Businesses must be flexible to meet the demands of customers, streamline processes, and pivot to evolving business needs. Just as enterprise networks have evolved to handle and virtualize the wider distribution of data, applications, and users, the evolution of wide-area networks (WANs) takes the network edge to the next level.
The University of Phoenix once faced a myriad of IT challenges: outdated infrastructure, technical debt, and annual data center costs upwards of $1.7 million. The online university’s previous attempts to switch to a hyperscale cloud failed due to the complexity of modernizing old applications and workloads.
Their story took a better turn when the university adopted Expedient Enterprise Cloud and started migrating its most challenging workload. Their success enabled a more efficient and cost-effective digital transformation which replaced technical debt with modern solutions.
A constant, unwelcome guest in the digital transformation era refuses to leave: ransomware. This digital villain continues to adapt and grow despite years of battle. Although there have been a number of alerts and updates about ransomware, enterprises are still finding it difficult to ward off these threats.
As the world moves towards a digital future, network security is more important than ever. In an ideal network infrastructure setting, a single firewall would be enough to protect business assets from external threats. However, as technology progresses and attackers become more advanced, these security measures need to evolve in depth and flexibility.
The era of digital transformation has completely changed the way we work, with remote work and cloud-based applications becoming the new normal. No longer are users and applications confined to physical data centers in office spaces. This traditional setup has given way to a new landscape of hybrid workforces, home offices, and geographically-dispersed headquarters. While these changes have improved digital flexibility, they have also brought new and obvious challenges to network security.
The fields of science and IT are constantly evolving. Just when we get comfortable, things change, forcing us to create new theories that drive new ways of doing things. For example, before the germ theory of disease was developed in the late 19th century, doctors thought disease was spread by miasma or “bad air.” Sounds ludicrous, but this was a reality at one time.
There are IT practices and methodologies that appear just as outlandish today. For instance, remember the practice of backhauling all internet traffic to the corporate data center via expensive MPLS lines and VPNs? With the advent of cloud services, routing traffic to the corporate network seemed as absurd as the idea of a flat earth.
Some secrets are worth keeping, but we’re here to spill the beans on reliable, secure network connectivity for fixed retail locations. Overall, the retail industry has some of the most advanced data centers and hybrid cloud networks within today’s IT landscape. But the corporate center is not where the majority of business operations take place as many retail transactions occur at the outer edge. Some of these edge locations are more remote than others, yet they still rely on the same level of network connectivity. Overall, retail edge locations face unique connectivity challenges that urban, metro, and suburban locations simply do not. These challenges include:
With generative text programs and image generators doing things many never thought possible, many industry leaders have focused on the application of AI technologies in content creation. Unfortunately, there is a darker application for artificial intelligence technologies. Ultimately, these complex systems are tools, and – like any tool – they can do a lot of damage in the wrong hands. In no place is that truer than in the practice of cybersecurity.
Do you trust your network? Performance may be in an optimal place, and workplace operations are thankful for that. But what about security? ‘Zero Trust’ is a practice every IT leader and decision maker should be educated on as more and more organizations have realized that all attacks don’t originate from the other side of the firewall. Attacks can be launched from anywhere, including within the network itself. Network administrators must always operate under the assumption that their network has already been breached. And sadly, for some reading this article, that may be the case.
With so much to offer, Cisco DNA Center is the ultimate network management platform for any enterprise. This all-inclusive solution provides users with a variety of tools that integrate into their networks and enable functions such as automation, virtualization, and security. Additionally, it helps simplify complex hybrid architectures across multiple campuses or remote branches while also providing connectivity solutions for IoT devices. By utilizing this sophisticated system at its core, businesses have access to an unprecedented level of control over their digital infrastructure. Keep reading to discover this solution’s eight key benefits and how it solves network challenges for your business.
