Enterprise networking is important for modern enterprises due to their advanced capabilities. It connects users, devices, and systems, enabling processes and workflows. It helps allow the flow of data, connectivity, and communication across different enterprises at the enterprise level. To take on business at a higher level, enterprises require networking with advanced capabilities, which software-defined networking (SDN) provides.

In this blog, we will discuss how SDN is redefining business connectivity. More and more businesses are moving towards software-defined networking (SDN) from traditional hardware-centered software. These technologies have marked a shift due to the advanced benefits and capabilities they provide to users. SDN has advanced capabilities by using centralized controllers for managing network devices. 

By offering a software-based approach, SDN entirely changes business connectivity. 

Traditional Networking Limitations

Traditional Networking, while compatible for its time, lacked many aspects. In the current era, as business development is evolving, the limited scalability of networks makes it harder for organizations to deploy resources quickly to the market. Moreover, the changes were time-consuming as the engineers had to apply configurations manually. Also, the architecture is rigid, which makes it harder for enterprises to adapt and evolve. Security is another prominent issue in traditional networking, primarily because modern networks offer advanced capabilities against uncertain threats. Traditional networks also lack the ability to be automated, which means a workforce is required to facilitate manual work. Resulting in longer response times, errors, and inefficiencies. Large, complicated traditional networks can be difficult and costly to manage, which means hiring IT personnel. The requirement for frequent hardware upgrades and troubleshooting increases the overall expense and complexity. 

How Does SDN Work?

SDN offers the abstraction of different network layers. Its main goal is to provide business scalability to enterprises and business providers. The control plane and function are simplified, which traditionally was distributed through devices. Centralization provides easier configuration and resource management, leading to better automation capabilities. 

The Benefits of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) 

Centralized Network 

Organizations can monitor and control traffic through a single interface. This process helps distribute the traffic flow rather than burdening all the devices independently. 

Flexibility 

Networks must be able to handle different types of workloads with devices and higher data traffic. As previously seen with traditional networking, SDN allows flexibility to grow, allowing organizations to increase rather than stay limited.  

Improved Security 

SDN allows greater security control. The centralized view of the system allows for better understanding at all levels, which means micro-segmentation and policy enforcement across the infrastructure. Moreover, security policies can be changed in real-time. 

Automation

SDN allows programmatic control of APIs, adjustment of routine tasks, and automation of provisioning and management across the entire network. 

Network Agility 

SDNs configure the entire network through software updates, reducing complexity and time by quickly deploying resources and allowing scaling across the network. 

Resource Management

SDN allows efficient resource allocation through real-time traffic demands, adapting to congestion and effortlessly distributing the network for a seamless flow. 

Cost Reduction

As the hardware reliance is reduced, cost reduction occurs automatically. Low-cost devices’ efficiency is limited compared to their agility because they reduce the time and effort required to perform a task. 

Navigating The Trends

Rise of Cloud-based Applications

Cloud-based applications require a software-based network. Cloud-native applications function in an independent environment and can adapt to public, private, and hybrid clouds. SDN can cater to cloud-based applications by seamlessly distributing and allocating the required resources. 

Work from Home

During the global pandemic, companies wanted a solution for their employees, which came in the form of work-from-home. This led to organizations accommodating their employees’ demand to work remotely, so to cater to that demand, the organizations accommodated the workers through the company firewalls to VPNs, which is partly why SDN is capable of providing essential adaptation accordingly.

Edge Computing

An emerging technology that works in synchronization with Software-defined networking (SDN). As edge computing systems accelerate applications in real-time, SDN can further complement the dynamic adjustments of network resources. SDN allows flexibility in taking advantage of network computing. 

Final Thoughts

The capabilities of software-defined networking (SDN) complement enterprise networking and fulfil all the business’s requirements by deploying effective and sharp resources that assist the companies’ capabilities, making it an asset for the industry. While traditional networks are still used, software-defined networking (SDN) is gaining more popularity due to its advanced capabilities.