Workplace digitalization has recently been at the forefront of nearly all business’ strategies as the shift to remote workforces has come into play. John Allen, Director of Global SEO at RingCentral details how SDN can redefine UCaaS deployments and why businesses should opt for it.
Remote workingOpens a new window has become a reality, meaning digitalization has become even more important in the workplace. The virtual meetingOpens a new window is replacing face-to-face interactions, while the number of collaborative appsOpens a new window is increasing day by day. If businesses are to keep up with the rapid pace of digitalization, they need to have a solid network infrastructure in place.
To facilitate the growing use of digital communicationsOpens a new window , more and more businesses are adopting software-defined networking (SDN)Opens a new window . That’s because SDN is generally considered to be a network infrastructureOpens a new window that’s simple, reliable, agile, and mobile.
The SDN market is expected to grow to $70.41 billion by 2024.
Companies are starting to realize they need to modernize their underlying infrastructures. This applies in particular to mobile networks. That’s because these are at the heart of every activity and application in the new digital workplaceOpens a new window .
Software-Defined Networks are Changing How We WorkImproving communication technology in the workplace is a major reason businesses are moving to SDN. Other benefits of moving to a virtual environment include reduced costs and a reduction in the carbon footprint.
As well as these other key advantages:
- The ability to provide bandwidth on demand
- Increased agility with the ability to keep up with the next wave of innovation
- The creation of a more secure data-based environmentOpens a new window
- The ability to attract and retain skilled employees
- Allowing better use of data
Let’s look at these in more detail:
1. SDN Provides Scalable, Optimal Connectivity
In this era of remote workingOpens a new window , workers need to be connected to each other wherever they are located and on any device. That might mean holding a conference callOpens a new window or collaborating in real-time on the same file. They need the same high quality of service and security they experience when working in one office together.
Traditionally, applications are deployed in data centers Opens a new window to be used by employees in regional offices. SDN eliminates the requirement for ‘separate’ networks. Software-defined networks use an end-to-end strategy that places data centers, branches, remote, and mobile networks under one system.
SDN enables connectivity across the entire business and cloud; connectivity that’s dynamically programmable from one central location. The network can now flexibly add and remove bandwidth according to business demands. That’s without the stress of making any changes to physical infrastructure.
This means SDN can better cope with peaks in demand. With the ability to visualize the flow of traffic, end-to end problems can be identified early on and priority can be given to key applications.
Learn More: Remote Work Is Here to Stay: 3 Ways IT Teams Will Be ImpactedOpens a new window
2. SDN Increases Agility in the Workplace
After incorporating SDN, organizations can rapidly align their business apps, making the workplace more digitally agile. SDN built on open standards ensures that firms can keep up to date with the latest and best technologies the minute they’re introduced.
Because they’re not tied to one vendor’s proprietary apps, businesses can keep pace with all new standards and solutions. This is a real benefit as a company that’s implemented SDNOpens a new window can stay one step ahead of the competition. Businesses that react fastest to changes are those that will succeed. For example, those companies that are already thinking ahead to 5G networks and mobile edge computing.
SDN underpins IoT, AI, and other new technologies, and so helps companies expand towards a digital future.
3. SDN Makes the Workplace More Secure
Traditional network management requires hardware and software to manage and move data. When SDN is deployed the software that controls how data moves is transferred to a central location. This offers greater security, visibility, and control over the network.
This is crucial as businesses cite data security as one of their most important challenges. That’s unsurprising given the proportion of organizations that experience cybersecurityOpens a new window breaches.
Failure to properly protect data not only brings trust issues but also the prospect of large penalties. SDN provides a secure network Opens a new window from a global perspective and a virtual environment that’s easier to update security-wise.
Maintaining top level security Opens a new window is also good news for companies from a reputational standpoint. Customers have positive perceptions of businesses that hold their data securely.
Learn More: The DevOps Checklist: 5 Steps of a Feature LaunchOpens a new window
4. SDN Enables Companies to Attract and Retain Top Talent
As companies push more of their processes online, they’re recruiting talented individuals to manage them. Retention of skilled staff is paramount to businesses, and SDN encourages employees to stay. By deploying automation technologies to handle large volumes of manual work, employees can focus on core business growth activities. These activities are more rewarding and make workers feel more valued in the workplace.
There are further incentives to stay loyal in an SDN environment. With the right systems and technology in place employees can choose how to work. They have the option to work remotely and have access to the best collaboration tools. All of which boosts productivity.
Skilled employees can pick and choose who they work for, and they generally want to work for companies that reflect their values and culture. This particularly applies to younger employees. They will look at a prospective company’s approach to digitalization and their investment in technology before deciding whether they want to work there.
5. Better Use of Data
Businesses are differentiated by how they collect, use, and keep their data. By adopting SDN, companies can optimize their use of data to inform business objectives.
Employees can run analytics to learn more about consumer behavior, and target their customers more effectively. SDN gives staff the ability to understand their customers better so they can offer them an improved quality of customer support.
SDN enables companies to overcome complex challenges, stay competitive, and keep employees invested. It offers increased operational efficiencies, greater flexibility, and improved workplace productivity. Because the network is reliable, scalable, and flexible, connectivity outages are also less likely – creating greater efficiencies and maintaining reputations.
Software-defined networking is sometimes termed ‘the cloud’ of infrastructure, bringing with it the opportunity to optimize business performance and growth. Companies that still have a fear of transitioning to the cloudOpens a new window are likely to get left behind.
It’s only by modernizing network infrastructure that organizations can lay the foundations for information flow within the business. Employees can benefit as much as customers from a seamless digitized experience at every touchpoint.
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