\u00a9 shutterstock\/TippaPatt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInnovative networks also need better programmability \u2013 the ability to interface with business software, such as a network solution management node. It\u2019s about the ability to get data out and squeeze data in.<\/p>\n
Automation is about time-saving, but integration is about pulling data out of one place and putting it in another, either bi-directional or directional, to improve business processes. For example, \u2018I have observed some poor network conditions, so I\u2019m going to make policy changes to improve it\u2019. From a security perspective, it could provide some additional context between security solutions that will deliver better threat protection.<\/p>\n
Adding Software-as-a-Solution (SaaS) onto the network can do more for the business; it is an enabler to drive better business outcomes. For example, it integrates foundational security with new security layers, ensuring security around home working. The key is to ensure your network is adaptable enough to use these SaaS solutions.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not always necessary to build a new network to cope with today\u2019s complexities if you already have the appropriate computing power and the flexibility to increase and decrease workloads when needed.\u00a0 It is essential to ensure that when you update software or try to integrate new software into the network, it results in a good user experience.<\/p>\n
User experience is critical to the success of your network. For example, chatbots are in high demand due to Chat GPT and the like, but you can also do a lot with simple chatbots. People like language-driven results. For example, network engineers want to receive a message alert when there is an issue with the network, and they want to query it back in a chat as that is a more natural way of working and helps fit into their workload.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also simple to get up and running quickly and doesn\u2019t require them to code because it’s already been created elsewhere and is available for wider use.<\/p>\n
Containerisation is another technique that allows for network innovation. It is important to network innovation because it provides a consistent runtime environment, enables continuous integration and continuous delivery, and is more efficient than virtual machines, such as building virtual firewalls within our switches or using apps running natively on our already deployed infrastructure to drive quicker, more secure results.<\/p>\n
Containers use fewer resources and deliver higher utilisation of computing resources, which helps with sustainability. It also makes it easier to scale applications up or down as needed, which is essential for modern network architectures.<\/p>\n
Adapting to digital changes<\/h3>\n For network engineers, network innovation requires a move away from coding to working with scripts, which requires a different mindset. If they can focus on the benefits of working in this new way and see the network as its software platform, they don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel. Lots of the material is already available off the shelf from vendors and managed service providers and through network communities such as the Cisco DevNet community.<\/p>\n
IT teams must assess how revolutionising their network with automation and AI will help deliver better business outcomes. Showing ROI is difficult, so working with a managed service partner can help demonstrate this.<\/p>\n
Once you have a revolutionised network using automation and new tools to drive new outcomes, strong user experience and high levels of security, what happens next? Plug it in, and off you go, right?<\/p>\n
No \u2013 issues will still arise even with the best designs in the world, whether user error or network outage.<\/p>\n
You can quickly pick up on any issues by ensuring you have a good assurance plan and appropriate monitoring tools. A mature assurance solution, like Cisco\u2019s ThousandEyes, can prioritise and grade issues in terms of risk and cost. This is achieved by applying intelligence or machine learning to help interpret the network’s data. This visibility of what is happening across your network is now available to everyone and can help change your response to issues from reactive to proactive. You can start to predict likely problems that can be addressed before they occur, which is the ideal goal of an intelligent network.<\/p>\n
As technology evolves, our networks must work harder and be more intelligent to deliver successful business outcomes. By harnessing automation and containerisation and ensuring assurance across your network, you can pioneer innovation to ensure continued business success.<\/p>\n
By doing this, we can drive network innovation and, in turn, provide the best user and business outcomes instead of just moving zeros and ones around.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Learn more about how organisations can drive successful network innovation in the height of a digital era.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":41119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[830],"tags":[885],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Revolutionising network innovation for tomorrow\u2019s digital needs<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n