What Is an Edge Server?

An edge server is a server that operates at the edge of a network to provide processing, storage, networking, security, and other computing resources. Unlike cloud servers, which operate in data centers anywhere in the world, edge servers operate at far more locations or “points of presence” (PoPs) where data is produced and consumed by users and devices. These may include local computers, cell phones, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, self-driving vehicles, point-of-sale retail machines, and thousands of other devices in various locations. Edge servers move computer processing and storage closer to these locations to minimize latency, reduce bottlenecks, lower costs, and improve user experiences.

By performing compute, storage, networking, and security functions close to the users and devices that need them, edge servers provide several significant advantages.

• Reduced latency. Edge servers minimize the distance that data must travel by serving content or processing data closer to users and devices. The result is less latency, better user experiences, and faster decision-making capabilities.
• Stronger security. Because edge servers reside closer to users and devices, data can travel a shorter distance and is exposed to fewer potential risks of cyberattack. In specific use cases like back-end core banking systems or processing for industrial equipment, edge servers provide stronger security by not exposing data to outside networks.
• Reduced workload for origin servers. CDN edge servers cache copies of content stored on origin servers elsewhere in the world. Serving up content from CDN edge servers reduces the workload on origin servers and makes them less susceptible to degraded performance during traffic spikes.
• Lower costs. Because edge servers minimize the amount of data that must be exchanged with external networks, they can reduce the amount of required bandwidth and associated cost.
• Higher availability. Edge servers can continue to function and serve content even when cloud servers and central data centers are down. And because there are thousands of them, you’re less likely to have an outage with the whole edge network.
• Greater reliability. With multiple servers located at the network’s edge, traffic and application requests can be routed to the next nearest point of presence when one edge server goes down.
• Greater efficiency. Edge servers make operations more efficient by rapidly processing massive amounts of data near the places where the data is collected.
• Simplifying data sovereignty. By keeping data close to where it’s produced and used — rather than transmitting it to cloud data centers elsewhere in the world — organizations can more easily comply with local data sovereignty regulations like GDPR.

Edge servers are typically deployed in use cases that require ultra-fast, real-time data processing. These may include:

• Self-driving vehicles that require large amounts of data to be processed for real-time decision-making
• IoT devices that monitor conditions, equipment, or patients in high-stakes environments
• Banking apps that require fast performance and strong security, where sensitive data must be isolated
• Streaming services that deliver cached content to users with low latency and high bandwidth
• Surveillance systems that require real-time data analysis
• Remote monitoring systems of oil and gas operations and assets

To protect edge servers, IT teams must incorporate a multilayered approach to security. Strong identity and access management prevents unauthorized users from accessing edge servers and minimizes broad permissions for authorized users that inadvertently lead to security breaches. Data encryption can protect data traveling between edge servers and devices. Intrusion detection systems monitor activity at the network’s edge to uncover possible intrusions. Endpoint protection helps to monitor potential security risks for remote devices connecting to edge servers. Web application firewalls block threats like DDoS attacks at the edge.