Hybrid WAN FEATURED ARTICLE

Networks are being strained to the max thanks to the rigorous demands of the cloud, mobility, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data. Applications are increasingly becoming cloud-based and require multiple cloud services, which puts a strain on network resources as well as compute power and storage. The enterprise is also under pressure to keep up with this explosion of data and network traffic, and the Hybrid WAN is gaining respect and traction as a flexible and scalable solution.

New research from Ovum (News - Alert), available for free download on the Hybrid WAN Zone, shows that more than 80 percent of enterprises are moving to cloud platforms and deploying hybrid IT architectures to improve application and network performance. Those businesses that need to maintain legacy, on-premises IT networks while using cloud applications and services are turning to hybrid WAN solutions to transition to the next phase of their network evolution.

The digital transformation encompasses a software-centric, application-aware approach to networking, creating challenges for network operators and enterprises alike. SD-WANs make an ideal solution from the customer perspective, using NFV to intelligently automate network traffic and workloads and meet the rigorous demands of cloud computing. A Hybrid WAN approach enables enterprises to make a steady transition to the cloud while simultaneously keeping capital and operating expenditures down by utilizing existing, on-premises equipment and resources.

But the benefits of the Hybrid WAN aren’t just monetary. Application-centric networks require granular visibility and control and SD-WANs offer the tools necessary for this type of management and control. The influx of virtualized network services is often comprised of a combination of cloud resources, which means that enterprises are requiring new WAN and managed services to connect users, sites and cloud resources. Hybrid WAN deployments include monitoring for these complex network architectures, as well as features like dynamic path selection to ensure optimal performance of applications and services. The overall result is improved reliability, a better quality of service and overall more efficient network operations.

The SD-WAN market is taking the enterprise by storm, and Hybrid WANs are playing an important role in the digital networking transformation. Offering a bridge between legacy, on-premises network resources and virtualized and cloud applications and services, Hybrid WANs offer a logical and cost efficient path to the cloud and virtualization.