Data Center is moving to the Edge

 In the next few years, it is estimated that half of all the data we create will be processed at the edge, near the point where it is produced for collection and analysis. The data center will remain a critical piece of IT infrastructure, but its role is morphing to support rapidly evolving remote locations with full IT stacks of compute, storage, and networking resources.  

Traditional enterprise data centers are being augmented by distributed and virtualized data centers, extending out toward where data is captured: public clouds, and an increasing number of edge data centers. This distribution of data collection and analysis signals a move from data centers to centers of data, changing infrastructure, and operational strategies along the way.

One catalyst for the evolution is the changing nature of data. For one, the number of network-connected cameras alone will double in the next 5 years – each pumping out huge amounts of data. Already, three-quarters of network endpoints are computer science vs computer engineering salary devices. Meanwhile, traditional enterprise application delivery and physical plant operations are moving to common infrastructure. Increasingly, real-time decision-making and actions will be universally desirable as more physical plant machinery and infrastructure gets connected.