Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• How to buy the right on-premises WLAN for the enterprise

  On-premises WLAN typically offers better performance than cloud-controlled products. Just be sure to consider these four factors, including WLAN security, when selecting a system. Continue Reading

• Improvements and features of the new POE standard, IEEE 802.3bt

  The new IEEE 802.3bt standard focuses on Power over Ethernet to improve efficiency and support the proliferation of edge devices, from lighting systems to point-of-sale. Continue Reading

• Examine CORD architecture's benefits and challenges

  CORD architecture offers service providers a compelling way to combine open hardware and software in the central office, boost service delivery and enable NFV capabilities. Continue Reading

• The on-premises vs. cloud-managed WLAN architecture debate

  Although on-premises WLANs and cloud WLANs both offer significant advantages, determining which approach will provide the best return depends on several factors. Continue Reading

• Casemore: Cloud, as-a-service honing networking industry trends

  Cloud and as-a-service delivery are bringing new urgency to networking. IDC analyst Brad Casemore cites the key networking industry trends worth watching in 2018. Continue Reading

• Now data center interconnect lets traffic ride the cloud

  SD-WAN and cloud data center interconnect options are becoming more common as a supplement or replacement for the traditional WAN. Should you to consider either, or both?Continue Reading

• 5G service lifecycle automation may be key to business cases

  Network operators need a 5G service lifecycle automation roadmap that leads to revenue-producing business cases to make the evolution to 5G worth the investment.Continue Reading

• Digital transformation process includes the network

  The digital transformation process puts pressure on the network to support new technology. Network pros need to be transformative, too, adapting new skills to interact with business.Continue Reading

• The future of SDN in 2018 moves toward increased automation

  Future SDN trends could show variations of the technology becoming more prominent among enterprises, as organizations look increasingly toward programmability and automation.Continue Reading

• Which is better for WLAN support: Mac or Windows?

  Choosing the right laptop for WLAN support usually boils down to Macintosh versus Windows. But of the two, there is only one OS clearly up to the task, our expert maintains.Continue Reading

• A comparison of leading application delivery controllers

  You can simplify the process of buying an ADC device by examining how leading vendors address key considerations, including platform options, security and server load balancing.Continue Reading

• Where do mobile users fit in with SD-WAN as a service?

  SD-WAN as a service can act as a bridge between mobile users who want to access business apps on the go and network managers who want to manage and secure those users.Continue Reading

• What exactly is a digital business transformation strategy?

  What do you need for a digital business transformation strategy that will actually work to boost business value and change the enterprise operations model?Continue Reading

• The benefits of machine learning in network management

  Enterprises and vendors alike are now undertaking machine learning deployment strategies. What are the benefits of machine learning in networking related to analysis and management tools?Continue Reading

• Network subscription packages gain steam among enterprises

  Networking suppliers are increasingly offering network subscription packages, as enterprises have become more familiar with paying for services with monthly subscriptions.Continue Reading

• SDN marketplace sows confusion on network infrastructure upgrades

  The ever-evolving SDN marketplace continues to confuse IT departments as they determine what steps they should take with their network infrastructure upgrades.Continue Reading

• Quiz: Test your knowledge on how SD-WAN works

  With SD-WAN deployment on the rise, take the time to test your knowledge about how SD-WAN works. This quiz covers SD-WAN technology basics, benefits of SD-WAN and common myths.Continue Reading

• Millimeter wave spectrum has key role in 802.11ay wireless

  IEEE 802.11ay Wi-Fi is getting closer to final ratification. The new standard relies on millimeter wave spectrum to deliver stronger and more robust services.Continue Reading

• 5G architecture plus NFV, SDN offers performance gains

  The intersection of 5G architecture and virtualization technologies like NFV and SDN could result in better network performance, but it will take time to get there.Continue Reading

• How do IoT sensors intersect with SD-WAN?

