Innovation in a flexible & secure corporate network

A flexible and secure network infrastructure is a prerequisite for the digital transformation of a company.

Hybrid working models have prevailed and customer contact is largely virtual. However, the network infrastructure of many companies is not sufficiently prepared for this; often only quick-fix solutions have been set up. In the future, companies will expand their digital infrastructure and make it flexible, secure and, above all, future-proof. While in the past companies saw their own network as a pure cost centre, they are increasingly recognizing the potential of their network as an elementary platform for day-to-day business and as an important pillar for innovation.

Business growth through a stable, flexible and secure network

A robust and more flexible network infrastructure is an important platform that enables companies to overcome uncertainties. But how can companies make their network truly stable, secure and future-proof? And in such a way that it supports their innovation strategy? Distributed locations need to be connected, cloud environments integrated, data and connection security guaranteed and wired and wireless networks integrated. A network must be able to cope with the different requirements of these various network participants (users, servers, IOT sensors). This integration is one of the most important tasks of an IT department today.

A cloud-centric architecture is the need of the hour as it enables organizations to make the best use of their networks. Building agility at the cloud edge with easy deployment of various virtual network functions at these edges enables better connectivity to critical applications across multiple clouds. Companies therefore often rely on providers with a global presence to get as close as possible to the cloud and thus optimally route business-critical data traffic to the cloud applications.

A high degree of scalability is required to successfully cope with unforeseen circumstances. Scalability is often severely limited by a hardware-centric model. Therefore, the use of software-driven network solutions is increasingly important. Companies have recognized the need for faster deployment of network functions and routing policies. SD-WAN has also emerged as an important solution during this time.

SD-WAN has many advantages. But does this approach automatically work as a panacea for various network problems? The answer is no, because not every company has the technical capabilities to make the most of this approach. For implementation in an environment where other technologies are already in use, companies need a mature and methodical migration strategy. This is the only way to turn the use of SD-WAN into a success story.

Security and reliability play a crucial role for companies when choosing the right network solution, alongside rapid deployment and flexibility. A secure network infrastructure is very important for the complete digital transformation of a company. And this is where another trend comes into play – Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). SASE is not entirely new, as it is an amalgamation of many existing tools. SD-WAN and VPN technologies are combined with cloud-native security features such as Zero Trust and firewalls.

All of this is intended to reduce complexity on the one hand and increase security on the other. If the integration of security solutions into SD-WAN is not seamless, the complexity will remain and SD-WAN will not deliver the value that organizations expect. There are many use cases for which a software-defined network makes sense. For enterprises, a software-defined hybrid network can secure all locations and ensure maximum availability through load balancing. With the proliferation of hybrid workplaces, virtualized networks allow companies to run the functions of their network in the cloud and change their IT architecture as needed without changing hardware.

The – justified – hype surrounding SD-WAN and SASE clearly shows one thing – the industry and companies have begun to view and accept security and the network as a single entity in order to achieve maximum security and flexibility at the same time. To be truly innovative as a company, this is now more important than ever.

I look forward to your questions!

Frank Frommknecht

Key Account Consultant