As organizations look to harden their cybersecurity footprint, they are also looking for ways to do so while, at the same time, reducing costs. Within this evolving landscape, edge cybersecurity has emerged as a more cost-effective alternative to legacy cloud-based solutions. This affordability stems from several factors, including data storage costs, resource management, latency management, reduced reliance on external resources, and more.
Data Storage Costs
In a cloud-based cybersecurity architecture data must travel to and from centralized data centers for processing and storage. This creates additional costs, as cloud service providers charge for both storage and the transfer of data. As an organization grows in size and complexity, these costs can become significant, especially when dealing with high volumes of sensitive data that require frequent updates and constant monitoring.
Edge cybersecurity installs cybersecurity measures closer to where data is generated—at the “edge” of an edge device network. By processing data locally rather than sending it back to a central cloud server, edge cybersecurity reduces the need for large-scale data transfers. This can significantly lower network bandwidth and data transfer costs, especially for businesses with remote locations or those relying on IoT devices that generate large amounts of data. As an additional benefit, an edge-based solution also reduces the exposure of critical data to attack.
Resource Management
Cloud-based cybersecurity solutions often require operations to scale their security infrastructure as they grow. This means continually upgrading cloud subscriptions to ensure adequate coverage. This periodic upgrading adds significant cost to the overall cybersecurity program.
An edge-based cybersecurity solution provides organizations with more control over how resources are allocated. Edge-based solutions are deployed locally and often within small network infrastructures. This approach enables operational stakeholders to scale their cybersecurity infrastructures more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Latency Management
In cloud-based cybersecurity architectures, data is routed to centralized servers for analysis. This routing introduces delay (latency) in the transfer of data. Latency can be a killer in cybersecurity as it impedes a cloud-based solution’s ability to detect and respond to threats in real time. This can be extremely costly in terms of data loss, loss of productivity, and ransomware exposure.
Edge cybersecurity mitigates this problem by processing and analyzing data directly on local devices or at nearby edge nodes. By reducing the distance data needs to travel, organizations can achieve faster threat detection and response times. The real-time capability of edge security also helps protect the enterprise from unforeseen costs associated with security breaches and prolonged exposure.
Reduced Reliance on External Resources
Cloud cybersecurity requires ongoing reliance on external cloud service providers, which leads to subscription fees, licensing costs, and administrative overhead. Over time, these costs can accumulate, especially as organizations grow and require more robust cybersecurity solutions.
Edge cybersecurity shifts much of the responsibility to the organization itself, allowing them to use on-premises infrastructure or decentralized edge devices. This reduces dependency on third-party providers and helps organizations retain more control over their cybersecurity environment. By doing so, businesses can avoid the continuous costs associated with cloud subscriptions and reduce vendor lock-in risks.
Energy Conservation and Sustainability
Data centers, especially those used by large cloud service providers, consume large amounts of energy. As organizations scale, their reliance on cloud infrastructure can lead to increased energy consumption, which not only raises costs but also contributes to the organization’s carbon footprint.
Edge cybersecurity solutions, by contrast, often involve smaller, more localized infrastructures that can be optimized for energy efficiency. The proximity to data generation points reduces the need for large data centers and enables organizations to operate in a more sustainable manner, lowering both their energy costs and environmental impact.
Visit Cybersecurity Cost Reduction to learn more about how an edge-based cybersecurity solution can significantly reduce your security costs.
