Tips

Tips

• SDN needs versatile northbound APIs for cloud integration

  For cloud services to behave transparently across large domains, the network needs tighter integration with cloud platforms via northbound APIs.  Continue Reading

• Application-defined networking grows with variety of vendor approaches

  New application-defined networking techniques for efficient app delivery emerge, as a variety of networking and SDN vendors take different approaches.  Continue Reading

• IETF SDN: I2RS uses traditional routing protocols in software networks

  The IETF SDN strategy relies on centralized management and distributed decision making with traditional network protocols -- departing from OpenFlow.  Continue Reading

• Pros, cons of premises- vs. provider-based network management systems

  IT expert David Davis outlines the pros and cons of premises- versus provider-based network management.  Continue Reading

• Networking blogs: Reevaluating the optical market, config builder tips

  This week, networking bloggers discuss a potential sea change for the optical market, and reveal some key tips for using custom config builders.  Continue Reading

• How SDN will enable automated network security

  SDN promises centralized control and traffic management, which will result in automated network security that is more adaptive and scalable.  Continue Reading

• FedRAMP 3PAO: Cloud providers that rush assessments risk delays

  In their rush to achieve FedRAMP authorization this year, cloud providers are making errors that lead to multiple rejections, says one FedRAMP 3PAO.  Continue Reading

• Selling government cloud services: FedRAMP vs. FISMA

  Even if a cloud provider isn't planning to sell government cloud services, it's still important to have a basic understanding of FedRAMP and FISMA.  Continue Reading

• Don't just build an app store: Nurture a cloud developer ecosystem

  Service providers must nurture a cloud developer ecosystem -- not just collect software partners. Learn what the difference is and how to get there.  Continue Reading

• Efficient data center cabling requires plan, follow-up

  Switching out servers at a data center can go from ho-hum to disaster unless you have a tested cable management plan in place.  Continue Reading

• Cloud bursting: How will it affect your billing requirements?

  Cloud bursting attracts many customers to public cloud services, but tracking these dynamic resources for billing becomes problematic for providers.  Continue Reading

• Networking blogs: Wi-Fi Certified 802.11ac is here, CDN bandwidth woes

  In this week's blog roundup, get expert insight on preparing for 802.11ac and solutions to CDN bandwidth issues.  Continue Reading

• Virtual overlay networks: Tunneling protocols enable multi-tenancy

  Virtual overlay networks use tunneling protocols to extend isolated network segments between servers for multi-tenant data center networks.  Continue Reading

• Wide area network resiliency best practices

  Learn about network resiliency best practices to keep your wide area network (WAN) services running during technical difficulties and outages.  Continue Reading

• Business continuation and disaster recovery tips for your WAN services

  Understand the tools, technologies and strategies used to ensure business continuance (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) for your WAN services.  Continue Reading

• IT service-level agreements and SDN: Assuring virtualization performance

  With SDN with network virtualization, service providers can improve server virtualization performance and offer improved service-level agreements.  Continue Reading

• Where SDN and DevOps tools meet

  Combining SDN and DevOps tools will mean the network can play a key role in creating an application-aware, responsive infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Networking blogs: The evolution of network access control

  In this week's blog roundup, get an expert's insights on Cisco's unique approach to SDN, and find out why EMC thinks EVAS has bright future.  Continue Reading

• Supporting BYOD security policies with Juniper's Secure Access SSL VPN

  Understanding all the features within Juniper's Secure Access and MAG gateways will help companies fortify their BYOD policies.  Continue Reading

• The network is key as cloud drives converged infrastructure solutions

  The cloud drives true converged infrastructure solutions for network, storage and compute resources, but virtualization and the network make it work.  Continue Reading

• New virtual networking technologies make convergence real

  Three models of virtual networking technologies, including SDN, are enabling Network as a Service, which makes virtual convergence a realistic goal.  Continue Reading

• Networking blogs: Big data security trifecta, distributed firewalls

  In this week's blog roundup, read about the three areas big data security needs to encompass, and get expert insight on distributed firewalls.  Continue Reading

• Building cloud-ready applications: What changes?

