Ther right edge computing solutions capture the upside of new IoT technology while hedging risks
Advancements in Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices and Operational Technology (OT) are automating away large swathes of manual work. This emerging paradigm will act as a huge boon for enterprises that capture it. However, old models of data storage and retrieval come up short in this environment. Moving these massive volumes of data is not only cost-prohibitive, but also hogs bandwidth from other critical functions. When milliseconds count, devices at the edge cannot afford to wait for signals from a centralized cloud location. Latency and dropped connections lead to incomplete workflows, disruptions in process, and errors in the end-product. A cloud-only approach is too slow. For enterprises to capture the upside of IoT and OT, enterprises must change their approach to networking for these devices.
Edge computing shifts computing power to the fringes of your networks to make IoT and OT devices perform at their best. An edge computing device acts as a local command post programmed with the same decision-logic as HQ. Because of the edge computer’s close physical proximity to the IoT and OT devices it supports, latencies and disruptions are replaced with rapid execution of workflows. If the connection to HQ is cut off, the edge device will continue supporting the IoT devices, ensuring that work continues to get done.
Edge computers eliminate the costs of sending large swathes of data to the cloud. Using new advancements in machine learning and AI, the edge computing device cleans up data at the local level. The raw data from the IoT and OT devices is parsed, processed, and refined. Only a lighter load of the most critical data is then uploaded to the cloud. HQ still has a clear visual of what is going on at the edge, but critical bandwidth is freed up and transport costs drop.
Concerned about security? As a distributed model, edge computing is more secure than a cloud-only approach. In addition to large amounts of data being expensive to transport, it is also a target for malicious actors. The more data in transit, the larger the target. Because the edge computing devices parse and refines data locally, less total data is sent in transit. This “lighter load” of data is easier to encrypt. Hackers face an uphill battle targeting a small fraction of ciphered data.
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Many IoT and OT devices lack the ability to run security applications to protect themselves from attacks. Consumer-grade edge computers will fail to protect these devices, because they lack computing power to do so. To ensure your edge computer does not fail, make sure that it has sufficient CPU, RAM, and memory to run security applications. If you’re not sure how to calculate this, you can click here to receive a free assessment.
Assuming your device is strong enough to perform in an enterprise environment, security at the edge is similar to security at the core of your network. However, you should be careful when testing the IoT and OT systems. Legacy IoT and OT systems can be fragile. The engineers responsible for testing should read device manuals, understand each device’s performance limitations, and test slowly to make sure there are no adverse reactions. At a minimum, your edge computer should be able to perform the core components of network monitoring, namely, pulling logs or data from these devices and running live network maps. You can see a full list of network monitoring tasks here. With a clear visual of IoT and OT device data, it is possible for teams to perform threat hunting at the edge. If possible, IoT and OT devices should be updated and patched to harden their security. Network monitoring, threat hunting, and patching are bare-minimums; a full list of security functions can be found on our Omega Adapt and Omega Monitor pages. Your IT team should work with security experts to balance performance and protection. Whether your IoT devices are legacy or new, your edge computing device should be able to defend itself and all the devices under its local umbrella from cyber attacks.
