Data Center Networking
Article | July 5, 2023
Asia stands out as home to a handful of telcos busy building an international business out of selling their internally developed IT platforms. Leading the way are Jio in India, Japan’s Rakuten and Singapore operator Singtel.
Having built their own businesses, they are now selling their platforms to support new 5G business models for enterprises and other operators. In the case of Singtel, this means its 5G multi-access edge computing (MEC) services, based on Paragon, its orchestration platform for enterprise services.
Manoj Prasanna Kumar, Head of Enterprise Platforms at Singtel, who is responsible for the Paragon platform, discusses in this article the company’s enterprise service ambitions, how it’s partnering with global enterprise software vendors and the obstacles it still sees to 5G B2B service uptake.
Paragon, which falls under the telco’s DigitalInfraCo arm, aims to give enterprises “a single pane of glass that provides an end-to-end view and control of the network, the edge and the application ecosystem,” says Manoj. “It opens up the edge to the enterprise world, allowing them to deploy either their own applications or applications from Singtel's ecosystem.”
Launched last year, Paragon also lets telcos orchestrate end-to-end 5G enterprise networking services in combination with applications from software and cloud computing partners. Paragon’s application partners include Amazon Web Services, Intel, Microsoft and SAP, and the platform is available to every 5G enterprise user within the Singtel Group.
Singtel’s bet is that a growing number of enterprises will need a tightly intertwined combination of 5G connectivity and cloud computing on the edge to run specific vertical applications.
“Our strategy is to become a super aggregator of MEC,” says Manoj. “We focus on high throughput, low latency use cases, such as video analytics or streaming, mixed reality and virtual reality which pump data into the back-end applications and where the decision-making cannot afford even a few milliseconds of extra latency.”
In addition to Paragon, Singtel Group’s investments in 5G infrastructure and service delivery include a national 5G standalone (SA) network, covering more than 95% of Singapore, and international investment in data centers to support cloud computing on the network edge. Today, there are signs that its investments in 5G enterprise services are starting to bear fruit. In the second half of the 2022/23 financial year, which ended on 31 March, Singtel reported that higher demand for technology solutions and 5G services contributed to ICT revenue growth of 11%, with ICT revenues contributing 23% of Singtel Group’s overall enterprise revenue.
Singtel scored a notable win for the Enterprise 5G offering powered by Paragon platform last year when Silicon manufacturer Micron said it would deploy it and Singtel’s 5G campus network infrastructure to support its smart manufacturing operations. Micron is using Singtel’s solution to help manage and analyze its manufacturing processes for enhanced efficiency. Likewise, Singtel recently announced Hyundai as another customer for their Enterprise 5G offering powered by the Paragon platform to deliver digital twin for their electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Singapore for advanced manufacturing operations.
Nonetheless, Manoj recognizes that challenges remain when it comes to growing the 5G enterprise business. “5G and edge in Singapore have had quite a good start. But I would say we've got a long way to go,” he says.
Convincing customers
One of the biggest obstacles is generating customer demand. After all, just because enterprises are able to set 5G connectivity parameters on demand or use MEC for 5G applications at the click of a button doesn’t mean they see a reason to do so.
“Many customers don't have a lot of awareness of how edge computing can really transform their business and how a few milliseconds of latency can actually save money for them, make them more efficient, and reduce errors and so on,” says Manoj.
This reality has shaped Singtel’s sales process. “We spend quite a lot of time in raising awareness amongst customers,” he explains. “We never start with what 5G can do. Instead, we focus on understanding their challenges, their current processes, what gaps there are, and…start with applications that can help solve their problems.”
Another challenge is a lack of 5G-native devices. “This puts us in a very tough spot because when we go and connect devices to wi-fi hotspots, and then use 5G as backhaul, customers often ask ‘isn't this similar to wi fi? Why do I need 5G?’” He adds: “It will be a bit of a roadblock…for all telcos until the 5G-native device ecosystem matures.”