  Most traditional WANs can't handle the increasing number of IoT sensors -- and the data they collect. But SD-WAN can help improve IoT performance and analysis.Continue Reading

• Considerations for buying an application delivery controller

  Before you buy an ADC device, learn which features you should look for and what questions you should ask prospective application delivery controller vendors.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN vs. MPLS: The quality-of-service comparison

  Quality of service is often top of mind for IT leaders when debating SD-WAN vs. MPLS -- especially when it comes to using internet links for SD-WAN connectivity.Continue Reading

• DNS challenges have changed, but its vital role hasn't

  Developments like IPv6 and the internet of things are throwing obstacles into DNS operations. But this 'directory assistance of the internet' retains its vital role.Continue Reading

• DNS functions remain vital, but must adapt as demands shift

  The domain name system's tasks are simple, but essential, and the service faces challenges with the proliferation of devices that operate within IPv6 networks.Continue Reading

• How IPv6 networks create DNS configuration problems

  DNS data is among the most basic and crucial information required for network connectivity, but configuring DNS recursive servers in IPv6-only networks can pose challenges.Continue Reading

• OK of 400 Gigabit Ethernet adds horsepower to data centers

  Final approval of the 400 Gigabit Ethernet standard will provide data centers and cloud providers with the extra capacity they need to meet ever-rising data demands.Continue Reading

• Consider the Ethernet option for primary SD-WAN connectivity

  SD-WAN connectivity offers the ability to use a variety of links. While most enterprises opt to use cable or DSL as the primary link, Ethernet could be the better option.Continue Reading

• Wide area Ethernet can fuel digital network transformation

  Wide area Ethernet might be just what the doctor ordered to help enterprises propel their digital network transformation efforts.Continue Reading

• Existing branch routers could be replaced as SD-WAN matures

  Enterprises are moving away from traditional branch routers, as SD-WAN capabilities mature and offer consolidated network functionality on a single device.Continue Reading

• As 2018 IT budgets rise, network upgrades become priority

  A new TechTarget survey reveals network upgrades in 2018 are an amalgam of legacy and emerging technologies, as Wi-Fi fever spikes and network automation efforts grow.Continue Reading

• How networking can prepare for 5G mobile technology

  An 'average Joe' engineer discusses the impact 5G mobile technology may bring to his operation as developments around the standard heat up.Continue Reading

• How to make machine learning systems work in the network

  Machine learning systems in networks are gaining acceptance, but our expert cautions that humans and APIs are still needed to keep complexity at bay.Continue Reading

• Interest in 5G wireless networks ramps up

  The ability for businesses to use 5G wireless networks is closer to becoming a reality as carriers continue to deploy 5G trials across cities in the U.S. and globally. While the technology that promises faster broadband speeds and enhanced data ...Continue Reading

• The sky's the limit with 5G wireless communication

  As the reality of 5G wireless communications builds, enterprises are looking toward new ways of doing business with higher speed and increased capacity.Continue Reading

• Engineer uses Cisco DNA Center to combat network challenges

  Durham County hopes Cisco DNA Center and network automation create efficient, seamless experiences for IT managers and users, after redesigning its data center with Cisco's ACI.Continue Reading

• Small SDN providers' cost, flexibility appeal to enterprises

  VMware's NSX and Cisco's ACI are the main SDN providers on the stage, but smaller vendors can offer enterprises flexibility and cost savings.Continue Reading

• New 5G wireless technology trials spark enterprise interest

  New 5G wireless technology promises super-fast network speeds and massive capacity. Businesses that require low latency and high throughput could see the advantages first.Continue Reading

• The managed services trend reaches the software-defined WAN

  Managed SD-WAN services are like having a capable droid at your side when disaster strikes. Consider an MSP to keep your software-defined WAN performing optimally.Continue Reading

• Fog computing architecture posing challenges for IT

  Fog computing architecture designs are gaining traction, as users demand accessibility to apps and services. But the approach can cause challenges for IT.Continue Reading

• Application delivery controllers evolve to meet new demands

  ADC devices have evolved to deliver a wide range of functionality, including web application firewall, denial-of-service protection, SSL offload and scalable performance.Continue Reading

• Where does NFV deployment stand today?

