In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, managing and scaling modern edge environments efficiently has become a critical challenge for enterprises. As organizations increasingly rely on edge technologies, from IoT (Internet of Things) devices to advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) solutions, the ability to process data at the edge is paramount for driving productivity, improving product quality, and gaining real-time insights. In a recent AnalystANGLE conversation on TheCUBE, Said Ouissal, founder and CEO of ZEDEDA, joined to discuss the growing importance of edge computing and how ZEDEDA’s solutions are helping businesses create cloud-like experiences for their modern edge environments.
The Growing Importance of Modern Edge Environments
Organizations are rapidly deploying connected IoT and OT (Operational Technology) devices and sensors while simultaneously increasing the use of AI workloads at the edge, including applications like computer vision and real-time analytics. As a result, businesses must process vast amounts of data that is generated at the edge to gain meaningful insights and increase productivity and quality.
Said Ouissal confirmed that edge computing is at a pivotal moment. “We’re seeing an inflection point in the market where companies are moving from talking about edge to actually deploying it,” he said. Two trends, in particular, are driving this shift: the ubiquitous adoption of cloud computing and the exponential increase in data being generated outside traditional cloud and data center environments. Devices in factories, machines, and even cars are producing immense amounts of data that must be processed close to where it’s generated.
“You have two options,” Ouissal explained. “Either you upload all that data to the cloud to process it, or you figure out how to take cloud-native software and push it to the edge, running it close to the data sources in highly distributed environments.”
This shift to edge computing represents a natural evolution in the cloud journey. Cloud-native applications, which originated in the public cloud, are now increasingly being deployed in edge environments where businesses can process data in real time, avoiding latency issues associated with sending data back and forth between edge devices and the cloud.
Overcoming the Challenges of Scaling Modern Edge Environments
Deploying and managing edge environments comes with unique challenges. These edge environments are highly distributed, often lack IT resources on-site, and need reliable connectivity, security, and hardware/software consistency. With many edge locations being remote or less accessible, the cost of maintaining and managing these environments manually can be prohibitive.
Said Ouissal agreed, highlighting three key challenges faced by organizations:
Diversity of Edge Environments: Each edge environment is unique, with different hardware configurations, network conditions, and data processing requirements. Legacy devices often interface with modern cloud-native applications, creating a complex ecosystem that needs to be managed.
Security Concerns: Edge nodes, unlike centralized cloud or data center environments, may not be physically secure. This introduces risks like theft or tampering with edge devices, in addition to the usual network security concerns.
Scaling: Managing thousands or even tens of thousands of edge nodes presents significant operational challenges. Ensuring consistent updates, monitoring, and fault tolerance across large, distributed environments is a complex task. As Ouissal noted, even a single misstep in updating edge devices can have widespread repercussions.
ZEDEDA’s Solutions for Edge Orchestration
ZEDEDA is tackling these challenges head-on with an open-source, cloud-native edge operating system called EVE. This lightweight OS, designed specifically for edge environments, focuses on security, flexibility, and scalability. “It’s based on Linux, much like how Android uses Linux for mobile devices, but we’ve further enhanced it to create a small, secure edge operating system,” Ouissal said. EVE-OS allows businesses to deploy and manage both modern and legacy applications on diverse edge hardware, without the need for manual intervention.
In addition to EVE-OS`, ZEDEDA offers an edge orchestration service that runs in the cloud, allowing organizations to manage thousands of edge nodes as if they were cloud-based resources. This orchestration service acts much like AWS or Azure dashboards, providing a central control point for deploying and managing applications across distributed edge environments.
Importantly, ZEDEDA’s architecture is designed to account for the intermittent connectivity common in edge environments. “If a node can’t connect to the cloud service due to network issues, it continues to operate normally,” Ouissal explained. “When it reconnects, it syncs with the latest updates and telemetry data.” This eventual consistency model ensures that even in remote, hard-to-reach locations, edge environments remain functional and up to date.
Real-World Applications of ZEDEDA’s Edge Solutions
Ouissal shared several real-world examples of how ZEDEDA’s solutions are being leveraged by businesses across various industries. One notable customer is BOBST, a Swiss company that manufactures packaging machines. These machines, which produce items like carton boxes and wine boxes, rely on ZEDEDA’s edge solution to enable remote software updates and new capabilities. This allows BOBST to offer its customers CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery) functionality, enabling regular software updates without the need for manual intervention.
Another example comes from the oil and gas industry, where ZEDEDA’s solutions are being used to manage edge nodes in extreme environments, such as offshore drilling sites and desert locations. These edge nodes enable real-time data analysis on-site, improving the speed and accuracy of well-site monitoring operations.
ZEDEDA’s solutions are also being used by one of the world’s largest automotive companies to manage over 10,000 edge nodes in dealerships and service centers. These nodes replace traditional laptops used to service and update vehicle software, streamlining the process and ensuring security. “Not all cars can receive over-the-air updates,” Ouissal noted, “so these edge nodes are essential for providing after-sales service at dealerships.”
In addition to direct customer engagements, ZEDEDA also partners with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like Rockwell Automation and Emerson, who embed ZEDEDA’s edge solutions into their own products. This allows manufacturers to offer edge computing capabilities to their customers, particularly in industries like manufacturing and process automation.
The Future of Modern Edge Environments
As edge environments become more complex and widespread, the need for scalable, secure, and efficient management solutions will only grow. With its open-source EVE operating system and edge orchestration platform, ZEDEDA is well-positioned to help organizations navigate these challenges and unlock the full potential of edge computing.
Ouissal’s insights highlighted the growing importance of real-time data processing at the edge and the necessity of having a robust management platform to scale these environments. For businesses across industries — from manufacturing and automotive to oil and gas—ZEDEDA’s solutions are helping drive efficiency, productivity, and innovation at the edge.
For more information about how ZEDEDA can power your edge environments, visit their website.
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