What is between the Cloud and the Edge? Learn about Fog Computing

Okay we all understand by now that 'The Cloud' is not a cloud, it's actually a data centre. And Edge computing is pretty obviously data processing at the edge of the network aka the endpoint. But does anyone have the foggiest (sorry terrible pun) about Fog Computing.

What is Fog Computing?

Fog computing is a name that has been given to the infrastructure and processing that can occur between the Cloud and the Edge. 

Fog computing decentralises the computing infrastructure by extending the cloud through the placement of nodes strategically between the cloud and edge devices.

This puts data, compute, storage, and applications nearer to the user or IoT device where the data needs processing, thus creating a fog outside the centralised cloud and reducing the data transfer times necessary to process data.

The term Fog computing originated with Cisco, who, in 2014, were looking for a label they could apply to their IOT infrastructure solutions that process edge data. A Fog node will decide what data needs to be pushed to the cloud, and what can be analysed locally.

What does Fog Computing do?

Fundamentally, the development of fog computing frameworks gives organisations more choices for processing data wherever it is most appropriate to do so.

For some applications, data may need to be processed as quickly as possible – for example, in a manufacturing use case where connected machines need to be able to respond to an incident as soon as possible.

Fog computing can create low-latency network connections between devices and analytics endpoints. This architecture in turn reduces the amount of bandwidth needed, compared to if that data had to be sent all the way back to a data centre or cloud for processing.

It can also be used in scenarios where there is no bandwidth connection to send data, so it must be processed close to where it is created.

As an added benefit, users can place security features in a fog network, from segmented network traffic to virtual firewalls to protect it.

The problem(s) with Cloud and IOT, and why we need Fog

The Internet of Things is driving business transformation by connecting everyday objects and devices to one another and to cloud-hosted services.

Current deployment models emphasise mandatory cloud connectivity, which is not feasible in many real world situations.

At the same time, these connected devices are creating data at an exponentially growing rate, which will drive performance and network congestion challenges at the edge of infrastructure.  

In many situations, there are performance, security, bandwidth, reliability, and many other concerns that make cloud-based IOT solutions impractical.

Current architectural approaches cannot sustain the projected data velocity and volume requirements of the IoT.

The power of the IoT requires a solution that can:

• Connect new kinds of things to your network. Some of them might be in harsh environments. Others might communicate using industrial protocols, not IP.

• Secure the things that produce data. And secure the data as it travels from the network edge to the cloud. This requires a combination of physical security and cybersecurity.

• Handle an unprecedented volume, variety, and velocity of data. Billions of previously unconnected devices are generating more than two exabytes of data each day. Sending all of it to the cloud for analysis and storage is not practical. Plus, in the time it takes to send data to the cloud for analysis, the opportunity to act on it might be gone.

To sustain IoT momentum, a new architecture is needed to address infrastructure and connectivity challenges to bring   information processing and intelligence close to or at the edge where the data is being produced or used. 

Credit: Cisco

Fog Computing and 5G

5G is an enabling technology. The true power of 5G is that it is arriving at the same time as other technologies are maturing. These include software-defined networking, the internet of things, cloud computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence and edge computing.

It’s the unique convergence of technologies that makes 5G far more revolutionary than any earlier shift in mobile technology.

Edge computing devices—especially IoT devices –depend on network access to the cloud to receive machine learning and complex event processing models. Likewise, these devices need network access to send sensor and status data back to the cloud. 

Support these devices requires more bandwidth, support for more devices on the network, and greater security to protect and manage the data.  

One of the challenges with the existing 4G LTE network standards is connection density.

A 4G radio system can support up to only 2,000 active devices in a square kilometer. The 5G standards are designed to support up to 100,000 active devices in the same amount of space and work continues to bring this support closer to 1 million devices.

Credit: Cisco

Fog computing enabled by 5G's speed and low latency will deliver the next generation of IOT services.

Does MobileCorp offer a Fog Computing Solution?

MobileCorp is a 5G Enterprise Mobility MSP. We have expertise in Data Networks and Cloud, offering network audits,  network design, network upgrades and deployment. We are cloud agnostic and can provide independent advice and assist with migration to public cloud, and with hybrid cloud networks.

For IOT and Fog Computing we offer a range of professional services including solution architecture, project management, and deployment; and can also provide an ongoing managed services.  

About MobileCorp

MobileCorp is a Sydney-based communications technology company. We support enterprise and business by providing managed endpoints and ICT services including IOT solutions,  managed mobility, and managed connectivity solutions.