  Network expert Lee Doyle explains the status of NFV deployment in 2018 and how open source, 5G and the internet of things can drive future changes.Continue Reading

• How does SD-WAN manage real-time network traffic performance?

  Most people have experienced poor quality when it comes to real-time network traffic, like VoIP and video. But SD-WAN can help prioritize traffic and improve reliability.Continue Reading

• Looking ahead to the biggest 2018 tech trends in networking

  The year ahead will force IT professionals to break out of their comfort zones and embrace 2018 tech trends that are reshaping the enterprise networking field.Continue Reading

• Four telecom infrastructure trends driving network of the future

  Four telecom infrastructure trends -- SDN, NFV, IoT and 5G -- are driving the network of the future, but telecom networks are more likely to transform in 2020, not 2018.Continue Reading

• NIA awards: A look back at a year of network advancements

  SearchNetworking presented eight companies with Network Innovation Awards in 2017, recognizing network advancements that ranged from a programmable chip to cloud visibility software.Continue Reading

• Automated networks mean clearing some key hurdles first

  Obstacles facing IT adoption of automation in the network including training and trust. Now's the time to clear these hurdles and reap the benefits of an automated future.Continue Reading

• How can network management systems boost troubleshooting?

  What can IT teams do to combine network management systems and application performance management tools to boost troubleshooting in enterprise infrastructure?Continue Reading

• What is the relationship between intent-based networking and SDN?

  SDN and intent-based networking share more in common than hype about their promises and potential. Our expert weighs in on how the two technologies aim to improve automation.Continue Reading

• Mulling network device types: Two switches better than many?

  Using two large chassis switches instead of multiple ToR devices might be a good alternative for data center performance when deploying network device types.Continue Reading

• Are the promised benefits of 5G wireless technology justified?

  The evolution of 5G wireless technology is expected to bring benefits ranging from high broadband speeds to shared wired and wireless infrastructure uses, but cost and business use cases must align.Continue Reading

• Hyper-convergence gives new choice in network system management

  Hyper-convergence is driving network evolution, but engineers need to consider the flexibility of network system management software and performance to ensure best results.Continue Reading

• The data center network manager's guide to the future

  What's ahead for data center networks? Bigger demands and a variety of new, complex tech innovations. Learn how to prep for the future and keep network traffic moving.Continue Reading

• Data center network design trending toward faster, denser

  Expect data center networks -- and interconnects between DCs and cloud providers -- to get both denser and faster, while topologies continue to evolve.Continue Reading

• How does a managed SD-WAN service work?

  Networking analyst John Burke explains managed software-defined WAN, and he discusses why providers are starting to offer the service to their customers.Continue Reading

• Determine if hyper-converged integrated systems are right for you

  The IT industry makes a compelling case for hyper-converged technology. Hyper-converged integrated systems, which bring together compute, storage, networking and virtualization resources in an integrated software-based environment, offer the chance ...Continue Reading

• The future of networking technology is playing out right now

  To prepare for the future of networking technology, IT managers must understand evolving concepts like hyper-convergence, SD-WAN and intent-based networking.Continue Reading

• Network upgrade ensures furniture rentals stay on the move

  American Furniture Rental's network upgrade increased its dedicated network bandwidth to make video conferencing and tracking inventory of a million furniture assets fast and reliable.Continue Reading

• Intent-based networking systems: More questions than answers

  Intent-based networking systems promise a new way to deliver network services. But the concept needs to be fine-tuned before it can usher in a new era of network automation.Continue Reading

• Distributed networks, cloud bring new focus on SD-WAN security

  Enterprises are more focused on SD-WAN security as they increase connectivity among branches and determine how best to protect their users and devices from a growing threat landscape.Continue Reading

• In a hyper-converged system, networking is still a missing link

  The hyper-converged system combines compute and storage, but without networking baked into vendors' HCI, many enterprises are using a switching workaround.Continue Reading

