Realizing the Edge Benefits with Remote Monitoring

Managing the resources that comprise today’s edge computing ecosystems is complicated and challenging. Yet, it’s a critical task, as automation, the Internet of Things, and cloud computing take their place in today’s hybrid IT infrastructure in every major industry.

Take financial services. Branch offices are deploying mini data centers to get vital information and services closer to customers. Or retailers, who are finding increased computing power in the store crucial for providing better customer experiences. Or restaurants turning to edge systems to provide faster order delivery and automated services.

The benefits of the edge are legion. But deploying, monitoring, and maintaining it presents significant challenges to stretched IT departments. Fortunately, remote monitoring and management solutions can help.

Benefits of the Edge

“Edge benefits come in two ways,” explains Adam Compton, a Schneider Electric director of strategy. “User experience and application experience. The user experience is the user’s desire for an experience right now, whether it’s on a phone, an Oculus headset, or digital signage.”

However, that immediate user experience depends on the application experience, according to Compton. That’s where the second set of benefits comes in. “For the user experience benefit to occur, data must be available in real-time for processing and intelligence.” And that requires edge computing capability.

Providing the necessary infrastructure often takes critical personnel and resources away from their core mission of generating revenue, satisfying customers, and staying competitive. That’s where remote monitoring comes in.

The Need for RMM Solutions

“You have this nightmare situation for IT professionals with a lack of incoming professionals to manage it,” Compton says. It’s a nightmare in what should be an exciting field to be in, he says, because there aren’t enough professionals to meet the demand. “How am I going to standardize and deploy all of this, not to mention operate and maintain it?” Compton imagines IT pros asking about edge infrastructure.

That’s why organizations increasingly rely on modern remote monitoring solutions. Such solutions free up in-house IT staff to support other business priorities by consolidating information about edge systems in one place for easy monitoring and maintenance.

Features and functionality that organizations look for in a remote monitoring solution include:

• Customizable dashboards putting information about edge assets in one place
• APIs for integrations with business systems and custom applications
• Analytics to help IT pros understand the cause of alarms and prevent them
• Visibility into power, cooling, and other networked assets regardless of vendor
• On-site support options to take maintenance pressures off in-house staff

“There’s no question that the edge can be overwhelming,” Compton says. However, he says, the right partner can tame the beast by helping organizations deploy standardized edge solutions that they can duplicate across sites. “The answer, very simply, is getting the right partner.” Combined with remote monitoring and management, such support can put businesses on the fast track to realizing the benefits of the edge.

To learn more about remote monitoring solutions, go to EcoStruxure IT