Cloud networks are resource-intensive
On top of the technical expertise needed to implement cloud network infrastructure, such as software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs), IT teams also need significant resources to manage and maintain cloud-based networks.
Basic maintenance requirements include:
• Optimising traffic between local networks, wide-area networks and the cloud
• Monitoring cybersecurity threats and network traffic across multiple sites
• Configuring virtual network functions (VNFs) such as SD-WAN, routers and firewalls
As networks expand, the resource burden of managing a cloud-based network increases exponentially and can become overwhelming for even well-resourced IT teams.
Juggling multiple vendors
Businesses adopting a DIY approach need a host of additional services to make their network function efficiently and realise the full promise of cloud-based networking. These ancillary services include:
• Secure connection to public cloud providers
• Enhanced, cloud-native cybersecurity services
• Advanced analytics, traffic monitoring and SD-WAN optimisation
• A range of connectivity services
Any DIY approach will need to contract multiple vendors to ensure proper network functionality, significantly increasing network complexity and the time and cost required to integrate these services.
Troubleshooting network issues
As DIY cloud networks incorporate hardware and services from multiple vendors, interoperability issues are bound to occur. Troubleshooting then becomes a mammoth task without significant experience in cloud networking, putting further strain on IT teams to:
• Collaborate with vendors to access and analyse network visibility data
• Remotely diagnose hardware issues across multiple sites
• Locate weak spots between various cloud services
• Work with mobile network operators (MNOs) to rule out physical network issues
Even a small issue could spring from any point in the network if services are not properly integrated and can have ripple effects throughout the entire network if left unchecked.