Dear All,
I have been looking after IT Network for 3-4 years now. I have been thinking about this for a while and wanted to discuss this in group. I dont have many friends around who are IT savvy unfortunately, only few colleagues.
So, I thought I would start this discussion here and request you to share your ideas here on ' IT Network challenges in the next five years '. Here are some of my thoughts/ seaching via google -
Flexibility vs. Security -
Network security has had to adapt increasingly quickly, in order to keep up with the new ways that users and back-end systems work.
Mobility and variety are currently on the increase at both sides of the enterprise network. At the outer edge, users are operating a
growing range of hand-held computing devices. At the inner edge, virtualised servers, new storage devices (NAS and SAN), and data
backup mechanisms are replacing what used to be a simple cluster of static servers. Both user needs and business needs are adding
new requirements to the list of features that a network must support.
New personal computing devices, with modern operating systems and brand new capabilities, are materialising at an exponential rate.
Almost as quickly as a new technology is invented – even one that previously seemed like fantasy, for example making a video call
wirelessly while walking around a building – it becomes a necessity. The era of static desk-bound PCs, running a prescribed OS image
and a prescribed set of applications, has passed. The enterprise network must now be a more open platform.
This flexibility in end-point devices and applications brings security risks. Contemporary operating systems and data traffic allow
the possibility of unique forms of viruses and cyber-attacks. In the highly competitive mobile device market, software is rushed into
production as quickly as possible, further increasing the risk of security flaws being introduced.
The act of lifting restrictions on which devices can attach to the network also greatly increases the opportunities for rogue users to
gain access. In the era of static desk-bound PCs, it was relatively straight-forward to create lists of allowed devices, and thereby deny
connection to anything else. But, now that network users, and even network guests, can connect the devices of their choice, the
process of authentication is a lot more challenging.
Flexibility at the inner edge is not quite as security-threatening as that at the outer edge. However, the mobility of virtual servers, and
of storage, necessitates more advanced traffic filtering methods.
Additionally, virtual servers and/or their data are increasingly being mirrored to offsite locations for disaster recovery. This introduces
yet another piece to the network security puzzle.
Cost vs. Capability
New applications drive requirements for new capabilities within the network infrastructure:
- Multimedia applications require enhancements to network QoS, and the introduction of multicasting protocols.
- High-performance applications, for example high-definition video, high-end CAD and graphics applications, require enhancements
to network bandwidth.
- New end-point devices such as Wireless APs, VoIP phones, and surveillance cameras require the introduction of PoE and
autoconfiguration protocols – for example LLDP-MED.
- Migration to IPv6 requires the introduction of new protocols into the network.
- The amalgamation of new services onto shared network infrastructure requires IP virtualisation features such as VRF-lite.
- The introduction of e-commerce and other uptime-critical functions requires improved resiliency within the network
infrastructure.
The more functions that converge onto the network, the more capable the network must be. However, enhancing network capability
does not come cheap:
- New hardware needs to be introduced to increases bandwidth and PoE.
- New software releases need to be rolled out onto existing hardware, to provide the required new features.
- Configurations on the existing infrastructure need to be updated, to turn on new protocols.
- Cabling needs to be altered, to provide aggregated links or to upgrade to higher-spec cable types.
- Experts need to be hired to manage the more complex feature sets operating in the network.
Within most industries there is a drive to reduce the total cost of ownership of network infrastructure. So, IT staff must find ways to
provide and maintain an increasingly capable network on a static or reducing budget.
Reliability vs. Growth
Networks are growing not just in complexity, but also in size. As more and more functions converge onto data networks, the number
of devices attached to the network grows, and therefore the number of switching and routing nodes in the network must also grow.
Organizations need to attach more and more of their operations onto the data network – remote locations need connections into
central sites; even locations with no staff need network links for surveillance cameras and/or environmental monitoring, and/or control
of automated devices.
With growth comes more points of failure. More nodes to fail = more links to fail.
As a rule, the more remote the location of a failure, the longer it takes to resolve. This is particularly problematic for remote sites that
have a number of affected staff, but no IT specialist on-site.
For global organizations, remote locations can be in other countries, or on other continents. Maintaining reliable operation of a globally
distributed network, that is supporting multiple important functions, is a challenging feat.
I would be much obliged if you could add some more ideas with this.
Best regards,
Sheikh
