Enterprise Strategy Group (
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2025 3:07 am
Despite the high level of redundancy, there are many scenarios where legacy software-defined networks (SDN) are not up to the demands of a modern cloud-based IT infrastructure supporting highly distributed applications and remote workers. This is partly because the networks were designed with hub-and-spoke branch offices in mind, which results in a huge administrative overhead when trying to set up network configurations for a modern distributed IT environment.
In 2021, ESG) published a white paper that explored the need to rethink enterprise networks to support business transformation. In it, the analyst firm noted that digital transformation initiatives are driving IT complexity. This is because they typically need to connect across a highly distributed, heterogeneous enterprise IT landscape that includes data centers, multiple public clouds, and multiple edge locations, including supporting remote workers.
At the time, ESG noted that hub-and-spoke network benin mobile database and castle-and-moat security architectures were unable to support digital transformation initiatives. Their architectural limitations, the analysts said, hindered innovation, impacted performance, and often required higher maintenance and operating costs.
Legacy SD-WAN Networks
For example, according to ESG, legacy SD-WANs that focus on Layer 3 packet traffic information typically have limited application-level visibility. So while they may provide the necessary network QoS, analysts noted that network teams may have a hard time guaranteeing application SLAs. “For applications in the cloud and at the edge, organizations may need to implement additional solutions to provide visibility,” ESG analysts said.
With increasing pressure on organizations to deliver a positive experience in an increasingly distributed and complex environment, ESG says operations teams may struggle with manual processes and procedures. “While significant advances have been made in Day 1 service delivery, many Day 2 operational and lifecycle management tasks remain manual. Regardless of the networking solution used, virtually all organizations struggle to overcome the complexity inherent in highly distributed application and workload environments,” the analysts noted.
In 2021, ESG) published a white paper that explored the need to rethink enterprise networks to support business transformation. In it, the analyst firm noted that digital transformation initiatives are driving IT complexity. This is because they typically need to connect across a highly distributed, heterogeneous enterprise IT landscape that includes data centers, multiple public clouds, and multiple edge locations, including supporting remote workers.
At the time, ESG noted that hub-and-spoke network benin mobile database and castle-and-moat security architectures were unable to support digital transformation initiatives. Their architectural limitations, the analysts said, hindered innovation, impacted performance, and often required higher maintenance and operating costs.
Legacy SD-WAN Networks
For example, according to ESG, legacy SD-WANs that focus on Layer 3 packet traffic information typically have limited application-level visibility. So while they may provide the necessary network QoS, analysts noted that network teams may have a hard time guaranteeing application SLAs. “For applications in the cloud and at the edge, organizations may need to implement additional solutions to provide visibility,” ESG analysts said.
With increasing pressure on organizations to deliver a positive experience in an increasingly distributed and complex environment, ESG says operations teams may struggle with manual processes and procedures. “While significant advances have been made in Day 1 service delivery, many Day 2 operational and lifecycle management tasks remain manual. Regardless of the networking solution used, virtually all organizations struggle to overcome the complexity inherent in highly distributed application and workload environments,” the analysts noted.