• AmericasMart upgrades infrastructure with Aruba beacon tech

  With the help of Aruba beacon Wi-Fi technology, AmericasMart in Atlanta is ready to offer new services and faster connectivity to visitors and exhibitors.Continue Reading

• How to select the best network monitoring tool

  Learn the criteria for choosing the best network monitoring tool for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• How to choose a managed services provider for SD-WAN

  With so many managed services providers offering SD-WAN, it can be time-consuming to narrow it down to the most viable options. Here are some factors to evaluate.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN best path to virtualized networks of the future

  Four approaches could create virtualized networks 10 years from now. Out of SD-WAN, SDN, overlays, and virtual routers and switches, SD-WAN looks like the frontrunner.Continue Reading

• When is it best to deploy a mesh Wi-Fi network?

  Recent advances in mesh Wi-Fi network technologies mean mesh Wi-Fi can better compete with wired WLAN implementations for some use cases, including outdoor environments.Continue Reading

• Next-generation data centers need new ADC features

  In next-generation data centers, more ADC features and capabilities are needed. Scalability and integration with orchestration frameworks are still lacking, a study shows.Continue Reading

• Choosing the right network security tool for the job

  Selecting a network security product can be simplified once you understand your business goals and match them to the features offered by the leading network security vendors.Continue Reading

• ZeroStack private cloud management wins Innovation Award

  Deploying a private cloud isn't for the meek. Learn why ZeroStack received a Network Innovation Award for its private cloud management software.Continue Reading

• Enterprise network management and security require collaboration

  As cyberthreats to the network in crease, collaboration has become part of best practices for network management and security.Continue Reading

• Enterprise networks need IT-business strategic alignment

  The enterprise network continues to evolve in the face of new technologies and threats. Yet companies aren't managing these changes with full IT-business strategic alignment.

  IT pros are considering the business need more and more as ...Continue Reading

• Aligning IT with business still a struggle for enterprises

  The idea of aligning IT with business needs has been around as long as tech itself. But enterprises still struggle with siloed hardware, security and cloud applications.Continue Reading

• Network specialist career development includes business knowledge

  A network specialist needs to have knowledge of SD-WAN, Cisco's NX-OS and other technologies, but they also must study the business side of the job, one IT pro says.Continue Reading

• Network hardware components scrutinized as apps move to cloud

  Networking pros make business-critical decisions about where to house their network hardware components -- on-premises or managed in a service provider's cloud.Continue Reading

• Intent-based networking and network automation: A primer

  Intent-based networking offers engineers intriguing network automation benefits, if it can deliver on promises and separate itself from the hype.Continue Reading

• Comparing virtual routing software with physical routers

  Virtual routing software offers enterprises a lot of advantages, but they have to be weighed against potential security and connection challenges. Are physical routers the way to go? Find out in this virtual router vs. physical router comparison.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN 2.0: What SD-WAN trends to look for in 2018

  As 2018 draws closer, analyst Lee Doyle looks into future SD-WAN trends. On the radar: The continued growth of SD-WAN managed services and support for IoT, Wi-Fi and mobility.Continue Reading

• Network validation a first step to intent-based architecture

  Network validation is an important first step for enterprises evaluating intent-based networking. Unless you know how things really work, you won't succeed.Continue Reading

• Current networking trends increasingly shape the enterprise

  Current networking trends like software-defined technology, cloud and virtualization are shaping the direction of the enterprise. Companies are provisioning more workloads to the cloud as they assess costs associated with replacing expensive ...Continue Reading

• Cloud-based networking becomes a reality

  Cloud-based networking trends continue to push enterprises toward software-defined technologies and virtualization, while skill sets and networking education shift.Continue Reading

• Networking trends 2017: Cloud, wireless, pace change

  Networking trends like cloud computing, virtualization and SDN continue to shape enterprise strategy while managers eye potential for IoT and data analytics.Continue Reading