There is also a need for software applications that can perform optimally on 5G and the edge, and switch between network slices with different payloads. “There is a little bit of hand holding required when we bring in an ISV to qualify their application so that it can benefit from all the capabilities of 5G and the edge,” says Manoj.
And then there are the engineering challenges associated with orchestration. Paragon sets out to automate much of the orchestration and management capabilities that make it possible to request quality of service on demand for specific applications and use cases. But here again, success is dependent on close partnerships with third parties.
“Strategic partnerships with Ericsson on the network side and with Intel, Microsoft and AWS help us boost the infrastructure and the application side to stitch together the network and the infrastructure capabilities,” explains Manoj.
Choosing your vertical
Singtel is currently targeting three strategic verticals: manufacturing, public safety and urban planning. Its choice reflects the opportunities in both Singapore and the domestic markets of members of the Singtel Group.
“In Singapore, we are lucky because both enterprises and the government are very, very future-looking and invest quite a lot in adopting new technology,” says Manoj. In particular, “public sector customers are more motivated to explore something new because they carry the digital footprint of the country,” he says.
And because governments operate public safety and urban planning systems at a national level, the promises are on enough scale to spur third parties to invest in developing devices and software applications. Typical public safety use cases include video analytics, surveillance systems and robotics applications; urban planning covers systems such as traffic management.
Some of the enterprise applications Singtel sees gaining traction include immersive B2B2C content, such as delivering real-time analytics to gamers via a 360-degree video feed or mixed reality applications to train factory workers on how to troubleshoot to use complex equipment. “If they need an augmented overlay of information through the camera feeds then they need 5G and edge because a lag will make users nauseous,” explains Manoj. Other promising use cases include autonomous drones and robots.
Singtel has drawn on standard APIs, including TM Forum’s Open APIs, CAMARA APIs to build Paragon. Manoj encourages both technology standardization and collaboration with hyperscalers and software vendors to grow the enterprise market.
“Telcos should be embracing tech players as partners, seeing them as catalysts of more pull through on their services,” says Manoj. “When you partner with them, you expose your services on the hyperscale infrastructure, you naturally work with developers, which allows telcos to expand the services market.”
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Wireless, 5G
Article | May 18, 2023
We are surrounded by acronyms and buzzwords in technology. SD-WAN is one that is often used in the industry nowadays.
Organizations embrace digital transformation to stay up with market developments, consumer needs, and competitiveness. Traditional network designs weren't meant to manage digital transformation workloads and complexity. Business-critical services are commonly spread over numerous clouds, compromising network performance, particularly at branch sites.
Smart network operations teams opt for SD-WAN. SD-WAN reduces overhead and improves network performance. Routing and hardware expenses are saved through SD-WAN solutions while allowing multi-cloud access. SD-WAN also reduces overhead and supports new digital apps and services. This new technology streamlines WAN administration and operation and brings corporate advantages.
Business Challenges that SD-WAN Addresses
There has been a dramatic increase in the pressure on the network as a result of digitalization. Businesses must now rely on a stable and secure network, which conventional router-based network topologies are incapable of providing. An SD-WAN solution assists businesses in addressing use cases in order to expedite digital transformation efforts, lower cybersecurity risks, and increase revenue.
Eases connectivity with far-flung factories and offices.
Effectively deploys new sites and minimizes network equipment sprawl.
Enhances the speed of file transfer and backups to disaster recovery facilities.
Helps in moving applications to the cloud and protecting cloud app. data using Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).
Safeguards IoT devices using a zero-trust network
Helps in complying with the cybersecurity framework of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Ways SD-WAN Can Help Businesses Boost their Bottom Line
Boosts Security
Digital transformation is a double-edged sword. It can increase consumer satisfaction and market reach, but can pose security threats. According to the U.S. State of Cybercrime study, 41% of respondents stated more cybersecurity occurrences in 2017. The good news is that many SD-WAN solutions provide built-in security. Most SD-WAN systems only offer basic firewall and VPN functionalities, requiring IT teams to add security to elastic and dynamic SD-WAN connections after the fact. SD-WAN solutions with NGFW, IPS, encryption, AV, and sandboxing can avoid data loss, downtime, regulatory violations, and legal liability.
