5 ways to save cost on your business broadband with NFV

Deployment and management of network functions such as routers and firewalls can be a long and tedious process. This article distils what you need to know about Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) technology for your business broadband and gives you 5 ways to simplify your network with it.  

Today’s digital world has changed the way and pace in which people work and do business. Businesses need to keep up with customers’ fast-changing needs and expectations of fast service response or faced being left behind. To stay competitive, you will need agility in implementing network equipment and rolling out new services quickly and cost-effectively.

With limited IT manpower and budget, the process of purchasing, setting up, configuring and maintaining network equipment can be tedious. Not forgetting the need to constantly upgrade your network equipment when they go obsolete. IT management and support is another challenge, especially if you have branch offices or shops. To troubleshoot any faulty equipment, IT staff would need to go on-site, causing further service delays. If the equipment breaks down in the middle of the business day or late at night, it can become a stressful situation.

One way to overcome this is to consider software-based Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) technology for your business broadband which gives you the flexibility to quickly implement network services, such as router, firewall, Unified Threat Management (UTM) and Network Monitoring System (NMS). Being software-based, it does not require hardware investment, which keeps IT costs low.

By separating network services from the hardware platform, NFV allows services to be provided in days. It can be managed anytime, anywhere via a centralised portal, making IT management a breeze for staff.

According to IDC1, adopting NFV can help businesses better support their increasingly mobile workforce, business expansion, economic growth and the Internet of Things (IoT). Here are 5 ways why businesses should consider NFV:

1.    Reduce management of multiple equipment by replacing hardware with software-based services hosted in the Cloud. This reduces costs associated with power usage and space taken up by bulky equipment and messy wiring.

2.    Faster set up of software-based services by cutting the conventional process of purchase, delivery, on-site installation and configuration of hardware. The services are provided over the business broadband service, saving weeks of preparation time.

3.    Enjoy seamless upgrade as there is no need for on-site equipment replacement and, therefore, no more downtime to deal with. The capacity of NFV services will increase according to the broadband bandwidth subscribed. This is great when you need to upgrade your network quickly as your business grows. 

4.    Simplify network management as IT staff can now manage and troubleshoot network services in minutes via an online portal anytime, anywhere. If you do not have an in-house IT staff, remote assistance is available.

5.    Greater control over the network with real-time visibility to traffic utilisation and service availability. The built-in redundancy also assures service recovery within 20 minutes, which minimises business disruption.

NFV is ideal for businesses with:

• Little or no IT support
• Many branch offices or shops in multiple locations
• Limited space for equipment

Want to learn more about NFV? Register your interest now for exclusive offer.

Footnotes:

1. http://www.telecomasia.net/print/36855