Network predictions for 2016

• Future heading towards SDN, application-aware and intelligent networks
• Businesses will see need to invest in flexible and scalable technologies

THE enterprise network is undergoing an exciting period of change, and is evolving along with the new challenges that businesses now face.
 
Despite advances in computing and storage to help achieve more business agility, today’s network complexities have limited IT departments’ ability to quickly respond to business needs.
 
Today’s enterprises require a network that is tailored to their specific needs, which help achieve tangible business outcomes, and are easy to deploy and easy to maintain.
 
SDN set to continue its growth path
 
More users will begin to recognise the benefits of software-defined networking (SDN). As technology infrastructures become increasingly strained, businesses will look to build networks that are application-aware and grant them the ability to improve resource efficiency.
 
According to Gartner, by the end of 2016 more than 10,000 enterprises worldwide will have deployed SDN in their networks, a tenfold increase from end-of-year 2014.
 
By 2018 in Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APeJ) alone, SDN deployments will surpass the US$1-billion mark, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).
 
The future lies in intelligent networks

 

The cost and time to adopt applications and new services that support today’s business needs is too high.
 
Still, to progress, businesses need to invest in evolving and effective technologies. Businesses and IT departments will need solutions that bring about significant improvements in time, resources and spending, while demonstrating how IT can rapidly accommodate the business needs.
 
Networks with intelligent fabric technology will give businesses the flexibility they require to keep pace with technological changes amidst a competitive business environment, minus the complex challenge of configuring and integrating new hardware components into the existing network.
 
Network analytics will become more commonplace
 
With the BYOD (bring your own device) trend and the Internet of Things already a reality, enterprises will be faced with the tough challenge of ensuring that business-critical tasks do not fall prey to the data deluge brought about by the numerous devices and applications stressing the network.
 
But there is hope. IT departments will need to increasingly look to network analytics to help navigate mounting complexity in network operations, and to be always in the know of how network resources are being used.
 
According to Global Industry Analysts, Inc, the global market for Network Analytics is projected to surpass US$1.9 billion by 2020.
 
The Asia Pacific region, in particular, will be the key growth driver with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.9%.
 
As businesses continue to face the challenges presented by the connected world and new technologies, more will begin to recognise the need to invest in flexible and scalable technologies to generate competitive advantage.
 
With increasing levels of stress placed on the enterprise network, automated and intelligent network technologies will become the way forward for businesses to future-proof themselves, and to better dedicate resources to pursue business growth.
 
Jan Zuurbier is head of Global Sales for Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. He has over 20 years’ telecommunications experience, with previous roles in sales, partner and alliance management, venture capital, product management and marketing.
 
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