Where edge computing might send huge streams of data directly to the cloud, fog computing can receive the data from the edge layer before it reaches the cloud and then decide what is relevant and what isn’t. Fog computing in a Nutshellįog computing is a compute layer between the cloud and the edge. Unfortunately, even the cloud has its limits in terms of capacity, security and efficiency when connected directly to edge devices. Irrelevant data might be sent to the cloud in addition to the useful information that’s actually needed. However, this traffic of data can be massive and inefficient. This means that an edge computer connects to the sensors and controllers of a given device and then sends data to the cloud. As we explained in our blog about what edge servers are, edge computing happens where data is being generated, right at “the edge” of a given application’s network. Essentially, both are enablers of data traffic to the cloud.

Fog Computing vs Edge Computing: What are the Key Differences?įog computing and edge computing share a lot of similarities. This is where edge computing and fog computing come in. The physical devices in the field need to transfer the data to the cloud. For industrial applications, this data, which can come in many forms, might originate at IoT sensors, and then be sent to a cloud service such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. With these providers, your physical device does not actually store your files. A good example is online storage and file management providers (Google Drive is one such service). A simplified definition of cloud computing is computing power that’s made available as an online service, frequently offered by a third party. So, before diving into edge computing vs fog computing, it’s important to understand cloud computing. We’ll explore the differences and similarities between them, and give some practical examples to try and help demystify what has become a common question as businesses of every shape and size work to establish the best location for computing power. In this post we’re going to take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and examine edge vs fog computing. In previous blog posts, we’ve touched on what edge servers are, the differences between edge computers and how to find the right edge computer. Check out our fog vs edge video below, or continue reading. What is fog computing vs edge computing? You might hear these terms used interchangeably, but there is a difference.

Fog cloud 5e