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Optimizing Your NetworkInfrastructure for Today’sDemandsBy Jason Koenders On March 26, 2014 In Connectivity, Executive Insights No

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5 Steps to a Smooth Network Upgrade

I don’t have to tell you that the business of networking, while becomingincreasingly strategic, is also becoming more complex. The waynetworks are designed, configured, implemented, and managed ischanging in a very fundamental way. Traditionally, networks weredesigned to be location­centric, their main function to ensureconnectivity between offices and workers. But the network’s jobdescription has changed. Today the network is responsible for anexpanding list of duties—including new infrastructure requirements(Virtualization, Software Defined Networking (SDN), Cloud

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2/10/2015 How to Optimize Your Network Performance for 2014

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Environments), new access paths (Mobility, Bring Your Own Device(BYOD)), new traffic (IPv6 and the Internet of Things), and perhapsmost importantly, new processes and applications (SaaS, Big Data,Business Intelligence, among others).

The network doesn’t serve the location anymore, it serves the user.The individual user. Their devices, their applications, their data(wherever it may be), and their user experience. Network performancehas a direct and powerful impact on user performance and businessleaders are taking note. 42% of organizations list improving the qualityof the user experience as one of their top strategic goals for networkperformance. With this level of customization, complexity is a growingconcern. In a recent survey conducted by TRAC, 64% of organizationsreported that managing their network has grown exponentially moredifficult over just the last 12 months.

So it makes sense that – for many companies – upgrades that willbring the network into alignment with current use cases andrequirements are on the horizon. 56% of respondents to a CDW surveyindicated that they’re planning to make major infrastructure changes inthe next year, 38% in the next six months. Network­related initiativesare on the rise, with 53% of IT executives listing enabling networks tosupport new technologies as a top priority for 2014.

Network optimization delivers improvements across the entireorganization—regardless of size. It can generate massive costreductions; reduce IT requirements; improve uptime, latency andQuality of Service (QoS) for critical services; enable access to newdevices, resources, “smart features” and processes; future­proofagainst anticipated bandwidth and application demands; enhanceemployee and company productivity; and increase businessperformance overall. Network upgrades can result in more than a 30%reduction in WAN costs alone. So if it’s not on your short list for 2014, itshould be. And while no network initiative has ever come with an “easybutton”, there are steps you can take to ensure it goes smoothly—withthe right planning, communication and execution.

As you evaluate your networking options, consider the following steps.

Step 1: Understand Your Bandwidth Requirements

Are you migrating applications to the cloud, and if so, what will your

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bandwidth requirements be? Cisco forecasts that global cloud traffic,the fastest growing component of data center traffic, will grow 4.5­foldfrom 1.2 zettabytes of annual traffic in 2012 to 5.3 zettabytes by 2017.Overall global data center traffic will hit 7.7 zettabytes in that time.Approximately 17% of that traffic will come from end users accessingclouds for web surfing, video streaming, collaboration and connecteddevices.

You need to be sure that whatever solution you put in place is scalableand can meet the bandwidth growth that your end users will place onthe network. For a quick estimate on your bandwidth requirements,check out Integra’s bandwidth calculator for customized results basedon industry, size, and application usage. Additionally, you need toensure that your network can support your required protocols.

As a network grows and changes, many IT organizations find that theywant to move faster than their service provider can accommodate.Make certain that your network solution has the ability to scale easilywithout long lead times. Ethernet Services allow bandwidth scalabilityup to 10 Gig­E, with QoS prioritization, and 100 Gig­E is just aroundthe corner. Talk to your service provider about your current needs, butmake sure they have the capacity to meet your future needs.

Step 2: Take Advantage of Network Analytics

Network analytics are crucial to understanding how your network isperforming and what your customer (and user) experience is. Theability to report on and view the health of your network, throughput andavailability are critical to optimizing your network. Unfortunately, theseare areas where many IT professionals feel challenged. 36% of IT prosfeel that poor insight into network performance and its businessimpacts limits their ability to manage network performance. Integra’sEthernet Performance Portal allows users to verify networkperformance against their Service Level Agreement (SLA) to ensurethe business network is operating at peak efficiency, with end­to­endreporting on bandwidth usage, network availability and port statistics.

Perhaps even more dramatically, 4 out of 10 IT managers feel concernover their degree of visibility into application performance. UnifiedCommunications (UC) and other real­time applications are making amajor impact on network performance, in particular VoIP (listed as the#1 IT initiative). Almost the same number (34%) is actively looking for a

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tool that can give them insight into application usage. Many securitysolutions, including Integra’s Cloud Firewall Service, provideapplication usage, traffic patterns and bandwidth metrics down toindividual user level, as well as solving a host of other issues.