  To maximize profits, providers must understand cloud-ready applications, learn how to meet their unique requirements and offer facilitating services.  Continue Reading

• VSphere essentials: Securing vSphere with built-in security features

  Before considering third-party applications, take time to familiarize yourself with vSphere's built-in security features, expert David Davis advises.  Continue Reading

• IPv6 benefits: Making the IPv6 business case

  Depleted IPv4 addresses are not enough for many enterprises to deploy IPv6. Use these IPv6 benefits to make a business case for your IPv6 migration.  Continue Reading

• IPv6 cost considerations

  Before you make the switch to the new Internet Protcol, it's important to understand these IPv6 cost considerations.  Continue Reading

• SDN security strategies for network attack prevention

  With a deeper level of visibility and granular control, SDN security strategies can better prevent a wide range of network attacks.  Continue Reading

• Path Computation Element primer: Are PCE and SDN connected?

  Is there a role for Path Computation Element -- a seven-year old IETF protocol that separates the control plane from the head-end router -- in SDN?  Continue Reading

• IPv6 addressing requires special attention to ensure security

  IPv6 auto-configured addresses raise concern about privacy and the protocol's vulnerability to host tracking attacks, and more.  Continue Reading

• Designing a manageable, secure architecture for mobile cloud services

  To deliver mobile cloud services, providers need a standard set of mobile APIs for developers and a clear mechanism for mobile device management.  Continue Reading

• In the SDN WAN: Network programmability, provisioning and high availability

  The SDN WAN's network programmability and automated provisioning addresses the demands placed on the wide area network by the cloud, SaaS and BYOD.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the relationship between SDN and NFV

  SDN and NFV are not part and parcel to each other, but when the two sets of technology meet they advance each other's capabilities.  Continue Reading

• Using metro storage clusters to manage data growth, add value to IaaS

  Metro storage clusters -- geographically distributed, interconnected storage platforms -- can help IaaS providers manage data growth and add value.  Continue Reading

• Setting a network security policy for a virtual environment

  In this expert tip, Michael Gregg reveals the most important aspects of a reliable network security policy for your virtualized environment.  Continue Reading

• Mobile optimization: What to do about mobile data slowing your WAN

  Mobile data continues to burden network bandwidth, making applications slow. This tip explains how mobile optimization can fix your slow WAN.  Continue Reading

• In mobile networks, SDN and NFV mean service orchestration

  In mobile networks today, it can take months to deploy infrastructure and services, but SDN and NFV allow for orchestration and dynamic provisioning.  Continue Reading

• Unlocking the potential of SDN controller applications

  Three broad sources for route information could drive SDN controller applications: provisioning instructions, "route sniffing" and path computation.  Continue Reading

• SDN's missing links: Five barriers blocking SDN adoption by providers

  As more providers move to deploy SDN, adoption is being hindered by crucial gaps in device standards and tools for network control.  Continue Reading

• Using big data analysis to harness your network operations

  Big data is all the craze, but analyzing big data intelligently can help network administrators pinpoint potential problems.  Continue Reading

• How network functions virtualization will revolutionize architecture

  Using NFV, engineers can virtualize devices and services in large networks to make their architectures cost efficient and flexible.  Continue Reading

• WAN optimization, management and security: Putting the pieces together

  By searching for solutions that put WAN optimization, management and security together, enterprise IT can reduce company bottom lines and complexity.  Continue Reading

• Easier ways to troubleshoot network routing issues

  Expert Patrick Hubbard shares how you can make your life easier by alleviating some annoying network routing issues.  Continue Reading

• Working with individual applications for hybrid cloud management

  Working with individual applications in hybrid cloud management can be complex, but Quality of Experience can be ensured.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud networks face challenges, but SDN may be the answer

  Customers have misgivings about hybrid cloud, but enhancing cloud networks with software-defined networking may help allay many concerns.  Continue Reading

• How to implement cloud-based security services

  Implementing cloud-based security services has rewards, but network pros must evaluate the cloud provider's architecture for security and reliability.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise wireless standards: The basics

  Glen Kemp discusses the standards and protocols that support enterprise-class wireless deployments and how they differ from consumer configurations.  Continue Reading

• FISMA compliance through continuous monitoring: Tips for cloud providers

  Continuous monitoring for FISMA compliance must shift from its static approach to a cyclical, more dynamic strategy for near real-time risk awareness.  Continue Reading

• When NOT to Opt for Network as a Service

  In this tip, networking expert Tom Nolle discusses how to determine when Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is not the best option for your organization.  Continue Reading

• Parsing through the software-defined storage hype

  Software-defined storage can be many technologies, but most aim for decoupled software, automated provisioning and non-proprietary systems.  Continue Reading

