If you’ve been exploring a communications technology upgrade for your enterprise, you’ve likely encountered a number of cloud communications options. From unified communications as a service (UCaaS) to embedded solutions like communication platform as a service (CPaaS), they offer affordability and flexible features that can be tailored to support business objectives.
These real-time communications solutions are most effectively implemented when the network infrastructure also receives an upgrade. In the past, networks were hardware-based with storage devices, servers, modems, routers, and firewalls all working to support connectivity in an on-premise setting. Any upgrade to a traditional hub-and-spoke network was a lengthy and costly process, depending on the scope of the objectives.
Virtualization: In today’s environment, enterprises have to prioritize scaling heavy loads of data transmissions. The network has received an overhaul to support cloud communications, and the transition continues into the new decade.
The virtualization of the network has made it possible to separate networking activities from the hardware supporting it. An upgrade no longer requires a major hardware investment, as long as the power of the devices is sufficient. The next step from virtualization is network cloudification through software-defined networking (SDN) and 5G connectivity.
Through network cloudification, cloud communications can access networking as a service (NaaS) that offers a lower level of capital and operating expenses. Programmable networking improves flexibility and is easier to manage.
Cloudification: The next step from virtualization is cloudification, in which network functions are optimized and hosted through edge data centers. This provides high throughput for cloud communications. This decentralized, distributed approach is transforming enterprise branch offices into central office re-architected as a data center (CORD) locations. The end result is better cloud agility for communications.
Aren’t Virtualization and Cloudification the Same Thing? Virtualization worked to optimize the use of commodity hardware resources, driving innovation because of its ability to utilize more compute on the same infrastructure.
Cloudification is the next step: gaining access to shared computing resources on an on-demand basis. It improves economies of scale further than can be achieved with virtualization alone.
Even with the advances that cloudification of the network offers cloud communications, there are still challenges. Interoperability, automation, and flexibility are all areas that will need attention as enterprises embrace cloudification.
Are you thinking of an infrastructure upgrade to better support a cloud communication solution? Contact us at Cloud Source to initiate a consultation. We can help you determine your network infrastructure needs and leverage the best tools to support your communications technology.