Cloud Source

5 Ways To Move Toward Network Modernization

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The COVID-19 pandemic caused companies to shake up their network modernization priorities, rushing to secure remote work settings while supporting adequate performance standards. Today, the shakeup continues, albeit at a more reasonable pace, while IT directors consider how to best organize considerations like security, costs, and performance in a hybrid workplace.

Some companies have returned to business as usual, with workers reporting in person, but some have found it advantageous to continue in a hybrid or fully remote environment. Here are some ways that network modernization is being pursued in new circumstances:

Moving to Cloud Computing: Shifting to a cloud-focused strategy enables companies to transition to a financial model that is both consumption-based and categorized as operating expenses rather than CapEx.

From a network modernization perspective, cloud computing is a way to remove some of the networking load to managed services and reduce some of the load on the infrastructure.

Adopting SD-WAN: Software-defined wide area networking is a good solution for equipping remote workers with centrally-managed network access that offers both visibility and control for networking teams. It also aligns well with network modernization goals, providing alternative, low-cost pathways for low-priority transmissions while prioritizing those that require secure, real-time, low-latency connection for application features like video conferencing.

Accessing Automation:  As networks get more complex, companies need simplicity. Automation for network tasks like processing business rules for network prioritization or some parts of migration helps IT networking teams pursue their objectives efficiently.

Harnessing AI: As more data flows in and out of the network, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are useful for spotting early trends and issuing warnings about security anomalies. It can also make recommendations about how to provision resources, but may require an aggregated tool to make the most of the data available to companies.

Prioritizing Security: Network modernization strategies are always balancing advancing performance versus securing data and systems. A focused network security strategy must be prioritized. Companies with a geographically dispersed team, with branch locations and remote workers, should consider adopting zero trust network access (ZTNA), an approach that addresses the evaporating network perimeter with user- and device-based authentication.

All of these objectives work together toward achieving network modernization. For instance, companies can work simultaneously to elevate performance with SD-WAN’s bandwidth management capabilities while also improving security with SD-WAN’s ability to segment traffic when a threat is detected. AI tools can also help accelerate automated processes related to a migration to cloud computing while establishing a solid baseline for detecting unusual network activity in the future.

The path to network modernization has changed dramatically for many companies in recent years, and it’s bound to continue to change. With the right guidance, your company can pursue network upgrades with confidence. Contact us at Cloud Source for more information.

4 Network Considerations Before Choosing SASE

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Companies looking to unify their network and security functions as an upgrade from software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) are turning to secure access service edge (SASE), which combines SD-WAN with several security tools.

SASE may seem like the answer to the complex problems your company is facing with cumbersome network and security tools. But before you invest in SASE, there are four areas of consideration you should take into account:

Your Current WAN Situation: If you have already invested in multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) and SD-WAN, you may be reluctant to explore SASE unless your current architecture becomes too costly. It’s a good solution when cost and complexity make WAN management difficult. But the switch could be premature if companies depend on SASE for single-pane-of-glass management because it is rarely the reality.

Work-From-Home: The post-pandemic work environment often includes permanently remote or hybrid teams. SASE allows companies to extend security and connectivity to where workers are located with the ability to apply security policies and authenticate users to provide a consistent work experience.

Best of Breed vs. Consolidated Tools: SASE offers a consolidated solution that replaces multiple tools through a unified cloud offering. But some large enterprises prefer a best-of-breed approach. And some SASE solutions sold as a consolidated product are actually a collection of tools from different vendors, but it takes a bit of investigating to learn this. It’s a good idea to be aware of this because some features may not be as integrated as your network team would like.

Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Challenges: If your company is investing in cloud resources, your network likely needs to equip users with access to cloud-native resources. Data access is also changing, breaking data out of silos and sharing it across your organization and from cloud to cloud. SD-WAN is great for managing bandwidth and traffic prioritization, but SASE can prevent compliance problems and other security gaps that can occur with widespread data access.

