October 2000
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Self-Service Solutions For Managed IP VPNs
BY AMAR SHAN
[ Go Right To Services
News ]
The market for IP VPNs, the foundation for advanced, application-based
services, is estimated at $40 billion, according to CIMI Corporation. Yet
enterprise IT managers are not rushing to embrace managed IP VPNs because
of the lack of reliability, control, visibility, and agility of current
carrier offerings. Further, from the carrier's perspective, an IP VPN is
just another transport service. Despite the additional $260 billion
potential in advanced services revenue (CIMI), current IP VPNs have little
or no application context. And just to add insult to injury, today's
managed IP VPNs are costly for network service providers to deploy and
manage, eroding the carrier's margins, and inhibiting the full adoption of
high-value business applications.
TAPPING INTO THE MARKET
Self-serve capabilities represent a way for service providers to tap
into today's managed IP VPN opportunity, while positioning carriers for
the emerging advanced IP services market. By delivering self-service
capability to the enterprise IT manager, innovative service providers can
meet the customer's need for application-specific control, weaning him
away from older WAN technologies and towards a new IP-based
infrastructure, complete with carrier-grade performance and reliability.
This opens the door to the quarter-trillion-dollar advanced IP services
market. But to share in that market's potential, service providers need
operations solutions that easily support hundreds of service types and
thousands of service orders-without hiring an army of customer service
representatives. By offering self-service, carriers remove the bottleneck
and let their enterprise customers choose which service to use, when to
use it, and with whom. Now carriers contain costs while simultaneously
meeting their clients' requirements.
Self-service capabilities for managed IP VPNs are starting to trickle
into the market. Several vendors, including CoSine and Ennovate, as well
as Abatis Systems, offer a range of solutions, from the simple to the
sophisticated. Here are some of the key capabilities carriers should be
looking for -- and implementing -- before encouraging their enterprise
customers to abandon their current corporate network infrastructure. On
the flip side, these are some of the major functions that enterprise
customers should be demanding before making a long-term commitment to a
managed IP VPN service.
Dynamic Moves, Adds, And Changes
Keeping up with fluid business needs and diverse and geographically
dispersed communities of interest requires hands-on access to administer
real-time moves, adds, and changes. The solution should put up-to-date
service configuration information and tools in the hands of enterprise
administrators. These tools must enable the administrator to simply select
the desired application or service from a list and click on the
appropriate endpoints. That's it. Within moments, the service should be
activated. What was once a large set of serial processes must now be
condensed into a single, error-free, flow-through function, giving the IT
administrator the agility to respond to corporate users' dynamic
requirements.
Simplified VPN Design And Management
Configuring a multivendor network to support a specific service has
traditionally required a lot of time and an in-depth knowledge of the
underlying technologies. This complex task means IT managers have little
opportunity to focus on more strategic activities. The ideal solution
should hide the complexity of the underlying network and present the
enterprise IT administrator with a comprehensive -- and comprehensible --
services view. Designing and modifying the virtual enterprise network
should be a simple matter of selecting "service channels"
between enterprise sites. Think of service channels as logical pipes that
connect business consumers and applications with the service performance,
bandwidth, and security they need, when they need it. Each channel is
pre-defined based on the appropriate service attributes and performance
parameters. Service channels simplify the complex, manual, and
skill-intensive task of managing security associations, policies, and keys
for intranets and extranets. Service channels eliminate complexity,
allowing the administrator to achieve the desired result through simple
point-and-click commands.
Guaranteed Security And Performance
The Internet provides a best-effort delivery mechanism that cannot
guarantee application security or performance. That's fine for e-mail or
Web surfing, but often less acceptable for mission-critical traffic, such
as voice, videoconferencing, customer relationship management (CRM), and
enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications. That's why the chosen
management software must let administrators select appropriate performance
and security levels for each application. For example, the IT manager can
segment a 1.544 Mbps service capacity into multiple service channels, each
with the correct parameters. Now the IT manager can easily construct a
secure environment for communications and collaboration, regardless of
organizational boundaries.
Cost-Effective Bandwidth Optimization
Access bandwidth represents a significant portion of an enterprise's
communications costs; deploying tools to shape, manage, and optimize
throughput only increases the financial burden and management complexity.
Carriers should offer a solution that lets the enterprise IT manager share
bandwidth between all corporate applications -- voice, data, and video --
while ensuring appropriate performance for the individual applications.
This differentiates the carrier's offering and eliminates the customer's
need to invest in bandwidth shaping solutions.
