A lot of progress is happening in the world of networking technologies, as they continue to serve as the backbone of connectivity for the entire world. Given its critical role in enabling seamless communication, collaboration, and information sharing, networking technologies are maturing rapidly to meet the evolving needs of business and society.
From the proliferation of Wi-Fi 6E networks and the rise of open-source computing to the adoption of networking-as-a-service, this field is poised to undergo a profound transformation. These cutting-edge technologies are set to reshape industries, enhance user experiences, and fuel innovation in ways previously unimaginable.
In this article, we delve into the top networking technologies that are set to dominate the landscape.
Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6E represents a significant leap forward in wireless connectivity. The letter “E” in Wi-Fi 6E stands for “extended,” referring to the addition of the 6 GHz frequency band to the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This roughly translates to 1200 MHz of clean spectrum in the US and 500 MHz in the EU. Undoubtedly, 6E is deemed to be the largest allocation of unlicensed spectrum in world history.
The extended version of Wi-Fi 6 offers a broader spectrum, increased bandwidth, and reduced interference for Wi-Fi devices. In particular, this technology is ideal for data-intensive applications, like streaming 4K/8K videos, online gaming, and virtual reality. Moreover, Wi-Fi 6E enables a higher number of simultaneous connections that can accommodate the growing number of connected devices in homes, offices, and public spaces. In other words, Wi-Fi 6E sets the stage for a huge explosion in data generation and handling. In the process, it is also expected to pave the way for data-intensive applications like autonomous cars, connected appliances, and more. It also opens up a new era of seamless and high-performance wireless connectivity that can elevate user experiences, regardless of where they connect from.
Automation and AIOps
Automation and Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) go hand-in-hand to bring efficiency and intelligence to network operations. Automation in networking uses software-defined networking (SDN) and network programmability to streamline routine tasks like resource provisioning, configuration, and troubleshooting. Essentially, it reduces manual intervention in these tasks, and through it, accelerates network operations, minimizes errors, and improves reliability. As a result, network administrators can focus on more important tasks like strategic initiatives and innovation, rather than being burdened by repetitive tasks.
AIOps is the perfect complement for automation, as it leverages the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. Specifically, it analyzes vast volumes of network data from diverse sources, correlates them to identify patterns, and contextualizes them for meaningful insights.
Together, automation and AIOps empower network administrators to make intelligent decisions, streamline resource allocation, identify performance bottlenecks, and minimize network disruptions. They can help create networks that can be dynamically provisioned, scaled, and optimized in real-time to meet fluctuating demands and traffic patterns. More importantly, they can enhance network security with continuous monitoring and analysis of network data.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are not precisely new technologies, as they have been around for a few years now. However, the emergence of supporting technologies and applications marks a turning point for these immersive technologies.
In networking, AR can overlay digital information onto the physical environment to provide real-time contextual data and insights. In such a model, AR can facilitate virtual meetings, where participants can visualize and manipulate shared digital content as if they were physically present. AR can also help with troubleshooting and maintenance, as technicians can access relevant information and instructions directly through AR-enabled devices. Needless to say, this approach reduces the need for physical manuals or on-site experts.
VR works slightly differently than AR, as it creates fully immersive digital environments that can transport users to virtual situations. While AR provides a glimpse into the network, VR provides an immersive experience. In networking, VR can facilitate remote training and simulation exercises and even provide a safe and cost-effective way to practice complex procedures or experience hazardous environments. Additionally, VR can enable virtual tours and product demonstrations for quick and informed decision-making.
Multi-Cloud Networking
Multi-cloud, as the name suggests, is the use of two or more public, private, or a combination of cloud services. Many organizations are moving towards multi-cloud networking today because of the flexibility it offers. Since you can combine the cloud capabilities and services from different providers, you can create a strategy that works best for your organization without worrying about vendor lock-ins. Multi-cloud networking also enhances resiliency by reducing reliance on a single cloud provider and mitigating the risk of service disruptions.
At the same time, there's a need for seamless data transfer and communication across these disparate cloud environments. To bridge this gap, multi-cloud networking encompasses Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Together, these technologies abstract the infrastructure complexities and create a unified networking fabric. As a result, organizations can create consistent policies and security controls across multiple clouds.
Another critical aspect of multi-cloud networking is the integration of cloud-native networking services. Most major cloud providers offer their own networking solutions, such as virtual private clouds (VPCs), load balancers, and firewalls. Multi-cloud networking incorporates and harmonizes these services to ensure seamless connectivity and consistent network policies across different clouds.
Intent-Based Networking
Intent-Based Networking (IBN) is another emerging field that represents a paradigm shift in network management. At its core, IBN transforms traditional manual approaches into a more intelligent and automated framework. With IBN, organizations can align their business objectives with network operations by translating high-level intentions into automated network configurations and actions.
The biggest advantage of IBN is the time and effort it can save by automating tasks. However, this is not just an automation technology, as it also provides real-time viability into a network, its deviations from the established goals, and the necessary actions to correct the deviations. In other words, it focuses on the intent or the business goal and ensures that every operation meets this intent. This application of network intelligence in monitoring ensures that networks are faster and more agile, and it also reduces the chances of errors and downtime. Moreover, IBN enhances agility and accelerates the deployment of new applications and services.
