Tips

Tips

• An introduction to network automation with Ansible

  Ansible is one of the most popular open source network automation tools. Network pros can use it to perform basic network automation tasks, like collecting ARP table data.  Continue Reading

• Watch for these 6 wireless networking trends in 2020

  No doubt you've heard about 5G and Wi-Fi 6. But don't forget other wireless trends emerging in 2020, such as CBRS, dynamic spectrum sharing and Open RAN.  Continue Reading

• How businesses can gear up for Wi-Fi 6 hardware

  The latest wireless standard, Wi-Fi 6, is coming to an enterprise near you. As a result, businesses will need to plan accordingly as they evaluate Wi-Fi 6 devices.  Continue Reading

• When assessing SD-WAN benefits, don't ignore SD-WAN costs

  SD-WAN offers several benefits, but companies also need to understand SD-WAN costs. Organizations need to consider some critical areas -- and not all of them are obvious.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN requirements for a multi-cloud world

  With the emergence of a multi-cloud world, SD-WAN vendors must upgrade their platforms to ensure secure and reliable SD-WAN connectivity to cloud services.  Continue Reading

• Understand business value to advance your networking career

  Network pros can use the CAR mindset -- challenge, action and result -- to better match their networking initiatives with business goals and advance their career opportunities.  Continue Reading

• 5G indoor coverage poses problems for office buildings and operators

  The millimeter waves of 5G have trouble penetrating walls and other structures, which presents significant challenges for carriers as they plan 5G indoor coverage.  Continue Reading

• What to include in a network services agreement

  Network teams that create MSP contracts for their managed network services should cover delivery lead times, network performance, adds and changes, network uptime and escalation.  Continue Reading

• How SD-WAN changes the network security perimeter

  The advent of SD-WAN has changed the network security model by pushing more security and control to the edge -- and businesses need to adjust to this new reality.  Continue Reading

• Explore 9 essential elements of network security

  Network security isn't a one-size-fits-all strategy. Dive into the various segments of network security, and learn how they overlap and interact with each other.  Continue Reading

• 3 ways SD-WAN can improve WAN performance

  Learn how software-defined WAN technology can improve WAN performance and help branch offices deal with an increasing amount of bandwidth-intensive network traffic.  Continue Reading

• The 5 steps to a successful MPLS-to-SD-WAN migration

  A solid migration plan is necessary in order to successfully transfer MPLS to SD-WAN and avoid contract mishaps, unexpected costs and delayed installation.  Continue Reading

• Network device discovery best practices -- other than ping sweeps

  Traditionally, ping sweeps are the go-to method for network device discovery. But, by creating a network script, you can discover networked devices more efficiently.  Continue Reading

• How to monitor network traffic in 7 steps

  Effective network monitoring is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance by IT groups. This step-by-step plan can fine-tune network monitoring strategies.  Continue Reading

• When to consider managed SD-WAN services for your business

  SD-WAN offers promising benefits, like the ability to use multiple ISP links, but managing those links can prove challenging. Managed SD-WAN services can help.  Continue Reading

• Network automation with Python, Paramiko, Netmiko and NAPALM

  Python is a useful language, but it can't do everything. Explore some basic network automation scripts that use Python with three automation libraries: Paramiko, Netmiko and NAPALM.  Continue Reading

• Plan for simplicity when approaching HCI networking

  HCI networking isn't as easy as plugging cables in and hoping the HCI system works. IT teams need to strategize around capacity and resiliency to achieve true simplification.  Continue Reading

• 12 network automation ideas to incorporate in your network

  What's your path to network automation? Here are 12 automation ideas that span different levels of expertise to help your network team get comfortable with network automation.  Continue Reading

• 7 key developments to expect from SD-branch in 2020

  New year, new developments. See what's new with SD-branch in 2020, including security advancements and how technologies such as Wi-Fi 6 and 5G will affect branch offices.  Continue Reading