• How to make Network as a Service a real option

  Networking as a Service may be the future of networking, but virtual network overlay and device-based NaaS has challenges to solve first.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization management: What you need to know about the Nexus 1000v

  Cisco's Nexus 1000v platform gives network administrators some familiar tools to oversee virtual networks.  Continue Reading

• Why every cloud provider needs a robust security audit strategy

  Customers want transparency, but they don't want to be overwhelmed. A cloud security audit strategy needs to balance those two goals.  Continue Reading

• Three models of SDN explained

  In this tip, networking expert Tom Nolle outlines the three models of SDN, explaining the basic goals, mechanisms, benefits and drawbacks of each.  Continue Reading

• How SDN applications will change Layer 4-7 network services

  With SDN apps, engineers can deploy virtual appliances for Layer 4-7 network services that will be automated for more granular traffic management.  Continue Reading

• OpenFlow configuration protocols: Understanding OF-Config and OVSDB

  OpenFlow directs network packet flows, but OpenFlow configuration protocols, OF-Config and OVSDB, form relationships between controllers and switches.  Continue Reading

• Network security assessment: Test firewalls, IDS in multiple ways

  Network administrators need to test internal systems such as firewalls and IPS/IDS devices to ensure their networks are safe.  Continue Reading

• Selecting an application delivery optimization solution: Final steps

  When reaching the final stage of choosing an application delivery optimization solution, it is essential to run down a final checklist of steps.  Continue Reading

• Guiding principles behind application delivery optimization solutions

  When evaluating application delivery optimization solutions, it is important to address principles to help guide you through a potential deployment.  Continue Reading

• Considering application delivery optimization tools: Questions to ask

  When evaluating application delivery optimization tools and solutions for your environment, it is vital to ask vendors some specific questions.  Continue Reading

• Application delivery optimization solutions: A technical overview

  To evaluate application delivery optimization solutions, you must know different optimization solutions and how each can fit into your environment.  Continue Reading

• Assessing the benefits of application delivery optimization solutions

  These application delivery optimization benefits help meet your service-level agreement, which is a key component of achieving optimization.  Continue Reading

• Application delivery optimization: Business and technology issues

  To ensure mobile workers have efficient access to data, assess business and technology issues driving adoption of application delivery optimization.  Continue Reading

• Network security assessment: Internal testing relies on various tools

  Network administrators need to know what steps to take to protect their networks against internal threats.  Continue Reading

• Use business service management to optimize application performance

  To optimize application performance in the network, many companies are using business service management software and tools to automate IT services.  Continue Reading

• Network security assessment: 10 tools you can't live without

  The top 10 tools to protect your network against security breaches.  Continue Reading

• SSL certificate management: A practical guide

  Certificate management is faced by many but understood by few. This guide provides a refresher of the basics and covers common tasks.  Continue Reading

• Vendors vary in approaches to open source cloud management

  When choosing between open source cloud management vendors, IT administrators need to know how they differ in their support of open source strategies.  Continue Reading

• How data center network fabric and SDN intersect

  SDN and data center network fabrics both enable converged networking and the ability to manage many switches as one. Where do the two intersect?  Continue Reading

• OpenStack vs. CloudStack: What's the best approach?

  When it comes to OpenStack vs. CloudStack, IT managers need to understand the difference between the open source cloud-computing management architectures.  Continue Reading

• Essential tips for virtualized network integration and management

  To fully embrace virtual networks, these essential tips can help your organization maximize those efforts into server and storage virtualization.  Continue Reading

• Five ways applications benefit from enterprise WAN optimization

  These are five ways enterprise WAN optimization technology helps overcome productivity and application issues organizations face in today's workforce.  Continue Reading

• Application performance monitoring tools: Three vendor strategies

  Application performance monitoring tools match user transaction time to network flow information to identify problems. But APM tools differ widely.  Continue Reading

• Centralized vs. decentralized SDN architecture: Which works for you?

  Two SDN architecture models -- centralized and decentralized -- have much in common, but key differences center on the use of the OpenFlow protocol.  Continue Reading

• SDN technologies primer: Revolution or evolution in architecture?

