CIO OPINION
A well-configured edge network can significantly improve the performance of applications that are hosted in the cloud .
Paul Gampe , CTO , Console Connect
Why the automated edge is the new frontier for business networks
Paul Gampe , CTO , Console Connect , says if businesses truly want to harness the potential of IoT they must consider moving to the edge .
The constant rush to adopt new technologies can quickly have an adverse effect on business networks – hindering bandwidth , connectivity and eventually their bottom line .
To overcome this problem , forward-thinking companies are now embracing the network edge .
This zone is of critical importance because it defines your network security boundary and is the first line of defence against threats from the public internet .
This includes firewalls , routers , switches , sensors , and other access points that exist at the boundary of networks .
But what exactly is the edge ? And how can it improve your operations without compromising latency , performance or security ?
Your network edge exists wherever there is an edge device or ‘ thing ’ that facilitates traffic crossing from one network to another .
In general terms , the edge of a network is the boundary between your business network and the public internet .
It ’ s the zone where traffic from the internet enters your private network and vice versa .
These edge devices can include mobile phones , laptops , data centres , company offices , home routers and all manner of emerging applications that will become more commonplace as more users make up the rise of IoT .
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