Edge Computing vs. Cloud Computing: What’s the Difference?

Aditya Bhuyan
5 min readOct 20, 2024

Introduction

In today’s digital landscape, the terms “edge computing” and “cloud computing” are frequently mentioned. Both technologies play vital roles in managing and processing data, yet they serve distinct purposes and offer unique advantages. This article aims to explore the differences between edge computing and cloud computing, diving deep into their architectures, use cases, benefits, and limitations. By the end, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how these technologies can be leveraged to optimize business operations.

Understanding Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services — including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics — over the internet (“the cloud”). This model allows businesses to access and utilize technology resources without needing to own physical hardware or manage complex IT infrastructure.

Key Characteristics of Cloud Computing

  1. On-Demand Self-Service: Users can provision resources as needed without requiring human interaction.
  2. Broad Network Access: Services are accessible over the network, via standard…

--

--

Aditya Bhuyan

I am Aditya. I work as a cloud native specialist and consultant. In addition to being an architect and SRE specialist, I work as a cloud engineer and developer.