CIO's Strategic Guide to Edge Computing: Building Future-Ready Infrastructure with Nutanix

Why Chief Information Officers Must Prioritize Edge Computing Strategy

It is anticipated that edge computing market will be a transformative $378 billion (encompassing hardware, software, infrastructure, services, and integrations) opportunity by 2028, fundamentally reshaping how enterprises process and analyze data [1]. For Chief Information Officers, edge computing is no longer optional—it's essential infrastructure for competitive advantage. 

Market Reality Demands Action

Gartner research indicates that by 2029, 50% of enterprises will use edge computing—up from 20% in 2024—and 60% of those deployments will leverage composite AI (predictive and generative), compared to less than 5% in 2023. By 2028, 80% of custom software running at the physical edge will be deployed in containers, which is a sizable increase from 20% in 2024[2]. These statistics underscore why CIOs must develop comprehensive edge strategies immediately.

Essential CIO Competencies for Edge Success

We believe that modern CIOs require five critical capabilities for effective edge strategy implementation. First, edge infrastructure support with unified platforms managing both virtual machines and containers across distributed environments. Second, data management expertise enabling robust storage and data services at edge locations. Third, zero-touch deployment and orchestration capabilities that minimize on-site technical requirements through remote automation. Fourth, AI integration knowledge to implement machine learning capabilities at edge locations. Fifth, ecosystem partnership management to leverage strategic relationships with technology vendors and systems integrators.

Nutanix Addresses Core CIO Priorities

Nutanix delivers a comprehensive platform that unifies infrastructure management, automates deployment workflows, and enhances operational efficiency across distributed environments. It simplifies the provisioning and management of compute, networking, and storage resources, providing resilient and scalable infrastructure tailored for Edge applications. Automated deployment capabilities enable zero-touch provisioning, allowing remote and large-scale rollouts without the need for specialized on-site expertise. The platform's VMs and K8s orchestration features streamline lifecycle management, while integrated monitoring and policy enforcement deliver consistent performance and compliance. With extensive support for VMs and Containers, enterprises don't have to choose between existing apps and modern apps for these edge locations. 

In addition, Nutanix empowers enterprises with advanced AI capabilities by simplifying the deployment and operation of machine learning models at the edge, by providing access to open-source and proprietary Gen-AI models for GPUs and CPUs. Its multi-environment approach supports seamless operations across on-premises, edge, and cloud infrastructures, backed by robust ecosystem partnerships that enhance networking and accelerate AI-driven workloads [4].