A Vertiv survey predicts 29% growth in the edge component of overall computing capacity
Significant investments in edge computing across the data center industry will change the profile of the data center ecosystem over the next four years, during which the edge component of compute capacity will rise from 21% to 27% in 2026, achieving an overall increase of 29%. The extent of this shift to the edge is among the key findings of a new global survey conducted by Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) – global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions – about data center industry professionals.
About a third (34%) of respondents are planning or building major edge deployments. A quarter have already deployed new sites built specifically for the edge, and 41% are operating legacy edge sites. In addition to this impressive activity at the edge, respondents also expect a 150% increase in activity at the cloud and core sites. Demand for computing resources is skyrocketing across all networks today, and the percentage of IT resources tied up in the public cloud will grow from the current 19% to 25% by 2026, according to the survey.
“The next five years will redefine the data center landscape, increasingly moving compute capacity to the edge while strengthening enterprise infrastructures at the heart of modern hybrid networks,” he said Martin Olsen, global vice president for edge strategy and transformation in Vertiv. "This survey clearly shows the urgent need for computing capacity closer to the end user. The future of data processing lies in speed and latency, and building edge networks is the only solution."
The results of the investigation follow the report “Edge 2.0 Archetypes Ready-to-deploy Edge infrastructure templates” released at the end of last year, which delves into Vertiv's research on edge networks by identifying four infrastructure models that allow us to approach the implementation of edge infrastructures in a more intelligent and semi-standardized way. The results of this investigation are consistent with the premise of the “Edge Archetypes 2.0” report, which argued that the massive growth at the edge required a more standardized approach to these architectures.
The investigation also revealed the changing profile of modern edge sites. 29% of these have between 5 and 20 rack cabinets, while 13% have more than 20 racks. More racks means more power and the survey reflects this: 28% of respondents say their sites require between 21 and 200 kW and 14% report energy demand above 200 kW. Gone are the days of single racks hidden in rudimentary cabinets in IT rooms.
Other significant findings from the investigation include:
- Sustainability is playing a significant role in the deployment of edge sites. Over three-quarters (77%) are adopting or plan to use energy-efficient UPS systems. Furthermore, 40% plan to use renewable energy, 31% low water consumption cooling, 29% dynamic grid support technologies, and 19% refrigerants with a low global warming potential (GWP).
- While respondents who are deploying edge sites identified security and availability as top priorities, the survey highlighted some current design and execution practices that may reduce the ability of edge computing sites to meet these needs as the number of sites increases.
“Vertiv survey data shows that companies are serious about growing their edge computing to meet anticipated demand, but building Edge solutions can be challenging,” he said Birgit Jackson, director of the integrated racks and IT solutions business in Europa, Medio Oriente e Africa (EMEA). "Enterprises must consider software and hardware, coordination, management and more. This is the time for organizations to start collaborating with a network of partners and manufacturers to deploy edge-enabled solutions in a configurable and customized way."
Vertiv interviewed 156 industry professionals with knowledge of their company's edge computing plans. The full results of the research are available in the report “What’s Your Edge? Survey Highlights Infrastructure Transformation Occurring at the Edge of Network”. Visit Vertiv.com to view the report “Edge 2.0 Archetypes Deployment-ready Edge infrastructure templatese” and get one instrument to identify the most appropriate edge infrastructure model for your site.
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