Top 10 edge computing vendors to watch

Due to advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor technology, there is a growing need to process data at or near the location where it is collected. By bringing computing power closer to the data collection device, the system can take advantage of lower latency to provide near real-time insights to users. This helps accelerate data analysis, authentication, and more. However, the edge can also be used to filter data sets so that only the right data is sent to the cloud or data center for processing. Edge computing utilizes data, but it also requires tools such as micro data centers, analytics platforms, smart routers, gateways, and more. Here are 10 edge computing vendors worth watching.

[[252079]]

1. Microsoft

The three cloud giants (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud) are all big on the edge computing space because they are building “edge gateways and edge analytics for their IoT offerings to help manage the distribution of workloads across edge and cloud services,” according to Forrester Research analyst Brian Hopkins.

Microsoft has 300 patents in the field, many of which focus on content streaming. The company also recently launched its Azure IoT Edge service, which consists of a container module, an edge runtime and a cloud-based management interface.

2. Amazon

Amazon Web Services (AWS) also provides a large number of tools that make it easy to use edge computing. For example, Lambda@Edge allows users to run serverless functions in response to events without configuring any servers, while AWS CloudFront content delivery infrastructure and AWS Greengrass IoT services can help build an impressive edge product portfolio.

3. Dell EMC

In October 2017, Dell created the Internet of Things division to integrate the company's products and services, and plans to invest $1 billion in research and development over the next three years. The main elements include Edge Gateways, VMware's Pulse IoT Center, PowerEdge C Series servers, Isilon storage and Pivotal Cloud Foundry.

At its IoT Lab, Dell is also working on several IoT/edge initiatives, including Project Nautilus (real-time analytics and streaming storage); Project Fire (a hyperconverged platform with simplified management, local compute, storage and IoT applications); Project IRIS (an RSA project that extends security to the edge of the network); and Project Worldwide Herd (analyzing geographically dispersed data).

The tools will be used to support edge computing solutions for the Internet of Things and the mobile edge. “Mobile edge computing is an interesting offshoot for telecom companies as they try to make their high-bandwidth cellular networks more profitable,” Hopkins said.

4. HPE

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) recently made a $4 billion investment in its edge networking portfolio. Hopkins said HP offers "edge services, mini data centers and smart routers," which makes it attractive compared to other vendors because it can cover a wide range of tools to support edge computing. In particular, HPE's Edgeline series integrates edge systems and is designed to provide "enterprise-grade IT at the edge." HPE's value proposition is that business technology (OT) - data acquisition systems, control systems and industrial networks - and IT systems at the edge will reduce operating costs and improve performance.

5. FogHorn

FogHorn is a small software vendor focused on bringing intelligence to IoT deployments. The company describes its Lightning platform as enabling “advanced monitoring and diagnostics, machine performance optimization, proactive maintenance and a new class of applications for operational intelligence use cases.”

Ian Hughes, senior analyst for IoT at 451 Research, described FogHorn as a “high priority” and noted that it’s a company to watch for bringing machine learning to the edge.

6. IBM

Scientists at IBM Research are working on a peer-to-peer mesh network technology that allows nearby mobile devices to communicate without a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. This mesh technology could leverage IBM's research in edge computing -- based on foundational technologies such as the Watson IoT platform -- to provide customized alerts and other capabilities.

7. Rigado

Leveraging its Cascade routers, Rigado offers an edge-as-a-service solution that features secure connectivity and performance monitoring. It’s an out-of-the-box solution that makes it easy to use edge computing. 451 Research’s Hughes noted that the company also uses “Ubuntu Snaps to manage customer applications at the edge.”

8. Cisco

Cisco is another networking giant that's taking edge computing very seriously, with a slew of routers, access points, and more. The Cisco Industrial Compute Gateway IC3000, for example, offers built-in security and manageability, which helps speed up the transformation of data insights into decisions.

9. ClearBlade

ClearBlade focuses primarily on IoT use cases, providing a core middleware platform for IoT that the company says delivers 100% uptime. ClearBlade’s platform can run in the cloud, on-premises, or at the edge, and allows enterprises to “ingest, analyze, adapt, and act on any data in real time and at scale.” ClearBlade Edge runs autonomously on devices and gateways, independent of network connectivity, using communication-agnostic AutoSync technology to ensure the environment is always up to date.

Another unique aspect is that ClearBlade’s platform “allows for orchestration of multiple layers and multiple edge compute instances,” Hughes said.

10. Saguna

Saguna provides multi-access edge cloud (MEC) computing solutions for communication service providers and application developers. The company's flagship product is Saguna Open-RAN, which enables customers to develop, deploy, manage and automate edge cloud platforms and edge applications. According to Saguna, Open-RAN provides ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) and enables 5G capabilities on existing 4G networks. The company also provides MEC starter kits to make it easier for organizations to adopt edge computing.

Original link: https://www.zdnet.com/article/10-edge-computing-vendors-to-watch/