What is an edge router? Types, benefits, and features

The amount of data on the internet is mind-boggling. It is estimated that Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook alone house over 1.2 million terabytes. Keeping that data organized and moving is the monumental task accomplished by routers. These hardware devices receive, organize, manage, and transmit data coming in from the internet. Without them, information would be so chaotic that the network couldn’t function.

At its most essential level, the internet can be viewed as the sum of all the interconnections of edge routers across all participating organizations, from its periphery—think small business and home broadband routers—all the way to its core, where major telecom provider networks connect to each other via massive edge routers. On a small scale, home routers direct information to our personal devices — like phones, laptops, and gaming systems. But large numbers of devices (like in an IoT network) need multiple routers. These routers, both big and small, serve as the digital crossroads of our connected world, orchestrating the flow of information from our living rooms to the heart of the internet.

What is the purpose of an edge router?

Edge routers are designed to interface with the wider internet. Think of edge routers as the gates of a walled city. They monitor who comes in and out and are ready to defend the vulnerable city center at a moment’s notice. Edge routers are used at the edge of your network, the points where your private network ends and the public network begins. The edge router is used at two main demarcation points, the internet and wide area networks (WAN). WAN are networks that connect multiple businesses or institutions but are not connected to the internet as a whole. Edge routers are able to interface with any network that an average router would. This includes 5G, broadband, satellite, or Multiprotocol Label Switching.

By acting as the critical bridge between private networks and the broader internet, edge routers play a central role not only in everyday web browsing, streaming, and smart device management, but also in the backbone of global communication, from remote IoT sensors to the data centers powering the cloud.

Recommended reading: What is LPWAN (low-power wide-area network)?

Types of edge routers

While the functionality of an edge router’s hardware does not vary all that much, there are some major distinctions based on how they are used within the network. In other words, any router could serve any of these functions, but some are better suited to them than others.

Aggregation edge routers

Route aggregation is a method developed in the 1990s to keep the internet from running out of IP addresses. It’s a process that generates a specific route for data and controls how networks determine available routes. An aggregate edge router is a router that does this task for your incoming and outgoing data to keep things running as efficiently as possible. It works by using predetermined factors to decide which data gets priority and is sent through the network first. The downside of this is that aggregate routing limits the number of open routes at any given time. Most of the time, aggregate edge routers are used for any large networks that prioritize speed. You’ll often find them in corporate or institutional networks like universities and government offices that connect users through thousands of devices.

A typical corporate deployment of an edge router involves connecting the corporate LAN and DMZ (demilitarized zone) to the public internet. In this setup, the edge router acts as a gatekeeper, enforcing firewall policies to filter out potentially malicious traffic before it ever reaches sensitive internal systems. This layered approach helps protect user data and critical resources, ensuring that only authorized and safe data flows between the private network and the wider web. For organizations handling significant amounts of traffic—think bustling university campuses or sprawling government agencies—aggregation edge routers keep everything organized, secure, and fast.

Branch edge routers

A branch edge router sits in a ‘branch’ or a more remote location in a WAN network. Branch edge routers don’t use the same aggregation method as other routers because they don’t need to. They are mostly used for small businesses or small branch office setups, so they don’t have to deal with huge amounts of data. This branch concept also connects to edge computing, which prevents local data from being sent all the way back to the cloud for processing.

It’s worth noting that the lines between edge routers and branch routers can blur depending on how they’re deployed. Any router model can technically serve as an edge, branch, or even a core router—the true distinction comes from the router’s role in the network. Branch routers usually operate at remote sites, often at the edge of a WAN, connecting those sites to the central corporate LAN or other routers. Think of them as the network’s outposts, relaying data between a remote office (sometimes its own VLAN or LAN within a WAN) and the larger organizational network.

Vendors often design branch routers to be multi-talented, bundling several network services into one device. This all-in-one approach means that businesses don’t need a rack full of separate hardware to manage routing, security, or remote connectivity at each branch location.