When making a decision about SASE, it’s a good idea to assess your network edge and determine whether it has become too complicated for your existing WAN architecture. If you support a distributed workforce and a hybrid or multi-cloud environment, your edge may have become complex, requiring the simplicity SASE introduces.

Determining your path forward for network management doesn’t have to be confusing. When you partner with Cloud Source, we can help you decide whether SASE is the right fit for your company and where your technology is headed. Contact us to get started with an evaluation of your current WAN environment and recommendations for improving connectivity and security.

The Benefits of Combining SD-WAN and 5G

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The ability to better manage connectivity and performance for cloud-focused IT environments drove adoption of software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN). With improved visibility, network segmentation, and the ability to choose from a variety of pathways, SD-WAN addressed concerns around bandwidth demand and cloud application performance.

Now, with the availability of 5G coming to fruition, companies experience data services that are even faster than some wired WAN options like multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). The benefits of 5G, including low latency and speeds exceeding 1GB, allow for better performance than comparable wired options.

5G also delivers speeds over 150 Mbps, equipping most branch offices with the performance levels they need. This is only expected to increase, exceeding 1GB with very low latency, and equipping wireless capacity for branch WAN.

But 5G is still early in its deployment, and many of the benefits have only been enjoyed in some metro areas. Also, 5G network slicing, offering guaranteed quality of service, is only available in certain U.S. cities.

SD-WAN and 5G Working Together: When used in combination, SD-WAN and 5G create a new WAN architecture that offers important benefits to employers of large hybrid or work-from-home teams. SD-WAN and 5G combined offer high-speed bandwidth, better reliability, and rapid provisioning.

IT teams are introduced to new wireless service providers equipped to replace their wired alternatives. Many companies with branch locations already utilize LTE to promote reliability and high availability to avoid downtime, which can be essential features for pop-ups and temporary branch locations.

The combination is also useful in cases where work-from-home employees require a secondary network access with high application performance requirements.

Multiplying Benefits: More companies are making SD-WAN their standard infrastructure upgrade when trying to segment traffic across multiple WAN links. It offers better link security as well as improved reliability and performance to create a cost-efficient path to greater bandwidth capacity. 5G links add additional benefits because they are simple, efficient for provisioning, and offer link diversity as a guard against downtime. 5G is a cableless option that is easy to purchase and deploy.

Some of the most powerful benefits of combining 5G and SD-WAN include:

  • Link redundancy and quality of service
  • Easier link provisioning
  • Improved application performance
  • Better visibility, security, and traffic segmentation
  • Connectivity diversity
  • Support for edge devices
  • Cost-efficiency

The large number of employees working from home in either permanently remote or hybrid situations is increasing the demand for 5G, and this type of work environment is expected to remain long after the pandemic has faded. 5G and SD-WAN make ideal partners either as a replacement for the primary delivery of broadband or as a way to complement services and create redundancy and quality of service.

When it’s time for a network infrastructure upgrade, your organization may be considering circumstances like remote and work-from-home employees. Contact us at Cloud Source where we understand the many factors influencing your technology decisions and are ready to guide you in considering how SD-WAN and 5G may play a role.

The Intersection of Digital Transformation and Enterprise Networking

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Digital transformation has become so central to business, that it can be hard to separate from other types of objectives. Using technology to improve customer experiences, streamline productivity, and reduce costs is all part of the goal of digital transformation, and of the broader enterprise.

As organizations embrace this mindset, it’s important to note the comprehensive nature of digital transformation. With every adoption of a cloud solution, each implementation of a new digital tool, there’s an impact to the infrastructure. Enterprises need to be aware of how network infrastructure both shapes and is impacted by digital transformation.

In recent years, enterprises have favored alternatives to the costly-but-reliable multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) approach. With software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN), costs can be reduced by augmenting or replacing MPLS lines with a pathway-agnostic approach, utilizing a variety of delivery methods including broadband internet.

Research issued by Cato Networks from a survey entitled, “Networking in 2020: Understanding Digital Transformation’s Impact on IT Confidence in Enterprise Networks,” included responses from more than 1,300 professionals in IT careers.

