Edge Computing Trends: Adoption, Challenges, and Future Outlook

Edge computing — the practice of operating closer to end users rather than in centralized data centers — has been a hot topic in IT for years. Because edge architectures can reduce latency and improve performance, businesses have embraced them to address speed, security, and efficiency challenges.

While these benefits have long been relevant, edge computing has become even more critical in the age of real-time data analytics and artificial intelligence. These workloads demand near-instantaneous processing, making traditional network architectures less viable.

But how much of the edge computing talk is just that — talk — and how much reflects real-world adoption? To what extent are businesses actively deploying edge workloads? What challenges do they face, and what benefits do they see?

To answer these questions, ITPro Today surveyed IT professionals about their organizations' edge computing strategies and investments. The survey results, which are detailed in this report, offer valuable insights into the current state of edge computing and where businesses plan to invest next at the network edge.

Key survey findings include the following:

• IT professionals' awareness of edge computing remains limited, with 55% stating they are only "somewhat familiar" with the concept.

• Investment in edge computing varies widely: 21% allocate less than 5% of their IT budgets, while 33% dedicate at least 10% to edge-related initiatives.

• Performance improvement and security are the top drivers for adopting IT edge computing.

• Analytics and data caching are the primary use cases, while more advanced applications — such as AI/ML inference and smart city infrastructure — remain less widespread.

• Microsoft Azure IoT Edge is the most widely used edge platform, though organizations adopt diverse solutions.

• The hybrid cloud-edge model is the dominant architecture, implemented by 36% of organizations.

• Cost is by far the most significant barrier to edge computing adoption.

• Businesses are deploying various strategies and solutions to mitigate edge data security risks.

For a deeper dive into the survey data and its implications for modern IT strategies, download your free copy of our 2025 Edge Computing Trends Report today!

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