Drivers of edge computing growth with solutions


Johannesburg, 04 Nov 2019
  • Enterprise and cloud need unique solutions.
  • Edge computing grows in remote, regional areas.
  • Convergence of TO and IT needs new solutions.

Schneider Electric cites high-bandwidth content, Internet of things (IOT) aggregation and latency-sensitive applications as drivers of ‘edge’ computing growth.

“The ‘edge’ refers to IT resources, placed close to the end-user or data source, which present unique challenges compared to traditional data centres, as they are often remote and without local IT staff support,” explains George Senzere, Pre Sales Manager Anglophone ITD Global at Schneider Electric South Africa.

“This means they require a different strategy to that of a conventional data centre, as their lifecycle is longer and they must be easy to manage, secure and deploy, while also being resilient.

“As a global specialist in energy management and automation, we have the strategy and capabilities to support today’s and tomorrow’s IT enterprise, cloud and service providers requirements in these unique environments.”

Five environments in edge computing

“There are five environments impacted by edge deployment and Schneider Electric has the capability and infrastructure designed to support them.”

  1. Regional colocation/telco data centres where their customers’ use of high bandwidth content and latency-sensitive applications is driving the growth of these domains. To support this environment, Schneider Electric’s InfraStruxure architecture and prefabricated modules allow for the fast and modular build-out of a regional data centre for quick time-to-market and low operational costs.
  2. Remote and branch office locations, particularly in retail and banking sectors where IT services are being deployed to enrich the customer experience. The Schneider Electric SmartBunker CX and NetShelter SX provide highly secure, reliable and remotely managed one-rack solutions for these remote sites.
  3. Server rooms, where applications must be hosted on-premises for a variety of reasons such as latency, security and development flexibility. An increasing number of these applications are being hosted on converged and hyper-converged infrastructure, which simplifies the deployment and operation of the IT infrastructure. To support this environment, InfraStruxure and prefabricated Micro Data Centres provide ease of management, security and scalability.
  4. Network closets where the reliable connection of employees to all their IT resources has never been more critical to company productivity. Personnel in these environments can utilise Schneider Electric’s integrated, connected solutions and data centre management software, EcoStruxure, for simplifying management of distributed sites and ensuring potential equipment failures, security risks and environmental problems are identified before they cause downtime.
  5. Industrial sites where applications are increasingly connected, and they leverage data to operate their processes. This convergence of IT and OT (operational technology) requires traditional IT gear to be placed in potentially harsh environments. To support these sites, SmartBunker FX provides hardened, remotely managed solutions to house industrial control and IT equipment securely.

“As part of Schneider Electric’s commitment to simplification in the data centre, a full range of design tools and reference designs for edge solutions is available. A white paper on the drivers of edge computing is also available here or visit www.se.com/za,” concludes Senzere.

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Schneider Electric

At Schneider, we believe access to energy and digital is a basic human right. We empower all to make the most of their energy and resources, ensuring Life Is On everywhere, for everyone, at every moment.

We provide energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability. We combine world-leading energy technologies, real-time automation, software and services into integrated solutions for Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries.

We are committed to unleash the infinite possibilities of an open, global, innovative community that is passionate about our Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

For more information, go to www.se.com/za

Editorial contacts

Sli Dumakude
Marketing Business Partner
(+27) 11 254 6400
sli.dumakude@se.com