Most things in this world – from towering skyscrapers and intricate machinery to personal and business relationships – must be built on a strong foundation to succeed. And the same goes for your digitalisation journey, which requires for your network to be established on solid and secure ground.
If there’s anything that the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s that traditional legacy systems – with their clunky hardware, slow and messy setups and costly and tedious maintenance requirements – simply aren’t up to the task when it comes to withstanding present and future demands. Rather, a cloud-ready network constructed using the latest software-defined technologies can provide the nimble, flexible and scalable solution your organisation needs to tackle the challenges ahead.
Global businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of running a cloud-ready network to power their operations, and are accelerating the deployment of such systems. Gartner predicts that 2022 will see 75% of all databases hosted in the cloud, and further anticipates that worldwide cloud revenue will notch a whopping US$474 billion in 2022, up from US$408 billion in 2021. It also forecasts that by 2025, 65% of enterprises will have implemented SD-WANs to enhance agility and support for cloud applications.
Indeed, by leveraging software-defined technologies to unleash the full potential of a cloud-ready network, you can attain a host of benefits. These include greater cost and operational efficiencies with speedy, customised and on-demand network deployment; better control of the entire network through centrally managed applications, wide-ranging management tools and real-time visibility; and a more seamless experience via the ability to integrate and interoperate with existing services.
This can offer the agility and flexibility you need to quickly and securely expand into new markets, and to keep your organisation well-connected across multiple clouds amid the uptick in hybrid working. It can also ensure that you have an optimised and resilient network to allow for business continuity in the face of disruptions.
But establishing this successfully is no easy feat. Here are some common pitfalls that you’ll need to consider when constructing your cloud-ready network.
Inefficiencies due to subpar network design and solutioning: There is a tendency to underestimate the complexity and scope of work involved to establish a cloud-ready network. Furthermore, poor planning can result in data leakage.
Operational disruptions during migration: When transitioning between old and new regulatory environments, you may encounter operational disruptions. Not planning for and addressing this appropriately can lead to a loss in business revenue.
Involving too many different technology vendors: With a plethora of options available, it can be tricky to identify the best technological fit for your organisation. And having to deal with multiple providers can lead to inefficiencies.
Underestimating the skills and resources required: Deploying a cloud-ready network necessitates the right expertise and resources. However, you may face skill gaps regarding networking and cloud technology, be it unqualified in-house technicians or inexperienced providers.
Lack of value-added maintenance and support: A constantly evolving network requires continuous, ongoing support. But not all providers offer this service, which can result in extended downtime.
Thankfully, these issues can be surmounted through working with the appropriate provider. The ideal, holistic strategy to building a cloud-ready network should focus on three elements in what we call the “3Rs Approach”: the right design and solutioning; the right infrastructure and the right operations, people and skills.
The ideal vendor should be able to design a custom-built system tailored to your unique business needs, rather than adopt a one-size-fits-all model. The infrastructure they provide should involve a comprehensive suite of software-defined connectivity solutions to establish your cloud-ready network. Finally, they should have the necessary operations, people and skills to ensure robust service management and on-the-ground support for your full peace of mind.
As a proven cloud-ready network specialist, Singtel can help you navigate the complexities of your digitalisation journey, overcome the aforementioned hurdles and quickly get your network up and running – thus putting you on a strong footing to achieve your organisation’s goals and expansion aims.
