Edge Computing for Tactical Edge Environments

Meeting Missions with Mobility and Interconnected Situational Awareness

Imagine data that’s secure, resilient to disruption, and available anywhere in real time.

With Edge Computing, this isn’t a pie-in-the-sky notion. Edge enables communication systems that support secure, timely, and reliable data access. It also helps to overcome advanced attack techniques by enhancing data integrity while reducing vulnerability.

You may not realize it, but every day you’re surrounded by examples of Edge Computing. Take the food you eat. On farms, sensors at the Edge monitor soil conditions, weather, and crop health. This data can be instantly analyzed to optimize irrigation. In clinical environments, doctors can use Edge computing to process patient data, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and speed. This allows them to analyze medical images, monitor vital signs, and run AI algorithms to improve patient outcomes while maintaining data privacy.

Edge can benefit any industry. Gathering and storing data in a reliable, secure, quick, and repetitious manner means enhancing productivity and real-time decision-making—especially for those who work in remote environments. Whether you’re an Air Force maintainer turning wrenches on the flight line or a doctor focused on spending more time with patients, Edge computing reduces latency. Instantaneous access to critical data also boosts confidence and accelerates time-consuming work. And lower response times mean work can be done close to the source instead of sending sensitive data off to a distant cloud.

The clincher: speed, integrity, and continuity of information are paramount when it comes to gaining—and keeping—the advantage in Edge Computing.

Resilience toward the Tactical Edge

Cloud and Edge Computing combine to collect, store, and generate data wherever mission-critical work takes place. What’s more, data is continuously protected wherever stored–and moved–even across open or hostile networks. The data is also hardened against disruption, safe from surveillance, and useless to adversaries.

Think of the “Tactical Edge” as an environment where individuals are in a forward-operating position, operating in climates with severely restricted communication processes. Tactical Edge environments may include mobile maintenance-based positions, disaster response zones, aircraft carriers, and any other strained locations.

The biggest catalyst toward Edge Computing is redundancy and resiliency. By eliminating stop-and-go processes in field-based environments dependent on the cloud, more tasks can be completed in real-time even if connectivity is lost. More people who are able to do their job ultimately saves hundreds of millions of dollars.

Product Spotlight: EdgeMX

Maintenance procedures have seen little improvement since the 1980s. For nearly four decades, paper forms have been the backbone of government operations. As an example, the United States Air Force used two maintenance systems that were built in the 1980s and ran on desktop computers. Add in maintainer time wasted waiting for tools, parts, and assigned work, and it’s easy to see why an update was critical.

With EdgeMX, we bring the power of mobile devices to the maintenance depot, flight line, back shop, ship—anywhere your mission takes you.

The EdgeMX app works a bit like Instacart. When a supervisor assigns work, parts, or tools—which is done similarly to ordering a car in a rideshare app—supply crews are instantly notified. Crews can then gather parts and supplies based on the provided work details. Once items are ready, maintainers are alerted that supplies are ready for pick up, which saves significant time.

EdgeMX works anywhere, with or without connectivity, and even in environments where wireless isn’t available. The app can also cache data offline for an indefinite period of time and is underpinned by Zero Trust to authenticate every transaction.

The Bottom Line: Respond in real time with reliable data access

For organizations operating in tactical environments, Edge Computing can be a critical solution when real-time responsiveness and reliable access to data are paramount. Edge enables organizations to maintain operational availability, even in degraded and austere environments, saving costs and increasing efficiency.

However, challenges including limited bandwidth, security risks, lack of standardization, maintenance and support, and specialized training and expertise must be addressed to successfully implement Edge Computing solutions. But overcoming these can revolutionize the way organizations operate.