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near edge

In the context of edge computing and the internet, "near edge" refers to the infrastructure that is deployed closer to the data source than traditional cloud data centers but not as close as the "far edge." Near edge infrastructure is typically located at the network's periphery, providing a balance between the centralized processing power of a data center and the localized, low-latency benefits of far edge computing.

Near edge computing is designed to process, store, and analyze data closer to where it is generated, which can help reduce latency, improve response times, and decrease the bandwidth needed for data transmission to a central location. This is particularly useful for applications that require quick data processing but do not need the ultra-low latency provided by far edge deployments. Examples of near edge use cases include video analytics, where near-edge appliances can work with existing camera infrastructure to process video data locally, thus enhancing data security and reducing the vulnerable attack surface of applications[1].

The near edge can serve as a mini data center in locations with limited or no connectivity to centralized cloud services, providing local storage and computing capabilities. It is also associated with Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), which is relevant to both mobile and non-mobile use cases[2].

The distinction between near edge and far edge is often a matter of latency. Near edge locations typically offer round-trip latencies of 20 milliseconds or less, which is faster than traditional cloud data centers but not as low as the microseconds range targeted by far edge infrastructure[5].

In summary, near edge in edge computing represents the intermediate point in the network that brings computing resources closer to end devices and users than traditional data centers, but not as close as the far edge, to facilitate faster processing and decision-making with reduced latency[1][2][5].