• It's not an 'either-or': MPLS network design has room for SD-WAN

  If your current MPLS network design is working great, you may be struggling with the question of where SD-WAN technology fits in. The answer may be simpler than you expect.Continue Reading

• Carrier cloud could create bigger roles in future for SDN and NFV

  Increasing carrier cloud deployment could be the key that drives SDN and NFV technologies forward in the future of virtual networking -- not the other way around.Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud networking plays big role in development

  Multicloud and hybrid cloud networking are complex, but users prefer that complexity remain invisible. In this issue of Network Evolution, read how, now more than ever, network professionals need to understand their options when it comes to ...Continue Reading

• Adobe multicloud strategy transforms network engineering

  Adobe created a multicloud strategy to connect to public clouds like AWS and Azure. One Adobe networking pro talks about how the new approach changed its definition of networking.Continue Reading

• IT pros seek better methods to manage application performance

  IT pros have to manage application performance across complex networks connecting more devices and locations, as mobility changes how granular performance needs to get.Continue Reading

• Multi-cloud architecture takes hybrid cloud to new heights

  As hybrid cloud use takes hold, enterprises need to create a multi-cloud architecture that integrates different cloud platforms to seamlessly route data from one cloud environment to another.Continue Reading

• Machine learning in networking: What’s the next step?

  The networking industry today is poised to reap the benefits of machine learning, but all too often, networks themselves stand in the way.Continue Reading

• Ixia CloudLens Public gets Network Innovation Award

  Cloud visibility challenges force many enterprises to pull back on their cloud migration strategies. But Ixia CloudLens Public might be one way to assuage those fears.Continue Reading

• Comparison of popular technical SD-WAN service models

  Two main SD-WAN service model options exist for users to choose from, but more could be on the way due to regulatory and industry development efforts. Find out what works for you in this comparison.Continue Reading

• Visions of software-defined branch begin to take hold

  Software-based technologies can apply to the vision of a software-defined branch that converges network elements and centralizes management. But getting there will take time.Continue Reading

• What a network microsegmentation strategy means for you

  As network administrators move beyond traditional network segmentation, creating a good network microsegmentation strategy across the enterprise is essential.Continue Reading

• The story of SDN: Control planes, OpenFlow protocol and disaggregation

  When discussing SDN, control planes and programmability are often lumped into the conversation -- along with a dose of OpenFlow protocol and disaggregation.Continue Reading

• SDN components transform the LAN

  Full software-defined networking is elusive in the local area network, but SDN components can help create a LAN that is more flexible and programmable. Users are beginning to explore what SDN elements like centralized management of policies and ...Continue Reading

• Local area network design gets boost from SDN

  Network pros improve LAN design, especially in automating policies, with software-defined network functions, or 'SDN-lite,' even if true full-featured SDN is still out of reach.Continue Reading

• First responders rely on improved Wi-Fi to fight fires and save lives

  First responders implement improved Wi-Fi to enhance how they share critical information in times of medical emergencies and natural disasters.Continue Reading

• Software-defined networking technology makes inroads in the LAN

  While software-defined networking technology still isn't mainstream, network pros are looking at how 'SDN-lite' principles can improve LAN automation and flexibility.Continue Reading

• Dredge manufacturer utilizes LTE connectivity for distributed network

  DSC Dredge improved its distributed network design using 4G LTE connectivity and Cradlepoint software-defined technology. Now, it can turn its attention to other issues -- like pirates.Continue Reading

• How should IT manage connected devices?

  As IT teams become tasked to manage connected devices more often, what steps need to be taken to avoid performance and security-related problems?Continue Reading

• Mist wireless analytics service captures NIA

  Mist makes plans to diversify its innovative wireless analytics service, as the company grows its customer base to more than 200 users.Continue Reading

• The far-reaching benefits of SD-WAN improve network edge to inner layers

  The benefits of SD-WAN could work inward from the network edge to improve network infrastructure efficiency, anticipate network service needs and maybe emerge as NFV's killer app.Continue Reading