Network transparency for a future-proof IT infrastructure

Trusted Advisor for IT & Telecommunications Sourcing

Why complete visibility is the first step towards a future-proof IT infrastructure

All it takes is one blind spot in the network and suddenly faults go undetected, attacks go unnoticed and costs are out of control. A lack of network transparency is one of the most underestimated risks of modern IT infrastructures.

In a nutshell:

Without full visibility, 84% of IT teams only find out about problems through user complaints, not through their own systems
Blind spots in the network create gateways for cyber attacks and make it difficult to meet compliance requirements
Growing cloud usage, working from home and IoT devices are making networks increasingly complex and difficult to keep track of

The solution:
SD-WAN, SASE and a central management dashboard create the transparency that IT teams need for proactive management, targeted cost control and seamless security.

Read on to find out how companies can achieve full network visibility, minimize risks and find the right architecture with SAVECALL.

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Explained by experts:

Initial situation

From simple Site Connectivity to complex hybrid networks

Corporate networks have changed fundamentally over the past two decades. Instead of simple Site Connectivity, today’s Wide Area Networks must connect offices, production facilities, home office users, data centers and private and public cloud environments.

At the same time, the load is growing: the volume of corporate data is estimated to have increased by 42% between 2020 and 2022. Cloud services, video conferencing and data-intensive applications are consuming bandwidth and infrastructure on an unprecedented scale.

Modern networks consist of a multitude of heterogeneous components – from on-premise equipment and managed network services to cloud gateways, IoT devices and mobile endpoints. This heterogeneity not only makes management more difficult, but also creates dangerous blind spots: according to recent studies, network complexity and a lack of transparency are a serious problem for around 80 percent of all companies.

Why network transparency is business-critical

Proactive management instead of fire department deployment

Without sufficient visibility, a network can hardly be managed proactively. Problems such as latency spikes, bandwidth bottlenecks or application performance drops often only become visible when end users are already impaired. Industry surveys show that 84% of network managers first learn of disruptions through user complaints – not through their own monitoring systems.

This is far more than just an operational nuisance. Time-critical applications and bandwidth-intensive services require dynamic network control in real time – a requirement that can hardly be met without complete transparency.

Cost control through data-based decisions

Network transparency is also an economic argument. If you can see exactly where capacities are actually being used and where resources remain unused, you can optimize them in a targeted manner – instead of buying in bandwidth across the board. This avoids unnecessary costs and creates scope for targeted investments.

Safety starts with visibility

The importance of network transparency is most critical in the context of cyber security. Blind spots in the network mean potentially undetected vulnerabilities and make it considerably more difficult to detect ongoing attacks.

The threat situation is continuously intensifying: phishing attacks alone increased by 1,265% in 2023 – an increase that is largely due to the use of generative AI by cyber criminals. Without complete insight into data flows, user behavior and endpoint activities, effective defense is hardly possible. Adherence to data protection and compliance requirements also requires complete network visibility.

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Architectural approaches for more network transparency

SAVECALL SD-WAN - flexible, intelligent networking for secure and scalable business infrastructure.

SD-WAN: Central control, holistic view

Software-defined WAN(SD-WAN) is one of the most effective architectural approaches for improving network transparency. A virtualized overlay layer allows all WAN connections to be controlled, configured and monitored centrally via a uniform interface.

IT teams receive granular insights into traffic flows, application usage, latencies, jitter values and the performance of individual connections – from the overall network down to user level. Particularly valuable: SD-WAN also creates a uniform network view when multiple cloud connections are used in parallel. If the SD-WAN overlay is extended to home office and remote users, these connections are also fully integrated into the central overview.

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SASE: Network transparency and security from a single source

Secure Access Service Edge(SASE) combines the network virtualization and visibility of SD-WAN with integrated security features – including Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) and Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB).

The result: IT teams receive a standardized platform for controlling performance and security across the entire network – without blind spots where security policies do not apply. Remote users have secure, policy-compliant access to company resources without having to compromise on security.

SASE also enables the early detection of suspicious activity – such as unusually large amounts of data leaving the network, unknown devices connecting, atypical traffic spikes or data movements outside regular working hours. Early detection of such anomalies can significantly limit the damage in an emergency.

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SAVECALL SASE - Secure Access Service Edge ensuring safe, controlled, and reliable network access.

Single Pane of Glass: One dashboard for all network services

As corporate networks consist of a multitude of different components, services and access technologies, a consolidated overview is a real challenge. A so-called “single pane of glass” – a standardized management dashboard – provides a remedy: it offers complete transparency across physical, virtual and software-defined network and voice services and enables detailed insights into inventory, availability, usage, billing and performance.

From monitoring to intelligence

AI as an amplifier of network transparency

Complete network visibility is the first step – but not an end in itself. The amount of data generated by a transparent network quickly exceeds the manual analysis capacities of even well-positioned IT teams.

This is where artificial intelligence comes into play: AI-supported analysis systems recognize patterns and anomalies that escape human eyes and recommend specific measures when deviations occur. This turns raw data into usable knowledge – and reactive network management into a proactive IT strategy geared towards business goals.

Conclusion

Transparency as the foundation of the network strategy

Network transparency is not just a technical option, but a strategic necessity. Those who do not have a complete view of their infrastructure risk performance losses, unnecessary costs and critical security gaps – at a time when the demands on company networks are constantly increasing.

Choosing the right architecture – whether SD-WAN, SASE or a combination of both approaches – is crucial. Equally important is the selection of suitable carriers and technology partners that also support this visibility at the underlay level.

SAVECALL supports IT managers in finding the right course.

As a provider-independent sourcing and consulting partner with a network of over 80 carriers worldwide, SAVECALL supports companies in the selection and comparison of suitable connectivity solutions – from DIA and business Internet to Ethernet and IP transit through to SD-WAN and SASE. SAVECALL not only provides market analysis and contract optimization, but also ongoing support – so that you can concentrate on your core business while your network infrastructure remains transparent, efficient and secure.

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