SLA Monitoring And Reporting
Trust is good. Proof is better. The enterprise IT manager needs
network-wide Service Level Agreement (SLA) guarantees -- and reports -- by
application. By providing administrators with detailed SLA reports, the
service provider demonstrates immediately and unambiguously that it is
meeting, and even exceeding, SLAs. A self-service reporting function not
only builds customer trust, but also reduces the cost of fielding routine
SLA queries or challenges.
Other Must-Haves
A viable managed IP VPN solution must offer secure partitioned views
of a customer's network, complete with carrier-grade safeguards and
performance, plus full FCAPS (fault, configuration, accounting,
performance, security) management for the enterprise's IP services. It
must also be easy to use with readily available up-to-the-minute data.
That means equipping the enterprise IT manager with only a Web browser, an
IP connection, and the carrier-hosted management application. With this
kind of tool kit, enterprise IT staff can easily design, manage, and
optimize their IP VPN or managed WAN service.
CONCLUSION
In summary, network service providers need an application that delivers
the visibility and control enterprise clients demand before outsourcing
their network, and the agility IT managers need to be responsive to their
end users' ever changing business needs. The enterprise requires a
carrier-class solution that offers a full range of self-serve
capabilities, starting with the ability to turn on/turn off services, and
to customize parameters such as security, QoS, and SLA reporting, on a per
application basis. Together, these demand a solution that combines the
best of the Internet -- distributed IP networks with affordable, easy
access, and easy content publication -- with the reliability, security,
and service ethos of traditional telecommunications.
Amar Shan is director of product management for Abatis, an
innovative leader in intelligent IP networking solutions for corporations
and service providers around the world. He is responsible for the product
business case, features, and roadmap. Shan brings over seventeen years of
experience in the telecommunications industry in product management,
development, and architecture roles to his position. He can be reached at [email protected]
or (604) 918-4759.
[ Return
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Services News
APEX Adds Promotional Services To Billing Systems
Service providers can now increase network traffic and provide
reduced rate usage by consumers through the implementation of APEX's
Billing and Prepaid systems. Users simply fill out demographic information
and are assigned a PIN that is necessary to access the network. The system
identifies the demographic information through the PIN and plays
corresponding promotional messages that are broadcast prior to connection.
No. 540, itmag.com/freeinfo
Microsoft Offers Net2Phone On MSN
MSN Messenger Service 3.0 now includes Net2Phone's software and
technology, providing PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone capabilities. Users will be
able to choose to list as many telephone numbers as they wish in their
profiles, as well as accessing non-MSN subscribers. Voice-enhanced
services from a major service provider are now a reality with this
offering.
No. 541, itmag.com/freeinfo
Telstra Gets Flexible With Nortel
Telstra has chosen Nortel Networks for the provision of Telstra's New
Generation Telephony. Telstra is excited about the prospect of offering
access to advanced voice, video, and data services, all independent of
location, over any broadband access. The implementation of this openly
programmable environment will enable creation of advanced services by
third-party developers. Bundled voice and data services will now be an
option to Pacific Asia and Australia.
No. 542, itmag.com/freeinfo
Zeroplus.com Partners With Linx
Zeroplus.com and Linx will integrate elements of their networks in
order to offer the benefits and capabilities of Internet telephony and
Web-based, unified communications for their customers. Providing enhanced
telephony solutions such as one-number follow-me, and unified messaging
services, Linx will make Zeroplus.com's members more integrated into their
communications system and reachable. The added ability to also select
other Linx services, such as LinxConnect, in order to manage faxes, calls,
and messages from remote locations, gives Zeroplus.com an aggressive
stance in the integration of telephony services.
No. 543, itmag.com/freeinfo
eFusion To Merge With ITXC
eFusion, who provides voice-enabled applications to service
providers, e-commerce companies, and call centers, will deploy their
applications on ITXC.net. Enhanced applications which will support
high-quality interactive voice on the Internet is already under further
development. The combination of the two companies will enable the prompt
availability of a suite of e-calling services, that includes Internet call
waiting, voice mail, and follow-me services as part of PC-based call
management.
No. 544, itmag.com/freeinfo
Innovatia Brings Caller ID To ITV
This fall, Innovatia plans to introduce IP-based caller ID on its
interactive television service (ITV), the first in a series of telephony
services Innovatia will offer in conjunction with InfoInter-Active. With
this service, interactive television customers won't have to interrupt
their activities to see who is calling -- the caller information will be
displayed in the ITV portal. Soon we will watch our favorite M*A*S*H
episodes, browse the Internet, and check the caller ID, all from the
comfort of the recliner!
