Laying the foundation for a successful network transformation
Despite the numerous interconnected elements now involved in effective digital transformation, the network remains the foundation of everything, ensuring any investment in new technologies delivers the best possible ROI, and that teams at all levels are empowered to deliver their very best, 24 / 7. As such, the digital transformation journey must always begin with a full network transformation.
However, while 77% of companies have already started digital transformation initiatives, only 35% of these projects are successful*.
So, before making any investment in new technologies, it is essential that you establish clear goals for your network, and accurately map your existing infrastructure to establish where you currently are vs. where you need to be. This should ideally be conducted with the support of a trusted technology partner, with an established network transformation pedigree, but to get started, consider the following questions:
Will your current network support your Cloud transformation goals?
With a growing demand for the highest levels of flexibility, agility, and scalability, Cloud transformation is a priority for organisations at all levels, as they seek to bring their IT infrastructure into the new era while still retaining full control of ongoing costs. Modern networks should therefore be designed with access to Cloud-based applications and multi-Cloud environments in mind, ensuring these platforms deliver all the desired benefits without compromising performance or security.
Is global or regional connectivity required?
Business is truly interconnected, with employees and data more dispersed than ever. This means you must not just consider your immediate cross-site connectivity requirements, but also consider whether you will be required to rapidly scale up or down in the future, whether that's a question of accommodating especially busy periods, or expanding your business into new regions.
To what extent has your workforce embraced hybrid working?
Remote working is truly here to stay, with employees connecting and collaborating in the office, from home, and on the move. While most organisations will already have systems in place for this, any network transformation project should take the current and projected levels of remote working into account, ensuring the availability, performance, and security of critical applications is maintained.
How well integrated is your cyber security posture with your network?
Building on the above point, as networks evolve, the number of potential attack vectors increases. For this reason, we are seeing an ongoing convergence of networking and security, allowing for greater control and visibility of all data flows in and out of corporate networks, with intelligent automation supporting the consistent application of security policies at the edge.
How much control and visibility of the entire network do you currently have?
The new breed of perimeterless networks means achieving a holistic view of both performance and security is an ongoing challenge for IT teams. When planning your network's evolution, and potentially the integration of multiple solutions, consider how this data can best be consolidated into a single pane of glass.
With all this in mind, it's no surprise that organisations are increasingly embracing the next generation of software-defined networking, with a recent survey finding that 83% of organisations plan on embracing SD-WAN and SASE in some form within the next year. With Cato Networks continuing to establish SASE as a single answer to a wide range of networking and security challenges, this trend shows no signs of slowing down, which means the time is right for any organisations challenged by the limitations of legacy connectivity to explore the alternatives.
If you would like to get your own network transformation off to the best possible start, we invite you to explore our recent whitepaper, MPLS, SD-WAN, and the Evolution of SASE: A practical guide to implementing your ideal next-gen WAN solution, in which we consider the challenges involved in migrating legacy connectivity, and offer an expert's assessment of multiple leading-edge networking solutions. This way, you will be well-equipped to make an informed decision about the next step of your unique networking journey.
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