MIS 3406 ProPoints Assignment
Green Cloud Computing vs Edge Computing
Green Cloud Computing is a popular phrase used to describe efficient use of cloud computing resources. The “green” in the term refers to the environmental gains that come from reducing an environmental footprint. It also refers to the potential financial returns from efficiency. Green Cloud Computing is increasingly important as businesses are expected to comply with government mandates for efficiency. Computer manufacturing can lead to a lot of waste as well. Also, data centers can consume more power than necessary, if they are not monitored and used efficiently. Green Cloud Computing applied in practice is prominent in companies such as Cloud9 Realtime. This company provides recommendations for companies to utilize Green Cloud Computing, by helping them conserve energy, virtualize more of their information and devices, and utilizing less paper resources.
Edge Computing involves the creation of multiple data centers (as opposed to one or more centralized centers) in order to improve latency of devices that use the cloud. The significance of Edge computing is growing, since there is much more data constantly sent to the cloud, because Internet of Things (IoT) devices are becoming more popular. Some IoT devices crucially need fast feedback, so Edge Computing is necessary so these types of devices can send and receive critical data immediately. One example of Edge Computing applied in practice is the use of an IoT device, such as an autonomous car, and its relationship with the data center it is sending to and interpreting information from. If the autonomous car has many local data centers that it could send and receive data to and from, it could perform actions more quickly, which is a necessary component for this device to have, since it relies on this data to perform actions that affect the safety of the humans around it.
Green Cloud Computing relates to the material in Enterprise IT Architecture because the use of Elastic Cloud Computing instances in Amazon Web Services constitutes as a method of Green Cloud Computing. Because EC2 instances are remote desktops that replace the use of traditionally purchasing a physical desktop, they are an efficient alternative for businesses that need more computing power. EC2 instances are both environmentally efficient, as well as cost efficient. Also, Auto-scaling groups are another component of Green Cloud Computing, since they allow unused instances to be shut down automatically. This saves on power consumption and money for a business utilizing this tool.
Edge Computing relates to Enterprise IT Architecture because Amazon Web Services utilizes this as a method for its data centers. Amazon Web Services divides its centers into different regions, and further divides the regions into availability zones. It operates on many data centers, instead of one centralized center, so that its users could have improved latency, since the centers are closer to businesses devices.
Green Cloud Computing and Edge Computing are counter intuitive to each other in some ways. The concept of Green Cloud Computing would align with centralized locations rather than Edge Computing, since Edge Computing utilized more sources of power since there are multiple data centers that all function at the same time. However, Edge Computing can incorporate Green Cloud Computing by ensuring that the multiple data centers are as efficient as possible. If users of Edge Computing are ensuring that they are utilizing services such as autoscaling, they can use the least amount of power necessary to achieve their goals while being efficient. Also, the fact that cloud computing is being used in itself is more efficient than using physical desktops that create physical waste and utilize more power than remote desktops.
Sources
Green Cloud Computing: Is Cloud IT Green: Green Computor IT. (2015, January 12). Retrieved from https://www.cloudninerealtime.com/green-cloud-computing/.
Gyarmathy, K. (n.d.). Edge Computing vs. Cloud Computing: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.vxchnge.com/blog/edge-computing-vs-cloud-computing.
Shaw, K. (2019, November 13). What is edge computing and why it matters. Retrieved from https://www.networkworld.com/article/3224893/what-is-edge-computing-and-how-it-s-changing-the-network.html.