South African businesses have the option to leapfrog the WAN modernisation roadmap. While SD-WAN focuses on providing a more efficient and cost-effective way of managing network infrastructure, SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a more comprehensive solution that combines SD-WAN with security features such as cloud access security, zero-trust network access, and firewall as a service.
Advancement in SD-WAN technologies including application-aware routing and inherent cloud native readiness and maturity in broadband underlay across the country thus appeals to South African clients who up to now maintained hybrid MPLS/software-defined networking environments.
SASE provides a more holistic approach to network security and is particularly beneficial for businesses with a distributed workforce and cloud-based applications. Ultimately, the choice between SASE and SD-WAN depends on the specific needs and priorities of a business.
However, technology selection is just one aspect of network modernisation to meet modern business requirements.
Selecting a managed network provider
When it comes to managing your business's network, you have two options - manage it yourself or hire a managed network provider. While managing your network in-house may seem like a cost-effective solution, it can be quite challenging and time-consuming.
That's where a managed network provider comes in. Here are a few reasons why choosing a managed network provider can be beneficial for your business:
- Expertise: Managed network providers are experts in their field and have a deep understanding of the latest networking technologies. They have the knowledge and expertise to manage your network effectively and efficiently.
- Technology is playing a crucial role in the growth of the managed services industry. With the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning, managed network providers are able to identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.?
- Continuous improvement and change management: a managed network provider should be able to adapt to your business on demand through continuous access to architects, service managers and their partner ecosystem.
- Accountability: holding a managed network provider through strict SLAs. SLAs are a vital tool for holding managed network providers accountable. By setting clear expectations and consequences for failing to meet those expectations, SLAs can help ensure that enterprises receive the level of service they require and are entitled to.
- Broader skillset in networking, and beyond: Managed networking providers usually offer a wide range of services, from network monitoring and security to data backup and disaster recovery. By outsourcing these services to a managed services provider, businesses can save time and money while also improving their IT operations. Also, an MNP usually fits into a wider ICT or system integration ecosystem that makes it easier to access cross-functional and cross-discipline skills.
- Cost-Effective: Hiring a managed network provider can be more cost-effective than managing your network in-house. With a managed network provider, you only pay for the services you need, and you don't have to worry about the cost of hiring and training an in-house IT team.
- Improved Security: Managed network providers have the tools and resources to ensure your network is secure and protected from cyber threats. They can implement the latest security measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and prevention systems, to keep your network safe.
- Continuous Support: A managed network provider should be able to offer 24/7 visibility to provide support and address any network issues that may arise. This means you can have peace of mind knowing that your network is being monitored and managed around the clock.
- Richer experience: A good MNP should offer proactive monitoring, resolution and tooling, either at a shared or more dedicated level.
Choosing a managed network provider can unlock a world of benefits for your business. By entrusting your network management to experienced professionals, you can save valuable time and resources, allowing you to focus on your core operations and increase productivity.
The partner approach: network as a service
Network as a service (NaaS) ?is a way for organisations to outsource their network's planning, upkeep, lifecycle management and evolution to an experienced managed service partner. The partner will manage and optimise their network infrastructure, services, security, licensing and much more in terms of both the enterprises's current and future needs.
This allows businesses to avoid the costs and complexities of owning and maintaining their own network infrastructure, while still having control over their network resources.
With NaaS, businesses can scale their network resources up or down as needed, and pay only for what they use. Overall, NaaS enables businesses to focus on their core operations while leaving the network management to the experts.
Get a more reliable network at a lower cost:
- Cost efficiencies arise because it is a consumption-based model. The CFO will appreciate that budgeting for network services will become more efficient and predictable, with the capital outlay shifting to operational expenditure. In other words, businesses pay for only what they need and when they need it. This can be particularly beneficial for businesses with fluctuating demands or those that need to scale up or down quickly.
- NaaS solutions can offer cost savings by eliminating the need for businesses to invest in their own hardware and infrastructure. Additionally, aaS solutions can offer access to the latest technology and equipment, which may not be affordable for businesses to invest in on their own.
- Also?important to note on the financial side is that?NaaS?removes the need to invest in your in-house IT team to try to keep up with new skills and the need to innovate.
- Evolving from SLAs to XLAs is a feature of NaaS that global providers are evolving to - this means outcome-driven rather than punitive service KPIs - this makes your investment easier to justify to business owners. Partners with global platforms that offer richer network reporting are able to reduce network incidents and repurpose local expertise for client consult.
Overall, the NaaS model has become favoured in networking due to its flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, access to the latest technology, and expert support.
