What Is an Edge Server? The Secret to Low Latency and Smarter Tech

Some people just thrive living their lives on the edge, and I’m certainly not one of them. Anything that has to do with seeking adrenaline highs is on my nope list. I can’t even stand near a railing on a balcony for too long without feeling queasy.

But there is one case where I don’t mind the thought of teetering on the edge: edge computing.

An edge server is a computer or device located at the edge of a network that performs processing, storage, networking, and security.

Edge computing is the secret to low latency and the performance of your favorite IoT solutions, such as fitness trackers and smart locks. As it happens, edge servers play a crucial role in this computing process.

Below, I’ll take you through the edge basics, how an edge server works, and why you might want its services on your side. I promise I’ll keep you from falling off track.

Edge servers are named after their location — the edge of a network. But the edge doesn’t just describe one location.

As it happens, the edge also has a spectrum, and edge servers can operate all along it, from on-premises edge to regional edge locations.

Edge servers are the hardware components or resources that help facilitate edge computing. They serve as an entry point into a network and as the connection between separate networks.

Core Functions

Remember that spectrum I mentioned earlier? Well, just like wavelengths on a visible light spectrum, edge servers can have different faces depending on where they land on the spectrum.

The nature of an edge server can range from network and CDN server setups to a camera with virtualized infrastructure. But they are all connected on the basis of functionality.

Although there are different types of edge servers, they all provide the same benefits. They are the muscle behind edge computing and much of our daily lives.

Edge servers support edge computing by bringing data processing closer to the source through their strategic positioning. Providers place edge servers close to the end user or source, so the servers can connect and process data with better speed and latency.

How Edge Servers Differ from Traditional Cloud Servers

Although the cloud has revolutionized hosting, edge servers have the power to increase performance to another level for a whole new class of applications. Think of cloud hosting as the car, and edge computing is the turbocharger you add on to spark faster speeds.

Cloud hosting has become the foundation for business processes. It offers users a redundant network of servers to power their most critical applications and workloads.

But edge servers can serve as a great complementary solution to cloud infrastructure. We all know cloud computing can do a lot of things, but everything has its limitations. This is where edge computing comes in.

Unlike cloud networks, edge servers are decentralized, which is its most prized characteristic and differentiator. Since they aren’t tethered to a single line, edge servers can operate at more locations or Points of Presence (PoPs) across the world to distribute workloads closer to the end user.

By operating on “the edge,” edge networks can shorten the distance between devices and resources, improve data processing speeds, and reach the end user with reduced latency.

Another thing to note is that cloud computing uses data centers to power its global network. While edge computing also uses data centers, it can also leverage local servers, on-premises routers, and other endpoint devices.

Unlike other server types, edge servers rely on a decentralized computing model to distribute and process data tasks. But how does this model work exactly? I’ll get to that next.

Basic Architecture

Everything starts from somewhere. As for edge computing, it starts with a central data center.

I know you’re probably thinking, didn’t she just say edge servers were decentralized? Well, you’re right, they are, but only in how they distribute processing tasks.

Edge architecture is all about outward motion. It starts with core infrastructure, which distributes the resources to the edge servers, and then the edge servers connect with edge networks and gateways, which brings us to the end-user device.

Data Flow

To see how edge servers work in real-time, let’s take a smart home’s security system, for example. Imagine you have a multilayered cloud-based surveillance system fixed with all the bells and whistles — sensors, doorbell cameras, alarms, etc.

Your provider equipped the system with real-time monitoring and data processing to ensure your household is secure around the clock. This is where edge computing fits into the puzzle.

Edge computing allows your system to collect and analyze data to determine whether something is suspicious or not in real time.

With edge servers processing your data locally, you and the operator of your system can receive alerts quicker to handle any threats that may come your way.

Caching and Content Delivery

Content delivery networks are the performance backbone of the internet. Without CDNs, we wouldn’t be able to browse and surf the web with such convenience. Instead, it would fill like a traffic jam every time we hopped on the new site, waiting our turn to browse a site.

Edge servers are a part of the hardware setup that helps power CDNs. Servers are geographically distributed to cache static and dynamic content at the location closest to an end user, shortening the distance of the data transmission between the resource and the end device.

Caching content locally improves loading times and allows site visitors to gain faster access. So whether you’re watching Netflix or shopping on Amazon, edge computing is there to make your user experience worthwhile.

Have you ever been at the edge of your seat watching a movie when your streaming service begins to buffer at the best part? Not the best feeling.

