With the proliferation of cloud computing, organizations and IT companies may think that physical infrastructure is no longer of any interest. But that is not the case. In fact, another growing trend, edge computing, is helping to reimagine physical infrastructure.
While the growth of the public cloud continues, it is becoming a key part of a new hybrid cloud ecosystem.
Another key part of this system is edge computing, which is becoming increasingly important due to technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). These new innovations in technology require virtually instantaneous processing of data.
The answer to these needs is infrastructure, but it needs to be done differently. Procuring and deploying infrastructure – like a traditional data center – can take months or even years, which would not be able to meet the high-demand nature of IoT and the need for fast and efficient deployment of applications and services.
This period, which usually requires three to four months, must be reduced to a few days, and the only infrastructure that can be deployed in this time is a smart, compact data center, equipped with all the necessary components.
Devices of this kind do not require the complexity or highly specialized architecture and design of traditional data centers.
Experts seem to agree that this type of infrastructure will become more popular. Modular infrastructure or microcomputer centers have a necessary place in the new data center ecosystem, required to run the applications and digital services of the future.
As IT becomes more and more enabling, partners have taken on a more consultative role with customers. Part of that role should be how they structure their data centers.
While cloud has become a vital part of many partners' offerings, they must be able to demonstrate the value of a comprehensive, hybrid cloud environment that could integrate traditional IT infrastructure and the edge into the cloud – both public and private.
