5 Key Factors for Enterprise Network Modernization

Network deficiencies lead to loss of performance and operational problems in companies. For this reason, it is necessary to modernize infrastructures and avoid hereditary solutions that are rigid and difficult to manage.

So warns Aruba, an HPE company, which talks about five key areas to achieve a real improvement in networks.

“Network modernization may seem, at first glance, to be a simple exercise in upgrading your current infrastructure, but it is much more,” says Pedro Martinez Busto, Business Development Manager for Southern Europe at Aruba.

“It is a process of continuous evolution that not only keeps the organization up to date with the latest technologies,” he explains, “but also provides an agile foundation for it to move forward in its digital transformation, taking advantage of new approaches in security, management, architecture and consumption models.”

The first principle that companies should follow in the process of modernizing their network is that of “connectivity and scalability” by adopting new protocols and architectures to meet the demands of hybrid work environments. This means moving from traditional VLAN architectures to cloud-native management and orchestration tools and SD-WAN solutions.

“The key is to select an approach that does not require total replacement of the organization’s current network infrastructure, but to find solutions that can coexist with it,” Aruba says.

Secondly, “artificial intelligence-driven automation” should be achieved to manage the increasing amount of data generated by modern networks and get rid of repetitive, time-consuming tasks. This is what is known as AIOps.

Efficient and up-to-date security” is also vital. This is achieved by integrating network and security functions with the Zero Trust and SASE frameworks, using authentication and access permissions independent of the connection method.

To this must be added the combo of “flexibility and agility,” with continuous delivery of functionality through SW updates. A good starting point, according to Aruba, is remote work environments.

Finally, the cost of acquiring, deploying and managing new network solutions can be better addressed by using “As a Service models” for consumption, up to the concept of network as a service. Today there are alternatives such as self-provisioning of services and managed services, monthly subscriptions and pay-as-you-go options.