The survey asked about a variety of network characteristics and how they relate to digital transformation, including security, agility, performance, and operations. The analysis broke down answers based on whether the enterprise used MPLS, SD-WAN or secure access service edge (SASE), which combines SD-WAN with other networking capabilities and security into a single, cloud-native solution.

A few key findings:

  • Budgets are growing in 2020 both in areas tagged for security and for networking.
  • Mobility is central to IT strategy, with IT professionals focusing on secure connections and adequate policy application.
  • More than 60% of respondents said their most critical applications reside in the cloud.

Network Confidence Shaken

The survey also uncovered some findings as they pertain to IT professionals’ confidence in their network in light of digital transformation goals. Here are a few areas cited for concerns:

Agility: While it’s expected that enterprises utilizing MPLS networking would note some difficulties with adding new cloud solutions or new branch locations, it was a surprise that those using SD-WAN also noted some difficulty in rapidly deploying new infrastructure for cloud solutions.

Security: Most SD-WAN solutions do not have security baked in as an integrated part of the solution; many require security features to be bolted on after implementation. Unsurprisingly, SASE fared better in this category because security is a native part of the solution.

Performance: Both MPLS and SD-WAN networks demonstrated difficulty with solution performance following digital transformation.

Management: While enterprises using MPLS reported some last-mile connection redundancy, SD-WAN and SASE seem to be able to automatically overcome any last-mile issues.

The survey results may indicate a few areas of concern for different networking approaches, but it also highlights the need for an implementation plan for network infrastructure that takes into account not only where the enterprise is today, but also what their networking needs are in the future.

Contact us at Cloud Source to evaluate the possibilities of a network infrastructure upgrade and how the right solution can equip your digital transformation process.

Edge Computing Expands in 2020

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The network edge has become more complex and harder to define as the expansion of digital strategies has driven more and more processes away from centralized processing. Edge computing is expected to experience more growth and churn as data is increasingly handled at branch locations and extended out to mobile devices and business partners.

From investing in software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) to interconnected cloud solutions that link enterprises with partners and the Internet of Things (IoT), the perimeter of the cloud is changing dramatically. In fact, Gartner reports that by 2023, over 50% of enterprise data will be processed away from the cloud or a data center, a major growth from 10% in 2019.   

Edge computing is part of a shift in how technologies are supported, with information processing, creation, and delivery occurring closer to the sources of the information. The result is a reduction in network latency, as well as improving autonomy at the edge.

This shift is also impacted by the changing scope of WAN networks. Enterprises no longer operate within a model whose boundaries are comprised of the brand edge and data center edge. The boundaries now comprise individual devices on one end, with data moving across the WAN to individual containers or clouds at the other end. There ends up being edges at branches, devices, data centers, clients, and servers, and the edge quickly becomes hard to define. 

Business applications are no longer centralized, with enterprises operating containerized workloads that are more effectively managed when the edge is closer to the application and its data. This is forcing the network to change to meet the needs of modern technology infrastructure.

With cloud solutions, mobile and IoT technology, and the integration of networks with business partners, the edge is more difficult to define, but there’s sometimes a perception that there no longer is an edge. IT professionals sometimes say the device is the edge, and while it may be true that there’s no single defined perimeter, there are perimeters defined in smaller segments.

Edge computing is being supported by SD-WAN technology that seeks to meet the needs of digital strategies, equipping Software as a Service (SaaS) apps and hybrid cloud environments. SD-WAN allows enterprises to optimize application performance and user experiences with automated application awareness and centralized orchestration.

One of the key improvements rolling out for SD-WAN solutions that differentiates the best options is baked-in security — an approach that means enterprises aren’t forced to bolt on security solutions that may see gaps at the edge. Networking solution providers are combining networking and security to protect the edge in a strategy called secure access service edge (SASE). While the technology is still in its infancy, enterprises can expect to see more advances that work to secure the edge and address the gaps that can occur as the security plane is broadened by edge computing.

Is your enterprise in need of better networking and security for edge computing capabilities? Contact us at Cloud Source for guidance in choosing the right solutions for your digital strategies.

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