Digital Twins
Digital Twins are the digitized version of physical networks and they enable organizations to gain deep insights into their network infrastructure. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical network and includes its devices, components, and operational characteristics. This virtual representation provides real-time insights into network performance, traffic patterns, and potential bottlenecks. Such in-depth visibility can enhance the efficiency of network monitoring, analysis, and troubleshooting.
Digital twins also enable better capacity planning and empower networks to handle the increasing demands and scalability requirements. Moreover, digital twins facilitate network optimization. As it can simulate different scenarios and configurations, network administrators can evaluate the impact of changes before implementing them in the physical network. This reduces the risk of misconfigurations and downtime while enabling efficient resource allocation and performance tuning.
Digital twins also play a vital role in troubleshooting and diagnostics. When network issues arise, administrators can analyze the digital twin to pinpoint the root cause and evaluate potential solutions. This accelerates problem resolution, minimizes network downtime, and improves overall network reliability. Furthermore, digital twins enable predictive analytics and proactive maintenance.
Open-Source Networking Controls
Open-source networking has emerged as a viable option to address the existing issues of complex configurations and slow iterations. This technology decouples hardware and software to create an open network using a customizable codebase and tech stacks.
An inherent advantage of open-source networking controls is their flexibility and customizability. These controls built on open-source platforms allow organizations to tailor their network management systems to meet their specific requirements. Developers and network administrators can access and modify the source code to add new features, integrate with existing tools, or adapt the controls to suit unique network architectures.
These open-source networking controls also foster innovation and collaboration. The open nature of the software encourages community participation by allowing developers and network engineers to collaborate, share knowledge, and contribute to the evolution of the controls. This results in a vibrant ecosystem of developers, users, and contributors who collectively improve the functionality, performance, and security of the controls over time.
Furthermore, open-source networking controls offer cost savings. Traditional proprietary network management systems can be expensive to license and maintain. Open-source alternatives provide a cost-effective solution, as organizations can leverage freely available software and customize it to their specific needs without incurring hefty licensing fees. Due to this multitude of benefits, open-source networking is catching on in a big way.
Network Function Virtualization (NFW)
Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is an upcoming technology that transforms the way networks are designed, deployed, and managed. This technology revolves around virtualizing and abstracting network functions performed by dedicated hardware devices, like routers, firewalls, load balancers, and intrusion detection systems. This abstraction enables the dynamic provisioning and scaling of network services using software-based virtual network functions (VNFs). In other words, the role performed by proprietary hardware is replaced by software for greater flexibility and cost savings.
The NFW software uses virtualized instances running on standard servers, storage, and switches. This approach not only enables network operators to deploy and scale network services on demand but also reduces the time and resources required for physical device provisioning. Additionally, NFW also supports quick service deployment, chaining, and dynamic resource allocation based on network demands.
The biggest advantage of NFV is that network functions become modular and interoperable, so you can add features without replacing the underlying hardware. They can also be easily deployed, updated, or replaced without the need for physical equipment reconfiguration. This agility enables operators to adapt to changing requirements, introduce new services quickly, and respond to market demands more effectively.
Networking-as-a-Service (NaaS)
Like SaaS, Networking-as-a-Service (NaaS) is a model where organizations can rent networking services from a cloud provider instead of setting up their own infrastructure. Like other cloud services, NaaS also requires Internet connectivity to access the services that are hosted on the cloud.
NaaS simplifies network management and reduces operational overhead, as NaaS providers handle tasks like network provisioning, configuration, monitoring, and maintenance. In turn, such an approach frees up resources for organizations to focus on their core operations. More importantly, organizations can easily scale their network resources up or down based on their changing requirements. With NaaS, it is possible to rapidly deploy new network services, add or remove users, and adapt to fluctuating workloads or business demands. This flexibility enables businesses to respond quickly to market dynamics and optimize their network infrastructure accordingly.
Cybersecurity
No discussion of networking technologies is ever complete without an explanation of the emerging trends in cybersecurity. These trends reflect the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the need for robust defenses to safeguard networks and sensitive data. Here are a few prominent trends in cybersecurity from a networking standpoint.
- Zero Trust Networking Zero trust A security framework that's based on the assumption that no user or device should be automatically trusted, regardless of their location. Zero Trust Networking is a paradigm that focuses on verifying and validating every user, device, and transaction before allowing access to a resource. Organizations can use a combination of techniques like multifactor authentication, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring to ensure secure access to their resources while reducing the potential attack surface.
- Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) SASE A cloud-based architecture that combines network security and wide-area networking. It leverages networking functionalities like SD-WAN with security services like Secure Web Gateways (SWG), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB), and Firewall as a Service (FWaaS). As a result, SASE provides comprehensive security and connectivity for distributed organizations.
- Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) An architectural model that provides dynamic and fine-grained access controls based on the identity, context, and behavior of users and devices. SDP establishes an invisible and secure “black cloud” around resources, and through it, makes them invisible to unauthorized users. Such an approach significantly reduces the attack surface for cybercriminals. Also, it leverages advancements in cryptography and identity-based access to protect against network-based attacks, lateral movement, and insider threats.
- Secure Network Access Control Εnables organizations to enforce policies and authenticate devices and users before granting network access. Network access control mechanisms help prevent unauthorized access, enforce compliance with security policies, and detect and respond to anomalies or suspicious behavior.
These emerging networking trends in cybersecurity reflect the industry's ongoing efforts to combat sophisticated cyber threats.
In all, these trends lay the foundation for exciting times ahead. Over the next few years, we can expect networks to become more resilient, intelligent, and safer for everyone.
