NETWORKING FEATURE
“If we talk about it as software defined and our customers don’t
understand the value, and if our model is the old model of networking
which is ‘stick it in, make it static, change it every now and again’, and we
don’t grab the benefits of it then we’re not going to move forward.”
CHRIS GABRIEL, DIRECTOR OF CISCO SOLUTIONS AT LOGICALIS UK
larger infrastructure players pursue
dominance with a full stack strategy.”
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT
Many cloud-native technologies such
as containers, artificial intelligence,
machine learning, big data, multiaccess
SMBS FACE
CLOUDY FUTURE
While most SMBs still typically
deploy conventional routing and
switching, Atchison Frazer, head
of worldwide head of marketing at
Versa Networks believes the cloud
will be key to SMBs’ networking
strategies moving forward.
“The future of edge networking
will look more like how SMBs
consume cloud services – i.e.,
SaaS for core networking +
SD-WAN + network security +
web security, and the number of
devices required to deploy and
manage on site will be reduced to
one virtual or universal CPE, with
the solution provider leveraging
a cloud-managed interface for
multiple clients,” he says.
“Cloud computing is fantastic
for the small and medium
business because it no longer
relies on having an experienced
network administrator or a server
environment in the local office, also
requiring someone to be employed
who manages that infrastructure,
and many larger companies can
also use this business model,” says
D-Link’s Routledge.
“However, it’s not necessarily
the right way to manage your
business at the other end of the
scale, particularly large Enterprise
and to be even more specific,
large enterprise with a focus
on information security. That is
where other technologies are
deployed such as software-defined
networks.”
edge cloud and virtual reality all
rely on an agile network infrastructure.
“SDN and NFV is key to realising the
business benefits of new applications
that pave the way for the digital
transformation of the enterprises,” says
Bhalgat.
According to Terry-Brown, SDN
and NFV “represent a gateway, a huge
step forward on the road to digital
transformation.”
He says both SDN and NFV’s ability
to overlay on existing WAN or IP-VPN
means that business decision makers
can implement it rapidly and with
minimum disruption: “A flexible, easily
configured software defined network
also allows businesses to trial new
technologies, such as IoT, in a specific
area, without impacting primary
operations,” he adds.
He also says that Vodafone “can
foresee an evolution where services
begin almost immediately on 5G and
move seamlessly to other access
technology without disruption. The
combination of 5G and SDN can deliver
this future for our customers.”
“A partner that understands how
this technology fits into wider digital
strategy and offers a broad portfolio of
services to complement a network will
find itself in a strong position,” he adds.
The channel, however, still needs
to get its engagement right with
customers (see box out).
“If we talk about it as software
defined and our customers don’t
understand the value, and if our model
is the old model of networking which
is ‘stick it in, make it static, change it
every now and again’, and we don’t
grab the benefits of it then we’re not
going to move forward,” Chris Gabriel,
director of Cisco Solutions at Logicalis
UK, tells TBT.
“So, the opportunities are not
just selling the tech, but helping the
customer maximise the value from
that investment in new ways. The
opportunity to do more with the
customer and add more value has to be
our number one priority as a channel.”
products such as switches have, in the
past, been based upon a single OS, the
need for more robust networks and
different network topologies mean there
is a move towards hardware which can
accommodate multiple different types
of systems.
“SDN networks can be based upon
standards such as OpenFlow 1.2 and
1.3, data centres can rely on a pluribusbased
system and the standard user
may wish to use the base operating
system for a much smaller network.
The hardware is the same in each case,
however the functionality changes
depending on the requirement of
the end user. A larger move towards
branded white boxes allows for the
scalability of a platform while ensuring
that end users are purchasing a product
with brand confidence,” he says.
DISRUPTION
Meanwhile, the disruptive nature of
software-defined is creating waves
among traditional networking vendors.
Despite all the major players making
investments (or often acquisitions)
in the SDN space in recent years, the
technology still has the power to disrupt
the market.
“SDN and NFV’s increased flexibility
will make it easier for businesses to
switch providers, disrupting a market
which has remained largely static since
the turn of the century, and opening
the door for new players in the space,”
notes Peter Terry-Brown, unified
communications and connectivity
director, at Vodafone Business.
Cloud Distribution’s Hockin believes
that successful vendors will be the ones
which can deliver a fully automated,
feature rich, integrated services stack
across heterogenous environments:
“On-premise, in the cloud, regardless of
the hardware which underpins it.”
However, he notes that “interestingly
enough, there are many vendors who
are nearly there with this model, so it
will be fascinating to see how many
of these smaller SDN companies
survive, even in the near term, as the
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