Enables Cloud Usage
Cloud services are rapidly being used by businesses. The great news is that SD-WAN enables direct cloud access at the remote branch, removing backhauling traffic – which routes all cloud and branch office traffic through the data center – allowing workers to directly access cloud applications irrespective of location without burdening the core network with additional traffic to manage and secure. Furthermore, SD-WAN enhances cloud application performance by prioritizing vital business apps and allowing branches to interact directly with the Internet.
Reduces Costs
As businesses deploy a growing number of cloud-based services, the volume of data traveling across a WAN rises dramatically, driving up operational expenses. SD-WAN, thankfully, can minimize this cost by utilizing low-cost local Internet connectivity, offering direct cloud access, and lowering traffic via the backbone WAN. According to an IDC poll (prediction), over a quarter of survey respondents anticipate SD-WAN cost reductions of up to 39%, with the other two-thirds anticipating more modest savings of 5–19%.
Improves performance
Data transfer over a network isn't created equal. Fortunately, SD-WAN can be set up to prioritize business-critical traffic and real-time services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and then successfully guide it over the most efficient path. IT teams can help decrease packet loss and latency concerns by supporting important applications over dependable, high-performance connections, increasing employee productivity and morale. This is business-impacting performance.
Closing Note
Indeed, SD-WAN evolved and flourished in the data center over the first few years of development. However, the time has arrived to take it seriously as a tool for managing your wide area network. There are currently several vendors on the market, as well as several mature solutions to choose from. More significantly, the business cases for SD-WAN are expanding on a daily basis.
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Unified Communications, Network Security
Article | July 10, 2023
With the emergence of new technologies, the networking field is transforming rapidly. The epicenter of networking has shifted to clouds from datacenters. Similarly, the focus of networking has also moved towards mobile devices. In the upcoming years, tech trends will hugely impact the way a business operates and bring the rise of Industry 4.0.
Top Networking Tech Trends
1. 5G and WI-FI 6
Undoubtedly, the deployment of next-generation wireless networking will be around the corner. In the arena of mobile devices, 5G is set to rewrite the new technological possibilities. It will uncover the true power of augmented reality and IoT.
On the other hand, the next journey of the WI-FI Standard - WI-FI 6 or 802.11ax will become the step for a non-stop innovative world. It will add density, flexibility, scalability, and efficiency for increasing the internet speed of multiple connected devices. That will in return improve the working capabilities of businesses.
2. SD-WAN
As the name suggested, SD-WAN is the software-defined approach for managing WANs. It can lower operating costs while amplifying the usage of resources in multiple deployments. It increases the security level for applications and enables admin to use bandwidth efficiently. It will become the standard format for wide area networks and will help in connecting public cloud resources and branch offices.
3. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
SASE is a new networking technology that converges functions of different security and network solutions into one global cloud service. It is an architectural alteration of networking and security that supports IT to offer prompt, holistic, and versatile service to the digital business. It amplifies the security postures, improves access performance, and diminishes operational complexity. It helps organizations to develop new products faster and respond to business needs or changes.
4. IoT/Edge Networking
In comparison to traditional cloud computing, edge computing is the idea to bring data and computers much closer to the end-users. It reduces the need for long-distance communication among client and server, and lessen the cost of bandwidth. It will remain to achieve drift in companies while they decentralize their networks.
5. Automation in Networking
Network automation is the process that automates security and network to maximize the functionality and efficiency of the network. It will help IT companies to deploy applications faster. It is set to take the digital transformation to the next step by automation of network and security operations. It reduces the risk of downtime and failure of the network while making the management faster, simpler, and easier.