Recommended reading: Edge computing in IoT: 5 reasons it’s important

Virtual edge routers

Virtual edge routing takes the job of routing away from hardware and uses software to accomplish the same task. It’s a form of network functions virtualization (NFV) — designing software to do the function of hardware. It works similarly to setting up your mobile phone as a hotspot. Virtual edge routers allow a device to become a router and the hub for your network. A drawback to this approach is speed. Hardware that was not designed to deal with input from dozens of devices can easily get overloaded. That’s why virtual edge routers are more commonly used for smaller, local networks rather than large organizations with high numbers of IoT devices.

Subscriber edge routers vs. label edge routers: What sets them apart?

Although all edge routers operate at the network boundary, there are some key differences between subscriber edge routers and label edge routers.

Subscriber edge routers serve as bridges between internal networks and external networks, such as connecting a business or home network to the network edge of an internet service provider (ISP). These routers typically handle internet connections at a small office or act as the gateway between your home Wi-Fi and your broadband provider. In larger organizations, these routers can also handle connections between an enterprise network and other autonomous systems.

Label edge routers, on the other hand, are specialized for environments that use Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). Rather than simply moving data based on IP addresses, label edge routers attach labels to packets as they enter or exit an MPLS network, streamlining how information travels across complex wide-area networks (WANs). This extra step allows them to make fast, efficient routing decisions for large, data-heavy organizations or service providers.

To sum up: subscriber edge routers tend to serve as your front-line connection point to an ISP, handling external communications for businesses and consumers alike. Label edge routers, in contrast, are all about efficiency inside MPLS-enabled networks, attaching “labels” to guide data on the quickest, smartest path through the network maze.

Edge router benefits

Let’s look at a few benefits of choosing an edge router over a standard router.

Fortified security

Edge routers are integral parts of the firewall protecting internal networks from outside threats. All data coming into and going out of your organization’s networks must pass through at least one edge router. This funneling of data allows a single network location to be loaded down with as many safety protocols as possible. It also eliminates network back doors — if a device is connected through your network, it is going through your screening processes by default.

High availability and up-to-date security

Making sure your edge routers are always up and running–and aren’t a soft target for attackers–means taking a few key steps.

1. First, edge routers should be designed with high availability (HA) in mind. This typically involves setting up multiple routers in redundancy, so if one fails, others take over automatically without missing a beat. It’s the network equivalent of having a pinch hitter ready to step up whenever the main batter tweaks a hamstring.
2. Another vital piece is keeping security defenses current. Opting for routers with built-in firewall capabilities gives you more flexibility to enforce strict security policies right at your network’s borders. This could include blocking certain traffic, restricting access to sensitive data, or only allowing approved devices to connect.
3. Lastly, don’t forget about firmware updates. Cyber threats evolve fast, and manufacturers like Cisco, Juniper, and Fortinet regularly push out updates that patch newly discovered vulnerabilities. Make it a habit to schedule regular checks and updates—think of it as a digital oil change for your network.

By making HA configurations and proactive updates a routine part of your network management, your edge routers are far more likely to keep business rolling smoothly, no matter what the internet throws your way.

Improved quality of service (QoS)

Quality of service (QoS) is software that prioritizes data packets for specific high-performance applications. There are four areas that QoS software can adjust. Bandwidth refers to the speed of the link. Delay is the time it takes the data packet to get to its destination. Loss is the amount of data that is lost in transit. And jitter is the irregular speed of packets on a network that can get the data out of order — leading to distortion or gaps. There are a number of causes for these issues, from outdated 3G networks to high levels of congestion. Edge routers are able to support more advanced QoS setups to help deal with these issues.

Recommended reading: What’s the 3G sunset and how will it affect existing IoT deployments?

