How Edge Servers Reduce Barriers to Data Accessibility & Sovereignty

With the increase in data sources, expanding technology and business users, there is more potential to gain value from vast amounts of data than ever. Despite data being the most widespread entity at the moment, many companies fail to leverage meaningful results out of it. It could have been because of data storage methods and inefficient workflows but even the latest technologies, such as Cloud, suffer from latency and network bottlenecks. Did you know 99% of companies invest in data, and out of which, only 24% are data-driven? While the numbers are exceedingly huge, its one cause is data accessibility. And there is one solution to it which is edge servers.  

 

Edge Servers and Data Accessibility:  

One of the biggest reasons for the popularity of edge servers is they reduce latency and make the data instantly accessible. They do so by processing the data closer to the end-user or devices. In short, they store and process data at the edge of the network (instead of a centralized cloud), thus reducing latency and bandwidth requirements.   

 

This distance reduction improves data accessibility, making it easier for users to access data in real-time (irrespective of location and connectivity). Moreover, edge servers improve data delivery, thus enabling faster and easy access to critical resources, thereby reducing barriers to data accessibility.  

 

How Do Edge Servers Enable Faster Data Accessibility?  

Edge servers help combat data accessibility issues for various organizations by employing the following key mechanisms.  

 

• Enabling Low Latency Data Transfer: Since the data gets stored and processed at the device’s or end users’ location, it removes the need for centralized cloud storage and thus distance travelled from source to cloud and any potential network bottlenecks. It ensures faster data accessibility, especially for real-time applications like self-driven cars, helping them reduce delays, avoid unexpected accidents and enhance user experience.  
• Optimizing Bandwidth: One of the benefits of edge servers is it filters and processes data locally (at the edge) and transmits only essential information to the data centres. Since the distance data transmission is minimal, it reduces bandwidth utilization and network congestion and enables smooth data retrieval.  
• Offers Data Access Even When User is Offline: Edge servers make this possible by caching the frequently accessed data. It enables the users to access the required information if offline or facing temporary connectivity issues.  
• Saves Redundant Data for Emergency: Edge servers also cover you for unexpected events such as data breaching, theft, natural disasters or any other concerns that may cause disruptions. By saving redundant copies of critical data both in the Cloud and on-premises data centres, edge servers help prevent potential downtime, thus ensuring business continuity with minimal loss in repairing and data retrieval.  

• Ensures Data Privacy and Security: Edge servers process data at its source. Hence, they reduce the need to send sensitive data to centralized servers, thus enhancing privacy. Moreover, through edge computing, companies can implement local security measures to reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.  
• Evenly Distributes the Workload: Edge servers don’t put the burden of processing massive data on one. Instead, they distribute the processing tasks across the network, thus reducing the piling on the centralized data centres. This kind of management offers users a smoother experience even during peak times.  

 

What is Data Sovereignty?  

Data Sovereignty can be simply defined as the laws or governmental policies applied to data based on the country where it is stored or originated and geographically located at present.  

 

How do Edge Servers Address Data Sovereignty Concerns?  

Edge computing (using edge servers) is one of the potent solutions to data sovereignty issues. In edge computing, data processing and storing are done closer to the source of data generation rather than in centralized data centres. It helps address data sovereignty issues by limiting the data within a country’s borders and subjecting it to its underlying laws. 

 

Moreover, edge computing improves data security and privacy by reducing unexpected risks that arise when transferring data across borders. In short, it helps businesses comply with local regulations and maintain data privacy and security. Additionally, you have added benefits of reduced latency, better network efficacy and the most reliable real-time data processing capabilities.  

 

Conclusion:  

Data Accessibility and Data Sovereignty are prime aspects for businesses to consider in today’s globalized world. Employing edge computing within the business process can help them address data sovereignty and accessibility concerns while providing additional benefits such as faster access to data, reduced latency, improved performance, and increased data security.