2022 saw tech move closer to the edge – from cloud transitions driving zero-trust edge adoption to steady growth in private 5G deployments and strong secure access service edge (SASE) growth.

As the new year gets underway, Ron Lev, AVP and GM of Cox Edge – a full stack edge-cloud computing service launched by Cox Communications in 2021 – believes that trend is not going anywhere, citing the International Data Corporation's (IDC) prediction that global spending on edge computing will hit nearly $274 billion by 2025.

Lev sat down with SDxCentral to discuss where the edge is headed in 2023:

SDxCentral: What have been the biggest drivers for edge adoption this last year? What will be the biggest factor(s) contributing to edge growth in 2023?

Lev: The hybrid workplace has been adopted globally, allowing millions of employees to work from any location and making edge technology implementation a top priority. As such, Gartner estimates that three-quarters of enterprise-related data will be created and processed at the edge by 2025.

Integrating edge computing into the cloud provides two predominant advantages: low latency and decreased bandwidth usage. Both of these benefit companies with faster processing times, improved privacy, lower costs, and increased system reliability.

SDxCentral: What will be the adoption challenges moving forward?

Lev: Enterprise security – because of so many new connected edge devices – is one critical challenge. To mitigate risks, companies will need to monitor connectivity and initiate a governance policy isolating unknown devices.

Companies should also build security into the edge environment. One way to do this is to invest in a SASE solution, which centralizes disparate cybersecurity technology to address threats, lowering cost and risk. Edge security provided through such a service protects users in a consistent, standardized way, regardless of where they access their apps.

We recognize the rapidly evolving threat landscape our customers face at the edge, which is why cybersecurity continues to be at the forefront of our evolving cloud and IT portfolio.

SDxCentral: As latency becomes less common and price drives the adoption, what will be the challenges behind network connectivity meeting edge computing needs?

Lev: As data volume increases, so too will the costs associated with the transport of that data. When you also consider the improvements to infrastructure and bandwidth businesses will need to handle high volumes of data, operational costs will only continue to increase.

By reducing instances of data transport, the edge can significantly reduce IT spend for businesses. Businesses that are hesitant to entertain the upfront costs associated with a transition to the edge can benefit from automated, unified platforms that offer a faster and more affordable entry point to edge compute.

SDxCentral: Were there any surprising takeaways from the year in edge adoption?

Lev: The different use cases for edge continue to be fascinating. The potential at the edge is opening up much more expansive experiences for sports fans, for example. A fan attending a game at a stadium might be able to use their personal device to view digital representations of their favorite players on the field during halftime, along with their stats.

Franchises can now utilize AR [augmented reality] to engage first-time visitors who may not know the rules of the game, too, allowing these organizations to grow their fan base and increase revenues. Imagine a scenario in which a first-time attendee of a baseball game can leverage their smartphone to access a basic overview of gameplay and the rules associated with the sport or highlighting key players on the field and explaining their roles. Edge technologies can support these unique digital engagement opportunities and beyond.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.