Edge computing vs cloud computing

Table of contents

What is the difference between edge computing and cloud computing?

Advantages of edge computing

Advantages of cloud computing

How to choose between edge and cloud computing

Working with Focus Group

Edge computing vs cloud computing​ - which one would fit your business operations best? Picking the perfect IT solution can’t be an overnight decision; you’ll want to know all the facts before making a choice.

With cloud computing working in remote data centres and edge computing bringing things closer to home, both options play a crucial role in processing and managing data. But which is best for you?

Let's jump into all you need to know about cloud computing vs edge computing​; the differences and benefits of both, and find which one suits your business best!

What is the difference between edge computing and cloud computing?

So, what is edge computing vs cloud computing​? In a nutshell, differs primarily in where data processing occurs. But that’s just scratching the surface of what both IT infrastructures offer. Let’s explore a few of the key differences that will help you make an informed decision.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing delivers services that centralise data storage and processing in remote data centres. Often run by a third-party provider who does the heavy lifting for you, they'll handle storage, backup, processing and networking over the internet, allowing your business to access resources on demand.

According to reports, 83% of respondents say that the cloud is very or extremely important to their business's future strategy and growth. On top of that, cloud models include public, private, and hybrid solutions, supporting diverse applications from data analytics to artificial intelligence.

Edge computing

Edge computing is a subsection of cloud computing. However, instead of relying on centralised cloud data centres, edge computing is a distributed computing model that processes data closer to its source, for example in smaller edge data centres or on the premises, like your office, instead.

Edge computing is particularly useful in scenarios requiring immediate data processing, such as IoT devices, sensors, or local servers. And so, while cloud computing excels in scalability, edge computing provides faster, localised data processing for time-sensitive and critical applications.

Advantages of edge computing

1. Lower Latency Lower latency in edge computing enables real-time data processing by reducing the time it takes for information to travel between devices and servers. This is crucial for applications where instant decision-making enhances performance, safety, and overall efficiency in time-sensitive operations.
2. Data sovereignty By keeping data processes at the location where it's collected, you remove the reliance on external cloud providers, enhancing data sovereignty. This ensures compliance with regional data regulations, enhances privacy, and minimises risks of unauthorised access. Businesses and governments can maintain greater control over their data, improving security while meeting legal and regulatory requirements efficiently.
3. Reduced bandwidth By processing data locally, you reduce bandwidth usage, minimising the need to transmit large volumes of information to centralised cloud servers. Ultimately, this decreases network congestion, lowers costs, and improves efficiency, making it ideal for IoT, video streaming, and remote monitoring applications where continuous data transmission can be expensive and impractical.

Advantages of cloud computing

1. IT-management Cloud computing offloads infrastructure maintenance, software updates, and security to third-party cloud providers and management experts. This reduces the need for dedicated IT teams, allowing your business to focus on innovation and operations while still benefiting from automated updates, seamless performance and reliability.
2. Flexible pricing Cloud computing allows businesses to pay only for the resources they use, scaling up or down based on demand. This flexible, pay-as-you-go model eliminates the need for large upfront investments in hardware and provides cost-efficiency, enabling your business to optimise expenses according to specific usage and growth needs.
3. Collaboration With everything running in real-time, teamwork and collaboration is easier than ever! Document sharing, editing and communication can happen anywhere, anytime. Ultimately, this allows for better communication across teams and smoother operations.

How to choose between edge and cloud computing

When it comes to edge vs cloud computing, it all depends on the factors we touched upon above. Latency, security, scalability, and cost are all factors you'll want to consider before making a decision.

So, let's go over some of the core reasons why you would choose one infrastructure over the other:

Choose Edge computing if:

• Low latency is critical – Applications like autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and remote healthcare require real-time processing.
• Bandwidth limitations exist – Reducing the need to send massive data to the cloud lowers costs and improves efficiency.
• Data sovereignty is a concern – Keeping sensitive data localised enhances security and compliance with regulations.
• Offline or unreliable connectivity is an issue – Edge devices can function independently even when cloud access is limited.
• Rapid decision-making is required – Ideal for AI-powered surveillance, robotics, and smart cities where immediate actions are necessary.

Choose Cloud computing if:

• Scalability is a priority– Cloud services easily accommodate growing data and processing demands.
• Centralised data management is needed – Ideal for big data analytics, AI training, and enterprise applications.
• Cost efficiency matters – Pay-as-you-go pricing eliminates the need for large upfront investments in hardware.
• Collaboration and remote access are essential – Cloud platforms enable global accessibility and seamless team collaboration.
• Long-term storage and backup are required – Cloud computing provides secure, scalable storage solutions.

Working with Focus Group

Whether you’re looking to move from edge to cloud computing​, vice versa, or even just kicking off your infrastructure journey, the IT experts at Focus Group are here to help! Our end-to-end approach accelerates risk-free cloud adoption, built around rigorous availability, security, connectivity and reliability standards.

With our relationship with world-leading cloud technology providers like Microsoft, we can create bespoke, hyper-connected and dynamic hybrid cloud environments that unify your infrastructure and free your data. If you want to know more,get in touch with our team today.