Blog | nearby computing

Hybrid and multi‑cloud models have become the backbone of modern enterprise IT. They promise flexibility, scalability, and choice, allowing organisations to distribute workloads across public and private clouds.

But there’s a blind spot that too many strategies overlook: data at the edge.

As enterprises grapple with growing data volumes and latency‑sensitive applications, Edge Computing is emerging as the key to unlocking the full potential of hybrid multi‑cloud architectures.

Here’s why forward‑thinking companies are embracing Edge — and how you can too.

Why Enterprises Can’t Ignore Edge Computing

1. Data is no longer centralised

IoT sensors, connected devices, mobile apps, branch offices and remote sites generate massive amounts of data. Sending all of it to centralised cloud platforms isn’t sustainable:

R  Network bottlenecks: Raw data consumes huge bandwidth, driving up costs.

R  Latency challenges: Real‑time decisions can’t wait for a round trip to the cloud.

R  Compliance risks: Regulations like GDPR demand local data processing in many industries.

2. Customer expectations are rising

In retail, finance, healthcare and telecoms, customers demand instantaneous, always‑on services. A few milliseconds of delay can mean the difference between success and churn.

3. Resilience is critical

Relying solely on distant cloud resources creates a single point of failure. What happens if a cloud region goes down, or a network link is disrupted? Enterprises need local autonomy to keep services running.

What Does Edge Computing Enable for Enterprises?

R Manufacturing (Industry 4.0)
Edge nodes process machine‑vision data directly on factory floors, enabling predictive maintenance and minimising production downtime.

R Retail
Local edge servers power real‑time analytics for personalised promotions and stock optimisation in physical stores — without straining WAN links.

R Finance
Fraud detection and regulatory checks are executed at branch level, ensuring secure, low‑latency transactions even in areas with poor connectivity.

R Telecom & Media
Video content and AR/VR applications are cached and processed at the network edge, reducing latency and improving quality of service for millions of users.

R Healthcare
Patient monitoring devices process critical data locally, allowing real‑time alerts in hospitals and clinics while protecting sensitive information.

What Enterprises Need to Build an Edge‑Enabled Hybrid Strategy

Designing an effective Edge Computing strategy requires more than just deploying hardware in remote locations. Here are the key building blocks:

1. Distributed Edge Infrastructure

Deploy lightweight, secure edge nodes in locations where data is generated: branch offices, factories, retail stores, cell towers.

2. Workload Orchestration

Manage and deploy containerised applications (e.g., Kubernetes clusters) seamlessly across edge and cloud environments.

3. Security & Compliance

Implement robust encryption, access controls and local data processing to meet regulatory requirements.

4. Unified Monitoring & Governance

Gain end‑to‑end visibility into all workloads, from edge to core to cloud, ensuring operational consistency and proactive issue resolution.

5. Integration with Cloud Providers

Ensure seamless data flows between edge locations and multiple cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, private clouds) for centralised analytics and long‑term storage.

The Challenge: Complexity at Scale

While the benefits of Edge are clear, deploying and managing hundreds or thousands of distributed nodes is no small feat. Enterprises face challenges like:

R Keeping software up‑to‑date across remote locations.

R Monitoring performance and security at the edge.

R Orchestrating workloads in hybrid and multi‑cloud environments.

NearbyOne: Simplifying Edge for the Enterprise

This is where NearbyOne comes in.

NearbyOne provides a single platform to deploy, orchestrate and secure edge workloads at scale, fully integrated into your hybrid multi‑cloud architecture.

With NearbyOne, you can:

R Deploy anywhere: Provision edge workloads across global locations with a few clicks.

R Gain centralised visibility: Monitor edge, on‑prem and cloud resources from a unified dashboard.

R Enforce security and compliance: Apply policies consistently across distributed nodes.

R Simplify orchestration: Run containerised applications seamlessly at the edge.

NearbyOne transforms Edge Computing from a complex operational challenge into a strategic advantage.

The Takeaway

Enterprises moving towards hybrid and multi‑cloud strategies can’t afford to overlook the edge. As data volumes grow and customer expectations rise, Edge Computing is the missing link that ensures:

R  Faster response times
R  Reduced costs and bandwidth usage
R  Greater resilience and uptime
R  Compliance with local regulations

NearbyOne gives you the tools to make this vision a reality — unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth.