European Edge Strategies: Scope and Definitions, 2024

European Edge Strategies: Scope and Definitions, 2024


This IDC Market Perspective presents the framework by which IDC describes and forecasts the worldwide and European edge IT markets. This document is designed to establish a common understanding of the concepts of edge, core, and endpoints as they relate to IT service locations. As new technologies and services enter the market, a common understanding of the edge market scope and definitions is important for both IT buyers and IT providers. For IT buyers, understanding the market segments is helpful in developing effective core and edge IT strategies. For IT providers, having a common framework and language is essential in understanding and connecting with IT buyers and participating in the broad distributed IT ecosystem."2023 was a particularly strong year for edge IT in Europe. There were new legislation as well as new and existing programs that were started or renewed. In addition, there were new workloads requiring assets to be closer to devices either for mobility purposes or near-real-time decision-making that accelerated the deployment of new edge products and services," said Luis Fernandes, senior research manager, European Edge Strategies.


Executive Snapshot

New Market Developments and Dynamics

Overview

Core: The "Central Datacenter"

Edge: Everything Between the "Core" and "Endpoints"

Endpoints

Definitions

Hardware

Heavy Edge

Light Edge

Intelligent Endpoints

Network Infrastructure

Software

Applications

Application Development and Deployment

Systems Infrastructure Software

Provisioned Services

Colocation (Datacenter Facilities)

Communications Services

Infrastructure as a Service

Platform as a Service

Software as a Service

Professional Services

Project-Oriented Services

Strategy and Technology Consulting

Systems Integration Services

Engineering Services

Support Services

Managed Services

IDC's POINT OF VIEW

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Related Research

Synopsis

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