As technology advances, the networking industry is experiencing significant changes that will have a profound impact on businesses worldwide. Key areas where we expect developments include innovation being driven by the major cloud providers, accelerated connectivity, and the need for visibility into the network.
These trends represent key factors that enable companies to drive innovation and competitiveness, even in the face of an increasingly challenging economic environment.
To realize the full potential of these technological developments, companies must be ready to evolve their networks to adapt to new business opportunities. This may involve investing in new network technologies, rethinking network architecture, or implementing new network management strategies. Ultimately, companies that can successfully navigate these changes will be better positioned to compete in an ever-changing business landscape.
Cloud players are driving further innovations in networking
Cloud computing continues to experience significant growth and adoption across various industries. Gartner forecasts that global public cloud spending will increase by more than 20 percent this year to a total of $591.8 billion.
Cloud computing offers companies the ability to quickly process and analyze massive amounts of data using powerful AI and machine learning algorithms. This requires significant computing power and storage space, which can strain network resources. As a result, cloud providers are asking network and network service providers for more bandwidth and faster network speeds to support their operations.
The network innovation cycle will continue to accelerate as adoption of cloud computing increases and demand for bandwidth and higher network speeds increases. This will lead to the evolution and increased use of new technologies such as software-defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization, and edge computing. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way networks are designed, deployed and managed, further advancing the possibilities of cloud computing and driving innovation across industries.
show me the dates Network visibility is key to ensuring security
In recent years, the threat of network-based cyber attacks such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, malware infections and data breaches has increased. As a result, businesses are increasingly concerned about the security of their networks, as researchers predict the cost of cybercrime will reach $10.5 trillion by 2025.
With this in mind, businesses want more visibility into what’s happening on their networks, but are finding that few vendors can provide the visibility businesses desire. It is therefore important that companies work with managed service providers who have the expertise in the best technology to provide transparency and ensure that company networks can operate efficiently and securely.
Service providers can go beyond the IP layer to provide greater visibility into the geographic source and types of information on customers’ networks. By helping organizations better understand what’s happening on their network, managed service providers can improve their operational decision-making.
In addition to improving network security, network visibility can also help organizations optimize their network performance and troubleshoot problems more effectively. By analyzing network traffic in real-time, service providers can identify and troubleshoot network bottlenecks and other performance issues, and ensure their customers’ networks are running smoothly and efficiently.
Extended Reach (ZR) optical networks will accelerate connectivity
The next big innovation in networking will be the development of extended reach (ZR) optical networks capable of carrying data at speeds of up to 400GB. This is a significant advance over current Data Center Interconnect (DCI) infrastructure, which previously could reach up to 200GB. With ZR technology, businesses can expect faster speeds at much lower cost and complexity, as fewer devices are needed to manage network performance.
This innovation will help companies manage limited IT budgets in times of global economic instability. With faster, more efficient connectivity, businesses can improve productivity, reduce downtime, and increase efficiency, all of which can contribute to cost savings and improved overall performance.
Additionally, reducing supply chain disruption speeds the shipping and deployment of ZR equipment. This means companies can expect these new networks to be deployed faster than previous generations of optical networks, further enhancing their ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions.
A blueprint for the future
Businesses need to adapt quickly to market conditions to remain competitive and meet their growth goals. The future of connectivity will evolve, and businesses should keep a close eye on new trends that are evolving in parallel.
Credit: Wayne Williams
Oliver Schwarz is VP Engineering and Architecture at GTT.
