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OPINION: NETWORK INTEGRATION THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION FOR YOUR NETWORK CHRIS MCKIE, VP PRODUCT MARKETING SECURITY AND NETWORKING SOLUTIONS AT KASEYA, OFFERS A GUIDE TO NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF MODERN NETWORKS The world of networking has changed rapidly, along with the dynamic evolution of IT as a whole. Hybrid environments, spanning on-premises and the cloud, have become the new norm, posing significant challenges for network managers. Company networks are becoming increasingly difficult to manage, monitor and secure. And, because hardware refresh cycles in networking are traditionally slow, organisations can end up with numerous disparate components, environments and management tools, all adding to the infrastructure complexity. KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY NETWORK MANAGERS The traditional contrast of cloud versus onpremises no longer holds in today's diverse network environments. Most organisations' networks no longer fall into the binary categories of cloud or on-premise; instead, they combine a bit of everything. The widespread adoption of hybrid infrastructures, driven by business performance and security considerations, means that organisations must now navigate a hugely complex mix of cloud and on-premise network components. Moreover, post-pandemic, the global work landscape has largely shifted to a hybrid model, where employees expect to seamlessly transition between remote and office-based work. Organisations must therefore have the ability to connect everyone, everywhere, at any time to their essential workflows. This trend of employees connecting from outside the traditional network boundaries brings with it some obvious security issues. The rise of zero trust architectures and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions has addressed some of these concerns, redefining how organisations securely connect remote workers. Even more is changing on the network edge. Growing numbers of smart, IoT and operational technology (OT) devices process data locally at the periphery of the network - for example, to prevent connectivity or latency issues. Edge-as-a-Service (EaaS) is starting to attract interest and will only accelerate the adoption of edge computing and related services, presenting additional headaches in terms of security and access management. Finally, hardware upgrades have always been slow in networking. Network components are usually added as one-off purchases as required, with components typically only upgraded every 3-5 years. This means many organisations rely on very heterogenous environments that incorporate solutions from several different vendors. With so many different networking and management tools as well as different support levels for each of these components, it is no wonder that there is little integration across the typical company network. However, today's complex network requirements demand a comprehensive approach to visibility, security, network architecture, manageability and technology adoption. Ultimately, for network managers to remain efficient, they will have no choice but to consolidate, to integrate and to look at the network from a holistic perspective. THE ROLE OF INTEGRATION Integration emerges as the single solution to the challenges posed by complex networks. Bringing together the various network and IT management applications in one single management console can streamline workflows, enhance efficiency and provide valuable insights for network managers. For instance, integrating the network with a Professional Services Automation (PSA) tool can significantly speed up troubleshooting by directly tying network events to ticketing processes. Troubleshooting when something goes wrong in the company network is traditionally disjointed, with managers having to move from the network console to the ticketing system and back. Integration removes these unnecessary additional steps and streamlines problem solving and recovery. Similarly, integrating live network information with Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools enables remote device management across the network, reducing the need for back-and-forth interactions. With shadow IT still a challenge for many organisations, there is another advantage to this integration: tools in RMM can be used for 20 NETWORKcomputing FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 @NCMagAndAwards WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK
OPINION: NETWORK INTEGRATION automatic network discovery, while live network performance data monitoring ensures networks are running smoothly. Additionally, integrating network information with documentation systems aids in compliance and auditing processes, while promoting automation and saving valuable time. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) can be used to enable such bridging, but keeping all the involved applications synchronised and updated is crucial for seamless functionality. If done well, integration of these network-related tools allows businesses to streamline multiple workflows according to their needs. THE IMPORTANCE OF SASE In the era of evolving network challenges, SASE solutions play a key part in building an integrated, secure and easily manageable network. Ensuring the security of a company network has always been a challenge; even moreso now the network edge as we know it no longer exists. With cyber-attacks growing in number and sophistication, businesses must implement robust network security to defend their sensitive data against ransomware, unauthorised access, data breaches and other risks. Remote users need as much, if not more, protection as those working in the office. SASE solutions have been a game-changer as they integrate security right into the network itself. They essentially provide nextgen firewall functionality in the cloud, offering granular controls for web traffic in distributed work environments. This technology is fast replacing VPNs, ensuring secure connectivity regardless of user location and extending networking and security capabilities beyond the traditional network boundaries. This gives organisations a lot more flexibility in how they implement security policies such as zero trust, content filtering and threat prevention across locations and remote users. The many benefits of SASE integration include efficient policy enforcement, simplified network management and scalability. What's more, SASE not only addresses current network complexities but also offers the flexibility to adapt to changing and future business needs - paving the way to a future-proof infrastructure. BENEFITS OF NETWORK INTEGRATION The integration of network components and solutions brings numerous benefits. One key advantage is that network issues, such as latency or blackouts, can be resolved much faster. With the necessary information at their fingertips thanks to seamless links with their ticketing system and RMM platform, network managers can pinpoint the source of any issue more quickly and significantly speed up mean time to resolution. In addition, issues can be automatically routed to the right person for prompt resolution, while easier and more transparent performance monitoring helps prevent problems from arising in the first place. Policy enforcement is more effective too, with integrated devices facilitating the consistent application of rules and access restrictions across the entire infrastructure, including edge devices. Updates, patches and upgrades can also be streamlined through tight integration, allowing for better control over their timing and therefore minimising impact on users and the network. Plus, the ability to monitor and analyse network traffic continually enables network managers to optimise data flows and balance loads more effectively. Another benefit of network integration is the ability to consolidate. SASE, for example, eliminates the need for multiple VPNs, potentially allowing downsizing of firewalls and the removal of redundant, standalone network security devices. The fact that SASE platforms are cloud managed simplifies network administration even further. Finally, as network needs change, a streamlined setup with SASE allows businesses to scale fast and adjust their infrastructure as needed. LOOKING AHEAD Business networks will continue to evolve in response to changing business needs and technological advancements. For network architects, this means they will have to continually reassess and update their strategies. Increased integration and a holistic approach are the keys to staying ahead of networking requirements. Integration is not only the answer to addressing the new complexities of the hybrid world - it will also be the linchpin for the future of network management. By embracing it and leveraging technologies like SASE, organisations can not only navigate current challenges but also position themselves for future success in an everevolving digital era. NC WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK @NCMagAndAwards FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 NETWORKcomputing 21
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NC Feb-Mar 2024

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