• How to start building an SD-WAN RFP

  An SD-WAN request for proposal should include comprehensive questions that dive into vendor features and capabilities, architecture, cost savings and PoCs.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN drives managed network services trends for 2020

  As network operators offer more SD-WAN managed services in 2020, the managed services market will see some major changes regarding price, feature sets and management.  Continue Reading

• How to benchmark 25 GbE NICs in converged networks

  Network teams can use an array of tools to benchmark the performance and efficiency of 25 GbE network adapters that support converged networks and HCI environments.  Continue Reading

• The top network security trends, threats and strategies in 2020

  Ransomware and attacks against cloud providers reflect key network security trends in 2020. To combat these threats preemptively, assess your specific network needs.  Continue Reading

• 7 factors to consider in network redundancy design

  Network pros have multiple factors to consider when it comes to adding redundancy in network design, including network equipment, protocols, backup, processing and subnet connections.  Continue Reading

• Assess the Wi-Fi 6 features available in Wave 1 and Wave 2

  Catch up on the different features available with the first wave of Wi-Fi 6, including OFDMA and Target Wake Time, and find out which capabilities Wave 2 will bring.  Continue Reading

• Network security design best practices and principles: Keep it simple

  Comprehensive network security design means understanding the components that constitute your network and how and when everything is managed.  Continue Reading

• What SD-WAN devices do I need in an SD-WAN deployment?

  Despite the software-centric nature of software-defined WAN, certain SD-WAN devices are still required to help transport traffic and complete network connections.  Continue Reading

• Why Secure Access Service Edge is the future of SD-WAN

  Secure Access Service Edge -- or SASE -- architecture transitions from network design that revolves around the data center to a model based on identity and user context.  Continue Reading

• 5 common SD-WAN challenges and how to prepare for them

  SD-WAN technology has its fair share of risk factors, some of which include security, deployment and quality of service. Find out how your IT team can prepare for these challenges.  Continue Reading

• The top 10 network security best practices to implement today

  Even as security techniques improve, attackers are becoming more adept. Learn about 10 network security best practices and how they can keep your network secure.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of network automation make life easier for IT pros

  Network automation software comes with a compelling list of benefits, but IT teams should confirm which processes are automated and how the software integrates with existing tools.  Continue Reading

• After a data breach occurs, follow this network security checklist

  Before a network breach occurs, you should already have a response plan in place. To make sure you're taking a proactive approach, follow this network security checklist.  Continue Reading

• Follow these 9 steps for SD-WAN testing before deployment

  Before an SD-WAN implementation, you'll want to run the system through a battery of tests to check for things like failover, packet delivery and traffic segregation.  Continue Reading

• Build an effective SD-WAN security strategy at the branch

  Don't deploy SD-WAN without a solid network security strategy. IT teams should address four specific areas to ensure adequate security and protection against network threats.  Continue Reading

• Increase security visibility with network automation tasks

  IT teams can set up automation tasks that generate security reports about network traffic data. These read-only dashboards are useful for executives that ask for system updates.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to cloud network architecture

  Enterprises have myriad cloud networking options: private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud. Find out which architecture and tool sets best fit your business.  Continue Reading

• Edge computing use cases and drivers to watch

  Edge computing use cases span across multiple industry sectors, including manufacturing, retail and medical. The motives for adoption filter down to three main drivers.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN deployment in the works? Consider these 3 things

  SD-WAN can simplify the deployment and management of new branch WANs, but there are some key configuration and technical choices you must make to get started.  Continue Reading

• 5 steps to follow in a network security audit checklist

  Planning, execution, analysis, reporting and follow-up are the basic elements of a network security audit checklist. But coordination among IT teams is also important.  Continue Reading

• Top 3 network security threats and how to protect against them

  Enterprise networks are seemingly always under attack. Learn about the most common network security threats and what protections you should have in place.  Continue Reading

• How to develop and implement a network security plan

  When formulating a focused network security plan, you'll need to address specific questions about outbound traffic, user logins and government regulations.  Continue Reading

