The Internet of Things (IoT) has unquestionably revolutionized the way a number of industries work. However, in order to exploit the full potential of the IoT, cloud computing, which is popularly used in companies, is not sufficient.
Limitations of Cloud
There is no doubt cloud computing has a very special place in the technical scenario. From reduced cost to better flexibility and reliability, it provides several advantages to users. However, it has its own limitation as well. One major problem with cloud computing is the speed. Big companies that are involved in analyzing data at the cloud are always looking for quick response because they need to make decision immediately, usually right after it is collected.
The cloud models that exist today are not equipped to connect and analyze the massive amount of data diverged into large areas. It requires a new kind of infrastructure to realize the full potential of IoT. That is where the concept of fog computing becomes important.
Advantages of Fog over Cloud
The extending of cloud computing to the edge of an enterprise’s network to facilitate a substantial amount of data storage is what fog computing does. Generally in a fog computing system, the processing takes place in a data hub on a small device or on the edge of the network. This is gaining popularity because of the ability of huge amount of data that the sensors can generate.
Fog computing enables compute, storage and networking services between end devices and cloud computing data center.
It is a tool to unleash the power of the IoT as it helps in improving the competency and reduces the amount of data that needs to be transported, processed, analyzed and stored by the cloud.
Although cloud computing is very popular with several IT companies, there are a number of cases cloud is not competent enough to handle. For instance, the efficiency of the cloud diminishes when the sensors send a bundle of data for processing and analyzing, as it needs a great deal of bandwidth. For this reason, the performance of all the communications back and forth can get negatively impacted.
Fog computing helps in the better functioning of the end devices and data centres, and ensures a hassle-free collaborated functioning.
Fog Computing, also known as Edge Computing, enables the data to be analyzed before sending it off for collection, making the data more valuable. For example, with the help of such system, hackers will be caught more easily and quickly when analysis occurs near the source.
Fog computing deals with the problems of robotics and allows better remote management especially when it comes to critical sectors such as oil, gas and logistics. Besides, it saves time and money, creates new opportunities, and ensures safety because of the speed at which the data is analyzed. What makes fog computing reliable when it comes to safety is that any information pertaining to any kind of hazardous situation is analyzed close to the edge at fog computing.
Drawback of Fog
Even though cloud computing has several benefits, it has its limitations too. For instance, the requirement of vast amount of high capacity bandwidth for the transmission of decentralized data to centralized locations is expensive when using cloud. Similarly, the problems caused by high latency in a network of internet scale, which are unlikely to be resolved in the near future, is also a major issue. Security and privacy are other concerns with respect to the Cloud. Depending on the distance between the user and the system, the data transmission has to pass through several intermediate networks, before reaching the cloud thus the possibility for security breach.
Fog computing helps in eliminating or reducing these shortcomings of cloud computing. In order to address the evolving computing models and different paradigms, and all the great predictions about cloud computing to become a reality, it is essential that the cloud has the backing of fog computing. It is thus not wrong to say that the future of the cloud will certainly revolve around fog computing.
