an application-aware network is critical to business success
TRANSCRIPT
An Application-Aware Network Is Critical to Business Success
Zeus Kerravala, Principle Analyst, ZK Research
2
Computing Changes Are Driving Network Shifts
The network is a strategic enabler of mobile and cloud computing
3
Network Agility Can Alight CEO/CIO Goals
CEO priorities Business Goal CIO Priorities
Greater business agility for rapid rollout of new products, customer segments, acquisitions, mergers
Growing the business IT agility, rapid service creation and service acceleration
Increased margins, customer retention, service improvement
Increased Profitability Operational simplicity, lower IT support costs, better resource utilization
Corporate responsibility, liability issues, customer protection
Minimize Risk Managing consumer technology, scaled growth, optimized management and control points
4
IT Evolution Drives The Following Trends
• Mobile computing becomes a reality• Applications become network dependent • Optimizing user experience is a key differentiator • The network becomes application fluent• The cloud drives mobility and mobility drives cloud
The Network is Critical to Business Evolution
5
User Experience is a Top Network Priority
Average score on a scale of 1-5 Survey of Network Managers
6
Productivity is Lost Due to Poor Performance
An Application-Aware Network Improves User Productivity
7
Characteristics of an Application-Aware Network
• Application intelligence • Optimized for real time applications• Classification of non real time applications• Knowledge of application protocols • Unparalleled network visibility • Available as a network service
8
Benefits of an Application-Aware Network
• Shrinks the IT complexity gap
• Enables a more agile, elastic network
• Improves IT resource utilization
• Optimizes user productivity• Simplifies network
management • Removes “blind spots” • Range of SLAs
9
What to Look For in a Solution Provider
• Robust MPLS Network• Granular Quality of Service • Intelligent application based routing • Detailed network visibility • Best in class user portal • World class application peering (e.g. Google, Microsoft)• Wide range of converged services • 24x7x365 NOC services • Fully managed services
10
Conclusion and Recommendations
• IT is shifting to a network centric compute model • Network agility is critical to business agility • Improving user experience is a top initiative for network
managers today • An application-aware network needs to be at the top of
every IT leaders priority list • Know the network – you can’t manage what you can’t
see • Use a managed service to deliver an application-aware
network • Consider network operators other than your incumbent
11
For More on this Topic…
http://westipc.com/collateral/whitepapers/pdf/app_aware_network.pdf
