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Transforming Data Access in the Energy Sector Through Modern Edge Computing
As the energy sector faces rising AI adoption, cyber threats, and unpredictable disruptions, real-time data access is more critical than ever: Edge computing is emerging as a key solution.
March 24, 2025
By Nick Burling, Nasuni
Like most industries, the energy sector is facing immense change with its technology strategy, bringing with it brand new challenges. Top concerns for energy professionals center around a few key areas: the adoption of AI (artificial intelligence) — and with this an increase in cyber threats, a shifting political landscape, and an increase in unpredictable threats such as natural disasters. The common factor between all these challenges is that solving them relies heavily on real-time data analytics and efficient data access and management.
However, data access tends to be its own roadblock for energy professionals, as most energy operations occur in some of the most remote locations in the world — from oil rigs in the middle of the ocean to solar wind farms across the globe. This isolation has made data access more complex, since traditional data management systems often struggle in remote locations, where infrastructure limitations hinder seamless data retrieval.
This challenge has made edge computing increasingly desirable. By processing data closer to its source of truth, edge computing decentralizes data storage, providing immediate and secure access to essential information, which ensures that energy companies can maintain operational continuity even under the most demanding conditions.
The energy sector is not the only industry looking to leverage the power of edge computing. With downtime costs reaching approximately 300,000ドル per hour for most businesses, global spending on edge computing is expected to increase to be near 378ドル billion by 2028 — up from 228ドル billion in 2024.
Improved real-time analytics and data access through edge computing will inevitably transform the energy sector, bringing together remote data environments for a more efficient and holistic data practice. But edge computing can't be successful unless it's running on a modern data infrastructure, such as a hybrid cloud . Hybrid cloud provides the flexible and scalable infrastructure that balances processing workloads between on-premises edge devices and centralized cloud environments — allowing professionals to best manage their data and ensuring the edge computing tool is grabbing the most relevant and highest quality data.
Looking Ahead at Investment in Hybrid Cloud
As the energy industry and the technology landscape continue to evolve, the benefits of a hybrid cloud infrastructure will only become more critical. Emerging technologies such as AI and generative AI (GenAI) will not only create more data but will also complicate how data is utilized. Due to AI adoption, the total amount of data created, captured, copied, and consumed globally is forecast to grow to more than 394 zettabytes by 2028. This growth will only make data access and management even more complex across the energy sector due to its ongoing challenges with data access.
IT professionals across all sectors looking to future-proof their operations should prioritize:
Investing in hybrid cloud and edge computing infrastructure to ensure seamless data access and business continuity despite the increased volume of data.
Enhancing cybersecurity measures with real-time threat detection and automated recovery processes, even in the face of more complex, AI-driven threats.
Leveraging AI and IoT technologies to maximize the value of edge computing in predictive maintenance and operational efficiency.
Real-World Example: Hybrid Cloud Storage for Resilience
An energy company recently leveraged edge computing to save its data after a disaster. During hurricanes Helene and Milton, this company relied on its hybrid cloud storage infrastructure to minimize downtime and ensure a rapid recovery after prolonged power outages. Despite significant damage to physical infrastructure, the decentralized storage system allowed critical operations to continue, demonstrating the effectiveness of edge computing in disaster recovery.
Key factors that contributed to the company's data resilience included:
Cloud-Native Storage Adoption: By integrating cloud-native storage solutions, the company was able to maintain greater flexibility and resilience, ensuring that essential data remained accessible even when on-premises systems were compromised.
Scalability, Security, and Performance: Strategic partnerships with cloud storage providers enabled the company to achieve a scalable, secure, and high-performing data environment, reducing the risk of downtime and operational delays.
Advanced Ransomware Protection: Real-time threat detection and rapid recovery mechanisms provide an additional layer of security against cyber threats, an increasing concern for the energy sector.
In an industry where every second counts, the ability to access and process data in real time is paramount. AI and GenAI applications are changing the game regarding how and where data is utilized, and the energy sector needs to ensure it has the proper infrastructure in place to stay ahead of the curve. With a number of unpredictable circumstances threatening the industry, such as advancing cyber threats or natural disasters, IT professionals need to ensure they are investing their money in the right places and systems.
About the author:
Nick Burling is Senior VP of Product at Nasuni .
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