Keeping up with emerging enterprise mobility advancements is challenging. It's easy to feel like your're spreading yourself too thin.
Most IT professionals are not interested in making their jobs more complicated. However, when we think of taking on any new software-based deployment it's hard not to think of the time and effort that it takes to get it up and running, and more importantly running well.
In many cases, the process is noticeably cumbersome and suddenly change seems less of an exciting proposition. Luckily though with Software-Defined Networking (SDN), you can create and implement changes without weeks of software upgrades, steep learning curves and configuration nightmares.
If you want to streamline how you manage your network and refine your strategy to implementing new updates, you need the right tools. Tools that actually work and provide real value.
To help, here are 5 examples of how software defined networking will not only save you time, but also boost your network's performance.
Connecting Your Branches
With the increased use of proprietary products and software there's also an increased network security risk with each device and location.
Every time you added a port it meant analyzing, inspecting, and securing, which for hundreds of ports meant weeks of work. This is especially cumbersome for companies with branches spread out around the world.
Doing more with less seems to be the ship everyone is jumping too, and with software defined networking, this is possible, where less means less headaches AND less time.
SDN allows you to install remote access points in your branch locations and in employee’s residences without any on-site configuring.
Thank you, Cloud!
WiFi Calling
While you might not be minute conscious when making phone calls (though many of us still remember the days of only calling someone after 9pm because it was free) there are times when your cell phone signal may be slow (or non-existent), especially in old buildings with thick concrete construction.
Avoiding these dead zones becomes easy using your wireless LAN for WiFi calling. Using a mobility controller in your data center allows you to program thousands of access points with ease.
You can configure the settings to add Wi-Fi calling to the top of your priority list as well. Dead signal zones become a thing of the past (provided you have wifi.)
Deployment of Mobile Business Applications
Skype for Business has gained a lot of traction recently, allowing colleagues to communicate using chat, voice, video, screen sharing, and file transferring in one application.
It syncs with Microsoft Exchange making 4-digit extensions a thing of the past. Skype for Business shows extreme promise in enterprise communications.
SDN creates ease in this otherwise cumbersome process. Imagine trying to configure every switch to talk to the Skype server, yikes.
After the initial identification of the traffic on your network, they will push out the settings to the other access points as to what apps to prioritize, including which device and the individual behind the device.
Safeguard your Network
Network access controls should be improving the intelligence and safety of your network.
For example, if your firewall detects a threat or infected mobile device on the network, it can adapt and adjust the settings of that specific device to protect the network and other connected devices from a potential problem.
Preventing a major problem with thousands of devices by restricting the responsible device immediately saves time and money, as well as saving you from a massive headache.
Dynamic Interconnection
The IoT (internet of things) offers almost endless array of new business opportunities through the implementation of intelligent networking.
With so much potential to increase productivity, decrease operational costs and uncover new ways to differentiate yourself from the competition, leveraging the IoT should be at the top of every enterprise mobility strategy.
However, being that the internet of things is still relatively new there are some unknowns when it comes to network security and just how they will perform or affect other areas of your network.
With network software controls and SDN, you can get applications to not only work as they were designed but guarantee that they're secure too.
Today’s tech industry is all about increasing efficiency, productivity, and security, with the least amount of headaches for those implementing these new solutions. To be successful you have to be prepared, that's why we always say, "Plan twice, deploy once".
If you have any questions about leveraging the opportunities that SDN can deliver to your business, please contact us here for more information.