  SDN can be implemented with a centralized controller or distributed architecture. In choosing SDN technologies, is a complete overhaul necessary?  Continue Reading

• Network functions virtualization primer: Software devices take over

  With network functions virtualization (NFV), engineers replace network devices with software on basic servers for flexibility and cost reduction.  Continue Reading

• Ensure cloud uptime with common standards for data center designs

  Standards-based approaches to data center designs can cut costs and prevent potential fallout from service outages.  Continue Reading

• Software defined networking security enables granular policy control

  Software defined networking introduces network programmability and granular traffic management, which could contribute to enhanced SDN security.  Continue Reading

• Evolve WAN security architectures to keep from accelerating malware

  WAN security architectures must evolve to keep pace with workplace trends. Use these tips to make sure WAN optimization isn't accelerating malware.  Continue Reading

• SDN security challenges alongside the potential of a new technology

  With the promise of programmable networks will come a slew of SDN security challenges, including the need to protect the new network controller.  Continue Reading

• How viable is the virtual cloud operator model?

  Two factors make it hard to assess the virtual cloud operator opportunity: The VCO concept isn't yet well-defined, and its role is evolving rapidly.  Continue Reading

• Promote cloud adoption with extensible, policy-driven cloud governance

  Providers can help enterprises tackle cloud governance by providing them the tools to create application-specific policies for dynamic environments.  Continue Reading

• Need visibility into the cloud value chain? There's an API for that

  In a complex cloud value chain, the key to transparency is a standard way, via an API, to exchange management information among all entities involved.  Continue Reading

• Basic wide area network optimization techniques

  Adding bandwidth to your network does not always fix slow applications problems. Consider these WAN optimization techniques first.  Continue Reading

• Provisioning wireless LAN access for BYOD requires integrated tools

  IT shops lacking resources to manually configure hundreds of personal devices can automate wireless LAN access provisioning for BYOD with the right tools.  Continue Reading

• How UPenn tackled wireless LAN access for 46,000 BYOD clients

  To handle 46,000 clients and 20,000 concurrent connections, UPenn had to automate wireless LAN access provisioning, but that was only a first step.  Continue Reading

• Differentiate your cloud hosting services without causing lock-in

  Read these four tips to learn how providers can differentiate their cloud hosting services while still curbing customers' fear of cloud lock-in.  Continue Reading

• How to choose between partners or acquisitions for SaaS development

  Software developer partnerships or acquisitions are critical to cloud providers that need SaaS development. Deciding which path to take is the key.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating business and technology needs for a robust enterprise WLAN

  It is crucial to assess business and technology issues driving the need for a robust and capable enterprise WLAN to support a new mobile workforce.  Continue Reading

• Determining WLAN management: Factors to consider

  Determining best WLAN management requires additional considerations, including the technology curve extent and deciding between on premises or cloud.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating wireless LAN requirements: What to consider before buying

  When considering a WLAN solution for your enterprise, you'll have to start by assessing the wireless LAN requirements necessary.  Continue Reading

• Ten questions to ask WLAN vendors when evaluating WLAN solutions

  Once IT professionals have developed a mobility plan, it is crucial to address particular questions with WLAN vendors when assessing WLAN solutions.  Continue Reading

• RFP process steps for selecting network carriers and equipment vendors

  These RFP process steps detail everything organizations need to include in a request for proposal to new network carriers and equipment vendors.  Continue Reading

• LAN disaster recovery solutions you may already have

  LAN disaster recovery solutions can be costly, but you may already have the right technology in-house for backup and recovery.  Continue Reading

• WLAN architecture considerations to support a mobile workforce

  To deploy WLAN architecture for a mobile workforce, it's important to evaluate a range of WLAN access control technologies and edge designs.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of WLAN infrastructure as the primary access network

  Many companies see the benefits of WLAN infrastructure as primary access network, but some need it more than others. Understanding the gains is key.  Continue Reading

• Assessing the enterprise wireless LAN for the new mobile workforce

  Network engineers must assess the business and technology needs behind building a distributed enterprise wireless LAN for the new mobile workforce.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 skills SDN vendors will be looking for

  One of SDN's pioneers, Nick McKeown, offers his advice about the top skills for a job in software-defined networking.  Continue Reading

• WAN and cloud service management: Simplify life with your providers

  Use these tips on WAN and cloud service management to simplify your life managing and negotiating with multiple WAN and cloud providers.  Continue Reading

• Churn risks rise when customers don't reap full benefits of the cloud

  When customers only dabble, they don't get the full benefits of the cloud. For providers, these unmet expectations lead to lower and slower adoption.  Continue Reading

• How to manage service providers on your own

  IT professionals who handle global networks need to know how to manage service provider relationships. This article explains how to be your own MSP.  Continue Reading