• Data center transformation drives the ADC security use case

  Application delivery controllers play many roles, but the ADC security use case might be most important. Learn about ADC features and how they boost data center security.  Continue Reading

• Automation improves firewall migration and network security

  Firewall migration is a compelling automation use case, as automation scripts can shorten the migration process, eliminate unused rules and bolster overall network security.  Continue Reading

• Nexus of 5G, edge computing and IoT poised to retool networking

  The combination of 5G and edge computing could introduce several changes for network operations. Find out why the network infrastructure -- along with fog computing -- is so important.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN vs. VPN: How do they compare?

  When it comes to comparing SD-WAN vs. VPN services, enterprises choosing between the technologies should consider factors like cost, cloud usage and application awareness.  Continue Reading

• How does 5G network slicing work, and what are the benefits?

  5G network slicing promises the delivery of a new generation of high-speed services, including the transmission of 4K and augmented virtual reality apps to users' cellphones.  Continue Reading

• 5G frequency spectrum forces new look at coverage strategies

  New 5G frequency allocations will help make it an amazing technology, but it will also force a rethinking of how those signals are transmitted.  Continue Reading

• How network standards and open source organizations differ

  Both open source and network standards organizations want to develop the next-generation network. Yet their methods differ, and they can benefit different types of organizations.  Continue Reading

• Understanding why IPv6 renumbering problems occur

  IPv6 renumbering can be a challenge, especially if a host using SLAAC obtains stale prefixes. But there are steps you can take to reduce your vulnerability.  Continue Reading

• 5G vs. LTE: Comparing speed, spectrum and latency

  The debate between 5G and LTE largely comes down to speed and spectrum. But latency and wired network implications are also important differentiators.  Continue Reading

• The benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and how to prepare for them

  In order to glean the benefits of Wi-Fi 6, enterprises first need to determine the best steps for a migration strategy. Two key steps are implementing more power and faster uplinks.  Continue Reading

• Discover the wireless certifications that matter

  Find out which wireless certifications are worth pursuing with this expert advice that dives into vendor-specific, vendor-neutral and specialized certification options.  Continue Reading

• How client VPN technologies will evolve with AI and automation

  With help from artificial intelligence and automation, client VPN technologies could innovate the way they handle data flows within hybrid cloud environments.  Continue Reading

• How SD-WAN security can boost your network security strategy

  Many organizations say security is a top priority for their business, but most lack the necessary resources to thoroughly secure their networks and cloud services. SD-WAN could help.  Continue Reading

• Compare the leading SD-WAN vendors before you buy

  This SD-WAN vendor comparison chart is a useful starting point to get information about SD-WAN deployment options, pricing, cloud connectivity options and more.  Continue Reading

• Data center performance requirements spur 25 GbE upgrades

  Enterprises are upgrading their data centers with 25 GbE to achieve better throughput and support I/O-intensive applications. Here are some best practices for making the switch.  Continue Reading

• Achieve network perimeter security through deep segmentation

  Firewall effectiveness is in deep decline, but there's still a way to create an effective security perimeter through the practice of deep segmentation. Learn how.  Continue Reading

• 10 steps to troubleshoot enterprise wireless connection problems

  When troubleshooting wireless network issues, several scenarios can emerge. But valuable end-user insights can help network administrators root out problems.  Continue Reading

• What to expect with SD-WAN management, intent and usability

  Users can expect advancements in SD-WAN intent, usability and management, as vendors seek to improve their developer ecosystems, integration and multi-tenancy capabilities.  Continue Reading

• 6 steps to a successful network disaster recovery plan

  Don't wait until disaster strikes to consider network resiliency and recovery. Use these six practical steps to build a network disaster recovery plan that fits your business needs.  Continue Reading

• Top 5G limitations for businesses include lack of range, devices

  Currently, the next wave of cellular technology certainly has its shortcomings. For instance, 5G faces a dearth of devices, smaller coverage ranges and hefty premiums.  Continue Reading

• IP addressing and subnetting: Calculate a subnet mask from hosts and subnets

  IP addressing and subnetting are important and basic elements of networks. In this article, learn how to calculate a subnet mask based on the required number of subnets and hosts.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to smart NICs and their benefits

  This introduction discusses how smart NICs work and how they can benefit data center servers. It also explores the smart NIC market and available suppliers.  Continue Reading

• What are the features and benefits of 5G technology for businesses?