Permit remote access

Much like with cloud computing, edge routers work well with remote access, allowing users to control both devices and systems from outside the actual network. This is done through virtual private networks (VPNs) that use encryption to communicate with the edge router. While you can have a VPN on any router, edge routers offer better support in that they can permit access to thousands of VPNs at once. This means that workers can respond to the needs of the IoT network from any location with a stable wi-fi signal. Another major advantage is that since devices are interfacing with the edge router and not the VPN directly, even devices that don’t normally support a VPN can work through the edge router setup.

Recommended reading: Edge vs. cloud: Which computing technology is for you?

Edge router features

Edge routers come with a number of features that can help improve any IoT network.

Robust security controls

Edge routers can receive encrypted data and then decrypt any data packets that need verification. Web-based email, traffic to unknown sites, and online file storing and sharing all pose a notable security risk. Edge routers are able to identify those types of data packets and inspect them before letting them into your core system. They can also use similar processes to identify suspicious applications, malware, and malicious URLs to prevent them from exploiting your network. Edge routers are even able to alert you to system intrusions.

Data and telemetry management

Streaming network telemetry is the collection of information on what types and how much data is going through a network at any given moment. To prevent congestion, edge routers are able to adjust the network in real-time to meet current needs. Parameters like file types, users, and applications are all considered to make the most efficient network possible.

Advanced network intelligence

Edge routers are built to deal with whatever the internet can throw at them. Considering that they could be interfacing with any number of devices, networks, and systems, they are able to support multiple interconnection protocols. These range from IPv4, IPv6, and MPLS, to IP routing protocols such as IS-IS (Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and BGP (Border Gateway Protocol).

Multiple types of connectivity

Edge routers are also able to adapt to multiple hardware needs. They are equipped with standard ethernet ports, but can also connect through 5G, Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols.

Dependable and trustworthy security

Edge routers let you manage your own security rather than outsourcing it. You are the one in control of what gets into your network because you are the one controlling the hardware. While the main function of an edge router is to route data, given the customization options, they also serve as a bulwark against network intrusion.

Popular edge router vendors and products

When it comes to choosing an edge router, the market is filled with reliable options from reputable vendors recognized for their innovation and performance. Here are a few well-known choices favored by IT professionals and network architects alike:

• Cisco: A staple in enterprise networking, Cisco’s ISR and ASR series of routers are often deployed for their blend of security, scalability, and advanced routing capabilities.
• Juniper: Known for durability and high performance, Juniper offers options such as the MX and ACX series, each designed to reliably handle high-traffic environments and diverse connectivity needs.
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE): For those seeking cost-effective yet robust solutions, HPE’s MSR and VSR series provide versatile connectivity options suitable for growing IoT networks.
• Dell: Dell’s N series routers are recognized for their energy efficiency and budget-friendly pricing, making them a smart pick for organizations mindful of both power consumption and ROI.
• Ubiquiti: Ubiquiti’s EdgeRouter X stands out for its simple setup and intuitive GUI, catering to users who value easy management without sacrificing performance.

Whether your priority is advanced feature sets, ease of use, or long-term reliability, there’s an edge router well-suited to meet your network’s needs.

What is the difference between an edge router and a core router?

If edge routers are the gates in the city walls that protect a network from the larger internet, the core router is the castle at the center of the city. It’s a device built to handle the heavy data traffic of a large business or institution. The most significant difference between the edge and core router is that the core router never connects with the internet itself. Instead, it is isolated within the network. This allows it to focus on managing the movement of data within the network to avoid congestion. Often, core routers make use of statistical multiplexing (combining information from multiple channels to be sent on a single channel) to make the core network more efficient.

Connect your edge routers to the internet of things with Hologram

Not every network needs an edge router. But if you are working with dozens or hundreds of IoT devices on the same network, edge routers are essential. From their versatility in connectivity to their heightened security, edge routers provide the stability you need for a large, complex network. But no matter how good your organization’s network is, your devices need a connection to the internet that you can rely on. Hologram’s cellular IoT network offers seamless, global coverage for IoT devices with access to LTE/4G/3G/2G technologies.