Aruba report details increased utilisation of edge computing

New research from enterprise networking firm Aruba, part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, has revealed that more companies are embracing edge computing.

The practice of edge computing involves processing data closer to the places in which it is generated, rather than in a central location. This has become necessary owing to the vast volumes of data generated both by users and IoT devices connected to networks.

As part of its “At the Edge of Change: Navigating the New Data Era” report, the company commissioned a survey which found that 44% of UK IT decision makers in the UK are already actively using Edge technologies, while 57% said that edge systems were at least “somewhat” urgent.

In a press release, Partha Narasimhan, CTO and HPE Senior Fellow for Aruba, said: “This research suggests that the vast majority of IT leaders are already embracing the Edge or are preparing to.

“Developing an Edge strategy against the backdrop of existing cloud implementations is becoming a necessity as the number of connected devices increases and it becomes impractical to transfer vast volumes of data to a cloud or data center environment, especially as organisations undergo digital transformation to advance their business objectives and address customer needs.” 

Other standout findings included the act that 78% of IT decision makers in “production deployments with edge technologies” said that the data collected could be used to improve the business. However, a lack of skills, security considerations and cost were cited as the main stopping blocks for wider adoption.

Narasimhan added: “Harnessing insights at the Edge is an opportunity for enterprises to revolutionise their approach to data and unlock its value as a business asset. Organisations that can process, store and analyse data at the Edge will be able to use that data first to optimise their existing business model, and over time, will develop innovative products, services and experiences that will not only augment, but transform their offerings for customers and employees.”