  In addition to high speeds and low latency, the emergence of 5G cellular technology could put some pressure on the market prices of incumbent WAN connectivity.  Continue Reading

• Learn about the top telecom certifications

  Use this expert advice to wade through myriad telecom certifications and pinpoint the top certifications for the industry, like TCO, iNARTE and BICSI certifications.  Continue Reading

• Why streaming telemetry tops SNMP in tracking network performance

  SNMP isn't going away anytime soon, but streaming telemetry is a much more effective way to generate critical alerts and measure network performance.  Continue Reading

• Top 5G use cases for business include fixed wireless, healthcare

  While 5G is not fully baked yet, early business use cases are intriguing. Connections between branch offices and headquarters, for instance, could be greatly improved.  Continue Reading

• 5G deployment will accelerate SD-WAN growth

  As 5G deployment ramps up in the coming years, the technology will transform enterprise WAN connectivity, help drive SD-WAN rollouts and stir up market competition.  Continue Reading

• Discover 3 real-world network automation use cases

  The real benefits of network automation are managing multiple network devices at once. Larger networks, in particular, can benefit from these network automation use cases.  Continue Reading

• Edge computing and IoT combine to reshape the network

  Enterprises are examining edge computing and IoT in a new light to determine the best way to process and transmit the mountain of data generated by IoT devices.  Continue Reading

• 5G and SD-WAN could provide reliable, alternate connectivity

  5G and SD-WAN could develop into an alternative connectivity option that offers high speeds and low latency to geographic areas and remote workers with limited connectivity options.  Continue Reading

• The role of edge computing security in enterprise networks

  By ensuring IoT security, IT teams can secure enterprise networks as well. Edge computing can provide one path toward this security, as long as IT properly evaluates and plans for it.  Continue Reading

• 3 important SD-WAN security considerations and features

  Device onboarding, control plane security and data plane security are three crucial SD-WAN security considerations enterprises should research when choosing an SD-WAN vendor.  Continue Reading

• How 5G deployment will affect enterprise network hardware, software

  Enterprise network architects can start thinking about 5G deployment now, focusing on mobile usage, real-time communications and 5G-capable network equipment.  Continue Reading

• 5 ways 802.11ax benefits enterprise Wi-Fi networks

  The advantages of 802.11ax -- the upcoming wireless standard -- are deemed impressive, significant and revolutionary. See how the technology could benefit your business.  Continue Reading

• 4 criteria to consider in your cloud migration strategy

  Organizations that are evaluating a workload migration to the cloud should use this workload placement process to build a consistent cloud migration strategy.  Continue Reading

• The status of white box networking in the enterprise

  Despite the benefits of white box networking, most enterprises are cautious about deployment. Use these five questions to determine when white box implementation is a smart move.  Continue Reading

• 3 tips for proper network provisioning and capacity planning

  To provision the right amount of network resources, be sure to review past network performance, assess upcoming tech projects and consider business strategy changes.  Continue Reading

• The benefits of open source networking for enterprise IT

  The benefits of open source are proved among large providers. But enterprises are less inclined to use open source networking, due to its limited functionality and support.  Continue Reading

• How to tackle network automation risks and tasks

  Automation can make networks more efficient, but network engineers must first mitigate the risks. A good way to start is by setting up simple tasks that deliver operational value.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between 802.11ax vs. 802.11ac?