No. 545, itmag.com/freeinfo
Live Assistance Provided By WebDialogs --TeleSales
Partnership
WebDialogs and TeleSales announced a partnership that delivers Web-based
voice and collaboration services to call center customers. TeleSales has
integrated WebDialogs' WebInteract 2.0 technology into its call center and
LiveHelp services, enabling its call center customers to offer immediate,
live assistance to online customers on their Web site. Businesses will be
able to talk live and interact with customers by strategically placing
"call me" buttons on their Web sites for customer assistance.
Live assistance can increase customer satisfaction by bringing personal
attention to e-business.
No. 546, itmag.com/freeinfo
eGix Provides Managed Services Package
Providing a one-vendor solution to infrastructure and managed
services requirements, eGix provides LECs a challenge-free operation
support environment. Offering the ability to consolidate communication
onto as little as one line while synchronizing across multiple devices,
eGix provides consumers with a simple, easy to use system. Expert
marketing and around the clock customer support ensure that the challenges
of hardware purchases and staffing requirements will not prohibit a
carrier from opening up new markets.
No. 547, itmag.com/freeinfo
ipVerse Gains SS7 Certification Through Illuminet
ipVerse has successfully tested SS7 link control with Illuminet's SS7
network and can now offer telecom service providers a complete
Internetworking solution. This certification enables ipVerse to offer
service providers access to Illuminet's nationwide SS7 network, and in
turn, allows service providers easily deployed advanced softswitch
services offered by the ControlSwitch, ipVerse's multiprotocol
voice/-data/Web softswitch, which supports SS7, MGCP, H.323, IPDC, SIP,
and ISDN-PRI systems.
No. 548, itmag.com/freeinfo
Kabira Tech Providing Switch For Aerie Networks
Kabira Technologies, Inc., will provide its ObjectSwitch scalable
infrastructure software to Aerie Networks in order to enable Aerie's
company-wide operations support system. Real-time performance, high
availability, effective integration, high-speed data mediation, and rapid
development directly from high-level business rules are all made possible
by Kabira's Objectswitch. This allows Aerie Networks to provide their
broadband network of 8.9 million fiber miles to carriers, content and
application service providers, local access and metropolitan area network
providers, and emerging inter-city backbone providers.
No. 549, itmag.com/freeinfo
Infortel-VoIP: Track The Traffic
ISI announces the addition of Infortel-VoIP, a new way to track,
report, and bill Voice-over-IP traffic. ISI has developed the product in
support of Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video, and Integrated Data (AVVID).
The Infortel VoIP collects the call detail records from Cisco's
CallManager platform and generates customizable reports for both internal
charge back and cost accounting requirements, as well as call accounting
for traditional voice networks and combination environments. The data may
be rated and processed for customized reporting.
No. 550, itmag.com/freeinfo
Telera Releases New Product Line
Telera Center Connect and Telera Connect, two new services offered by
Telera, enable businesses to deliver voice applications with simplicity,
flexibility, and cost effectiveness at the speed of the Internet
connection. VoiceXML technology delivers Web-powered communications
applications to telephone-based customers, and open standard Internet
tools are used to provide one-to-one interaction with customers through
the Web. The services offer total control over applications by the
enterprise while still offering all the infrastructure cost benefits of
outsourcing.
No. 551, itmag.com/freeinfo
Dynarc's ChanServ Provides QoS For Dynamic Optical
Networks
ChanServ, a new channel management services model, was made available for
the Dynarc Channelized Reserved Service (CRS). This new model, combined
with the CRS architecture, will unleash the full potential of an
IP-centric network delivering strict, end-to-end QoS guarantees. ChanServ
is an affordable method of deploying IP services, removing bottlenecks,
and providing true quality. It also addresses allocation issues in typical
IP-centric networks by targeting channel management structure and
provisioning all types of traffic.
No. 552, itmag.com/freeinfo
Unity Enterprise Offers Unified Messaging
Unity Enterprise 2.4 integrates with Cisco CallManager 3.0 as a
software-only application, resulting in a unified messaging solution for
enterprise-level organizations. Promising superior reliability, advanced
functionality, and simplified scalability, the Enterprise 2.4 works
equally well with PBX or IP-based networks. Unity has also released the
Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5, a specially licensed and branded edition of
Exchange, that allows Enterprise 2.4 telephone-only users to access their
voice messages stored in the Exchange database, without a Microsoft Client
Access License.
No. 553, itmag.com/freeinfo
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