visualizing a wide range of cutting-edge applications through the lens of the most impactful archetypes,” said Martin Olsen, vice president of global edge and integrated solutions at Vertiv. “Vertiv is building on this initial phase of our research to establish the technology requirements for each archetype in order to help accelerate edge deployments and ensure that the on-premises infrastructure provides the security, speed, and availability that a given application demands.”.
