Businesses are always looking for ways to stay competitive, especially in an internet-connected global market. According to technology firm Cisco Systems, by 2020:

• Global IP traffic will increase to 2.3 zettabytes (ZB) annually
• Two-thirds of this traffic will come from mobile and wireless devices
• 30% of traffic will come from smartphones
• 26.3 billion devices will be connected to IP networks

Given this, businesses will only stay competitive if they appeal to the mobile market, which they can accomplish through data center connectivity and WAN.

Data Center Distribution

Appealing to the mobile user means a stronger infrastructure and the ability to adapt easily to change. With the latest technologies, businesses can easily interconnect data centers and services in order to use data optimization and adjust to application delivery — especially since WAN can even support very specific services.

Support Rich Content

Gone are the days when a single pixelated image takes hours to download. With faster internet speeds and more storage comes richer content, such as large files, images, videos, and even virtual reality. A business’s WAN system needs to be able to handle the continuing evolution in how content is delivered and shared, whether this is through data stream optimization or support for user sub-segments. Flexibility also means the ability to adapt business strategy to market trends.

Optimizing the Cloud

As the cloud has improved from a new technology to a necessity, the model has become more about cloud services — services that support specific business requirements. User and resource demands are increasing, which means that businesses need to make sure their network can support the increased traffic. Optimizing connectivity through the use of WANOP will help create a solid and powerful infrastructure — and increase the simplicity of using management tools.

Decentralized Business

With the world highly connected and an increasingly digital workforce, many businesses become decentralized in order to stay flexible, deliver information to users, and optimize the distribution of critical resources. New WAN control mechanisms can create new services and improve market strategies, allowing the business to continue to innovate and stay competitive.

Along with the cloud, WAN optimization and data center connectivity will allow businesses to stay at the forefront of the digital revolution. Businesses will be able to keep up with the increase in traffic and deliver it all across the world — and by staying flexible, they can leverage next-gen technologies like virtual reality platforms.