This blog is coauthored by Jeff McCann PhD, Director, Customer Solution Centers Innovation Labs – Dell Technologies
Today, almost every electronic and mechanical device generates and collects data. From smart watches and smart home systems, to vehicles, to the video surveillance system at the mall, to a production line in the factory—all these systems generate vast amounts of unstructured data at the edge. Sending this data deluge to one central location for processing and storage is complex, expensive and—for our data-driven era—much too slow. In today’s business environment, organizations demand agility, speed and constant innovation to maintain competitive advantage. Data is the lifeblood of successful organizations, and the race is on to turn data at the edge into instant value to deliver the next breakthrough innovation.
Real-time Processing of Data at the Edge
Recent advances hold out the promise of real-time processing of data at the edge, bringing new opportunities to generate value and make faster, data-driven decisions. Centralized locations such as a data center, colocation or the cloud may not be suitable for all workloads. In traditional, centralized IT architectures, the missing component is a compute capability placed close to the source of the data, such as a remote office/branch office (ROBO) location, a retail outlet with security cameras, a fast-food restaurant chain, warehouse, a cell tower or a public transport system, among others. For scenarios where the time to value for data-based outcomes is critical, edge compute has become a fundamental part of the business landscape.
Challenges at the Edge
To unlock the value of data at the edge, there are several challenges that organizations must solve. These include harsh environments (for example, temperature extremes, dust, vibration), no dedicated space for IT equipment, limited access to technical support staff, physical and cyber security, and an accumulation of legacy and diverse systems. The interplay of these factors creates great complexity for organizations looking to swiftly innovate and unlock the value of their edge estate.
Dell Simplifies the Edge
Simplification of the edge is crucial to maintain high productivity, secure, standardized and efficient operations, especially in multiple distant locations. Reducing proliferation of equipment at the edge and providing standardization allows for the use of a centralized platform that will gather legacy, modern and future applications in secure way. To meet the challenges of the edge, Dell Technologies has developed the Dell PowerEdge XR series of servers, purpose-built for edge locations outside of data center environments and including all the performance, features and security benefits common to the PowerEdge range of servers.
Additionally, the recent launch of Dell NativeEdge provides organizations with an edge operations software platform to securely scale their edge footprint. NativeEdge centralizes edge management across locations, automates operations, offers flexibility with its open design, enables Zero Trust security and provides multicloud connectivity.
Keeping in mind legacy applications, current needs and future developments, IT managers are looking for open designs that will keep up with their evolving business needs. To optimize their investment in edge operations, they need a solution that will support existing, new and future edge use cases with an open design that works with their choice of software applications, IoT frameworks, Operational Technology (OT) vendor solutions and multicloud environments.
Dell PowerEdge XR Servers
The guiding principle for the PowerEdge XR series is that hardware should no longer be a bottleneck for any type of workload in almost any environmental condition. With its small form factor, ruggedized design and front-facing I/O for simplified maintenance, the XR series server can make itself at home in any location, no matter how constrained. The XR series delivers scalable, secure edge compute for a wide range of use cases, including telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, defense, energy, AI/ML heavy workloads and AI inferencing at the edge.
Experience the Edge at the Dell Technologies Customer Solution Centers
Dell Technologies Customer Solution Centers put you in control to explore, architect and validate the edge solutions that will drive your organization forward. To experience the capabilities of the Dell XR series of edge compute platforms and Dell NativeEdge, ask your account executive to set up a technical deep dive session remotely or in one of our dedicated labs. During your time, you’ll see real-world edge use cases in action from several industry verticals, including manufacturing, retail, safety and security, healthcare and energy. Our role at Dell Technologies is to simplify your edge so you can generate more value from your data everywhere it exists.
To request an in-person or virtual tour of the Customer Solution Centers Innovation Labs, contact your Dell Technologies sales representative.