Step 3: Protect Your Customers & Business

As businesses move to hybrid cloud architectures, leveraging publicservices and XaaS solutions (although outweighed by myriad benefits)they find themselves exposed to enhanced risks. When consideringyour network architecture, evaluate whether or not you have the rightsecurity protocols in place. A simple slip and you could be the nextTarget, facing financial damages in excess of $200 million andclimbing, as well as inestimable damage to your reputation. Even ifyou’re a small business, you still need to put security at the top of yourlist. Over 90% of cyber­fraud occurs at small businesses—simplybecause they are often less prepared, and therefore, more vulnerableto attack.

Data is moving at lightning speeds, between storage sites,environments, and servers—creating new points of access for hackers.A recent study showed that not only are virtually all cyber­attacksaccomplished easily (96%), they’re completely avoidable with simplecontrols put in place (97%). At an average damage cost of $188 perrecord compromised, a breach can cost your company thousands,even millions of dollars. Why take that risk?

You can prevent an incident at 4% of the cost of a breach. As yourcompany shifts data, services and servers into the cloud, securitysolutions, like Integra’s Cloud Firewall Service, can keep you safe andprotected with – access controls, anti­malware, intrusion protection,web security gateways and proxy solutions. For more information,check out Integra’s white paper, Securing Your Business From InternetThreats. When considering or implementing a solution, make certainthat it helps defend your network against the threats of today andtomorrow, including sophisticated DDoS attacks, Trojans, andMalware.

Step 4: Prepare Your Network to Meet the Industry Standards ofToday & Tomorrow

As discussed earlier, the network—its definition, its role, its

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requirements—is evolving, faster often than the capabilities of thosethat take care of it. You need to make sure it has the capacity to growand connect globally, organically, and seamlessly—by choosing astandards­based, certified solution.

MEF­ Certified (Metro Ethernet Forum) Carrier Ethernet (CE) is distinctfrom LAN­based Ethernet in that it offers ubiquitous, standardized,carrier­class services and network solutions defined by five attributes:

Standardized Services: Ubiquitously­available, transparent,private line, virtual private line and multi­point to multi­point LANservices (E­Line, E­LAN); best suited for converged networks;available at a range of bandwidths without requiring changes toLAN equipment or networks.Scalability: Ideal for the widest variety of business, information,communications and entertainment applications; spanning a rangeof physical infrastructures and service providers with access andmetro to national and international services over scalablebandwidth from 1 Mbps to 10 Gbps and beyond.Reliability: Ability for the network to detect and recover fromincidents without impacting users; meeting the most demandingquality and availability requirements with rapid recovery time as lowas 50ms.Quality of Service: Wide choice and granularity of bandwidth andquality of service options; with Service Level Agreements (SLAs)and provisioning that deliver end­to­end performance for convergednetworks based on CIR, frame loss, delay and delay variationcharacteristics.Service Management: Ability to monitor, diagnose and centrallymanage the network; using standards­based vendor independentimplementations; with carrier­class Operations, Admininstration andMaintenance (OAM) and rapid service provisioning.

Step 5: Ensure Your Solution is Cost­Optimized.

Budget remains a concern, as always, for IT organizations, as well asresources. One of the ongoing challenges for the IT arm is selling thebusiness executives. Many executives don’t fully understand thebusiness drivers for network optimization projects, and the interrelationbetween the two. Convincing senior managers that network upgradesare essential, not just to operations but also to business performance,requires IT leaders demonstrate tangible returns and business value

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for investments—which is never an easy task. Building the case can bechallenging in a constantly shifting business and technologyenvironment, where each unit is tied to different performance factors.

But the reality is the benefits of network optimization extend beyond ITtouching sales, marketing, finance and even accounting. In selecting anetwork solution provider, look for the intangible as well as the tangiblebenefits. Choose a partner who’ll take a consultative approach,working within your requirements and budget to define a feature­richsolution that meets your needs.

Integra offers fully­symmetrical, scalable Ethernet services with thelow­latency bandwidth you need to meet evolving businessrequirements today and tomorrow. Contact Integra today to learn howyou can capture the benefits of being an “Ethernet Powered Business.”Our Account Consultants are prepared to answer your criticalquestions, and work with you to design a custom solution to make yournetwork, and your business, more competitive, more agile, and moreprofitable.

Jason Koenders

SVP, Engineering & Network Planning