Unfortunately, the culprit more often than not could be high latency. Thankfully, high latency is one of the many pain points an edge server can help solve. I’ll share more below.

Reduced Latency

Whenever you take action on an app or a network, you start a data transmission. The time delay between when a server sends the data packet and when you get a response is called latency.

But the thing is the farther away the source server is, the longer it can take for a data transmission to be executed. This is why proximity matters.

Edge servers help decrease lag and increase speed by shortening the distance between users’ devices and the resources they’re requesting.

Improved Data Processing and Bandwidth Efficiency

Edge servers process data in closer proximity to end users than other types of servers. They improve data processing by handling data locally instead of sending it to a centralized cloud, allowing end users to experience better performance.

They also help with bandwidth. If you’ve ever owned a website, you would know bandwidth doesn’t come abundantly. Edge servers can help here by mitigating bandwidth constraints.

Since an edge server processes data closer to the user, it can optimize how data is transferred between your website and your visitors. This way, it takes the toll off of your traffic management and your central server.

Enhanced Security

Did you know that core banking systems use edge computing? It’s because of one word — security!

Thanks to their decentralized nature and processing, edge networks are able to isolate data and keep it from being exposed to outside networks.

With edge servers, data jumps through fewer hoops and travels less, which means it is less likely to run into a bad actor. It also allows your system to avoid single points of failure.

Scalability for IoT and AI Applications

As technology becomes more demanding, edge servers will become more and more essential. And they’re already meeting the needs of emerging technologies, such as AI.

Built for blazing-fast, real-time data processing, edge servers have the power to support demanding technologies, including IoT and AI applications.

Solutions with large and scaling databases need infrastructure that can handle their spikes in growth.

Edge computing can help providers scale volume and accelerate data processing by serving as supplementary hardware support. This way, providers can reach more users and do so faster.

You can think of edge servers as songwriters. They are integral to some of the most important processes in the world but don’t always get the glory. Oftentimes they and the part they play go unknown.

Similarly, edge servers are the power behind some of your favorite pastimes and critical infrastructure that keeps this world going round. Below, we’ll take a look at their most popular use cases and applications.

IoT Devices

It’s the Internet of Things’s world, and we’re just living in it. The IoT has revolutionized almost every traditional process, making everything from manufacturing to vacuuming smart.

As it happens, the IoT wouldn’t have been able to transform and digitize our world without edge servers.

The purpose of IoT devices is to connect and exchange data between devices and systems over the internet. Edge servers facilitate this action by processing that data close to the source.

By processing the data locally with edge servers, IoT devices can operate in real time and perform tasks more efficiently. This way, you can ask your home’s voice assistant for recipe recommendations and bake those five-star-rated cookies without delay.

AR/VR and Gaming

We all know every enjoyable gaming experience comes down to performance. I surely wouldn’t want to hop on Minecraft and agonize through lags as I chop down trees and run from zombies. The same with AR/VR experiences. And this is why edge computing is so important.

Edge servers support the low latency all gamers seek. Just like with CDNs, they accelerate content delivery and reduce the delay between a gameplay action and the response, enabling users to have a more seamless gaming experience.

Healthcare and Remote Monitoring

In healthcare, changes happen fast. And monitoring is crucial to ensuring healthcare providers catch every shift in a patient’s condition.

Continuous health monitoring requires quick data and processing — both of which edge servers provide. With edge computing, doctors can analyze patient data in real time through sensors and wearable devices, allowing for immediate medical intervention.

Another highlight of edge computing is that it enables critical systems to process data without constant network connectivity. So that means hospital systems and other setups that require remote monitoring, like oil rigs, don’t have to rely on continuous cloud connectivity to function.

Retail and eCommerce

Did you know that edge computing enhances customer experience and improves reliability for retail and eCommerce as well?

Edge servers allow users to overcome downtime and decrease loading times because they bring the data processing on-site near the source instead of sending data to central servers and waiting for the response.

This way, retailers can offer a seamless customer experience, whether for in-store self-checkout or eCommerce browsing.

We’ve reviewed how edge servers can help improve processes for companies and end users. But now we have to look at some of its downsides. Below, I’ll discuss the primary challenges faced while implementing edger servers.

If you’re looking for a performance enhancer, the edge could be your solution. Edge servers have proven themselves to be effective in boosting everything from data processing and reliability to user experience and security.

Edge computing can make a great addition to your cloud and IoT systems, enabling you to reach your end users faster and act on new changes without delay.

Take your solutions to the edge and feel the adrenaline rush of better performance and smarter tech. Don’t worry — you won’t fall off.