  When considering 802.11ax vs. 802.11ac, the new Wi-Fi standard has a lot to offer. What new capabilities should you expect from the new spec, also known as Wi-Fi 6?  Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi 6 and IoT could threaten the network

  New advances in Wi-Fi technology -- like Wi-Fi 6 -- and IoT can create bottlenecks in legacy campus LANs due to increased throughput consumption and slower uplink speeds.  Continue Reading

• Weighing the pros and cons of enterprise network subscriptions

  A centralized repository of network licenses can help enterprises visualize their IT assets and manage their purchases. But higher costs and amortization issues lurk.  Continue Reading

• Wireless capacity more important than fast Wi-Fi 6 speed

  Wi-Fi 6 speed may be getting all the attention, but the most compelling advantages of the new standard are techniques engineered to increase wireless capacity.  Continue Reading

• Drawbacks of open source networking could impede full growth

  IT teams have increasingly accepted the use of open source within their organizations. But open source networking continues to lag behind -- and it may not catch up.  Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi 6 vs. 5G networks is more about cooperation than competition

  While Wi-Fi 6 and 5G might experience some interference with each other, enterprises should focus on the handoff of connections between the two technologies.  Continue Reading

• 3 critical considerations for your network management strategy

  The debate continues between the use of a single network management tool or a variety. Three considerations can help point your network management strategy in the right direction.  Continue Reading

• The future of VPN will reflect the need for flexibility

  The future of VPN services reflects the industry's trend toward software networking, evident in developments like SD-WAN and public cloud. The need for flexible technology is a main driver.  Continue Reading

• Should you buy 802.11ax devices before the Wi-Fi standard is ratified?

  The Wi-Fi 6 standard has not been ratified yet, but enterprises are faced with a decision. Should they buy 802.11ax devices now or wait for the standard to be approved?  Continue Reading

• What happens when edge computing hits enterprise networks?

  Is it time to take your network to the edge? Learn what edge networking can do to improve traffic flows, ease demand for high-performing connectivity and more.  Continue Reading

• What the future of edge computing means for cloud and networks

  IoT and application processing needs are shaping the future of edge computing, driving the growth of micro modular data centers and raising the question of cloud computing's relevance.  Continue Reading

• Public cloud networking basics: How to navigate to AWS, Azure

  Moving workloads to AWS and Azure doesn't have to be difficult as long as you follow a few cloud networking basics. What do you need to know to make the shift?  Continue Reading

• Examine the requirements for 5G core networks

  The 5G core network will support millions of devices that need high-speed communication and data processing. Learn what other capabilities are required for 5G deployment.  Continue Reading

• The 3 pillars of SD-WAN QoS and questions to ask your providers

  Traffic shaping, path control and forward error correction are three core components of SD-WAN QoS. Here are some crucial questions to ask your vendors regarding those areas.  Continue Reading

• 3 steps for a successful data center consolidation plan

  A data center consolidation plan is usually riddled with questions. But careful forethought is key for the successful centralization of software and servers.  Continue Reading

• Understand limitations when monitoring cloud performance

  When monitoring cloud performance, organizations need to recognize the limitations that come with SaaS, PaaS and IaaS models, as well as public and private cloud architectures.  Continue Reading

• How 5G can start a brand new era for the virtual RAN

  5G is forging the way for operators to delve into virtualized RANs. Yet, despite its benefits, vRAN lacks standards and is still in the early developmental stages.  Continue Reading

• 3 types of configuration tools for network change management

  From openly available scripting tools to vendor-supplied services, network change management and configuration tools generally fit into three main categories.  Continue Reading

• How to monitor CPU usage in SDN environments

  Monitoring CPU usage in a software-defined network is necessary to determine adequate network capacity and compute capacity, especially if workloads are competing for resources.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between 4G and 5G technology?

  As you evaluate the difference between 4G and 5G, you'll see the next-generation cellular standard seems pretty impressive. But goals and reality can be quite different.  Continue Reading