Why Network Value is Heating Up in an Increasingly….

Cisco Systems, Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and other established vendors now offer branded gear that can run software from the likes of Cumulus Networks, Big Switch Networks and Pluribus Networks often their own software can run on hardware from other vendors. They’ve also become more intelligent-look at intent-based networking-and the decoupling of the data plane and network functions from the underlying proprietary hardware has given rise to open switches that can run third-party operating systems and software. Networks are now increasingly virtualized, with software-defined networking (SDN), network-function virtualization (NFV) and software-defined WAN (SD-WAN). The network also has undergone significant change. Data and applications are no longer confined to central data centers, and they need to move quickly between those data centers, the edge and multiple clouds. The growing demand for faster speeds, more bandwidth and lower latency has put the network front-and-center in the IT world. At the same time, we have seen the rise of new and emerging applications and technologies, from data analytics to virtual and augmented reality, automated vehicles and edge computing. This means as business becomes more digital, the network increases in strategic value. The building blocks of digital are cloud computing, mobility, internet of things and artificial intelligence, all of which are network-centric. That opinion has been changing, because the network has rapidly increased in importance as digital transformation has taken hold in the business world. Most people simply considered the network to be the “plumbing” of a company and little else.

The data network was once an IT resource to which few business leaders paid attention.

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