Connecting to Future Networking
Based on the trends that will reshape the networking world, we are going to see a significant change in the tech landscape. 2021 will be transformative for every person around the world. Several long-held concepts and infrastructure will be replaced by new ones making the network a vital asset to the business. Besides, the organizations are ready to take advantage of them in a way that was never imagined before. For any question or concern, have an IT consultation from the experienced.
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Network Infrastructure, Network Management
Article | July 10, 2023
Enhance your network monitoring and management expertise. Learn from the industry-recognized network monitoring certifications and courses to boost your career potential with advanced solutions.
As the demand for robust and secure networks continues to rise, organizations seek professionals with specialized network monitoring and management skills. Individuals can pursue industry-recognized certifications that validate their expertise and provide a competitive edge to demonstrate proficiency in this field. This article presents a curated list of the top 10 network monitoring certifications. These network monitoring and management certifications cover various technologies, methodologies, and tools, equipping professionals with the knowledge to monitor, optimize, and secure network infrastructures effectively.
1. AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty
The AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty course is an essential credential for network monitoring experts seeking to excel in cloud-based environments. It validates expertise in designing and maintaining network architectures within the AWS product portfolio. This is one of the best network certifications for individuals with at least five years of hands-on experience in implementing complex networking solutions. Completing this course will enhance your understanding of advanced network architectures, interconnectivity options, routing, high-availability connectivity solutions, and network security features. The certification exam requires a solid grasp of AWS technology, scripting development, and automation tools. Opting for this course will equip you with the necessary skills to implement cloud initiatives and meet the organizations' networking challenges.
2. GIAC Continuous Monitoring Certification (GMON)
Enhance the ability to detect intrusions and safeguard the network against anomalous activity with GIAC Continuous Monitoring (GMON) certification. As one of the top network monitoring certifications designed for experts to validate proficiency in defensible security architecture, continuous diagnostics and security monitoring, it will offer readers core knowledge of security architecture, endpoint security, and network monitoring. CyberLive testing ensures both theoretical knowledge and hands-on expertise for this certification. You will be able to improve your organization's security posture and respond more quickly to threats with the GMON certification. Technical managers, SOC analysts, and CND analysts must opt for the course to enhance their knowledge of implementing best network monitoring solutions and demonstrate the measures for threat protection.
3. CompTIA Network+
Learn from CompTIA Network+ skills to become a successful network engineer and security practitioner. It is one of the leading IT networking certifications that equips professionals with the skills to troubleshoot, configure, and manage networks on any platform, making it highly versatile and applicable to various environments. Completing this course and attaining the certification can enhance IT infrastructure and improve network management. CompTIA Network+ prepares you to support networks on any platform, unlike other vendor-specific network certifications. This certification is valuable for network monitoring experts looking to enhance networking fundamentals, implementations, operations, and security. Moreover, for those new to the industry, achieving this certification can open up job opportunities as a business analyst, systems administrator, MSP personnel, data center manager, IT server technician, data architect, or network security specialist.
4. PRTG Network Monitoring Course with LAB
The PRTG Network Monitoring Course with LAB is a comprehensive training program designed for network monitoring experts seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge in deploying and managing the PRTG tool. The industry experts will be able to deploy the tool and monitor all infrastructure, including network, server and applications. It is one of the best network monitoring courses that will help you learn about IT operations management solutions that allow monitoring proactively. By opting for this course, readers will benefit from 6-5 hours of practical and condensed knowledge, immediate access to videos and files, Q&A support, downloadable installation media, and valuable links and resources. Overall, the course offers three benefits: rapid detection of network issues and identification of who needs to fix it, better allocation of IT resources with network monitoring, and providing baseline data for automatic data comparison.
5. ManageEngine OPManager Plus Network Monitoring Course
This is one of the top network certification courses that trains individuals to monitor the network for performance storage, bandwidth, configuration changes, compliance and security. MachineEngine OPManager Plus is a complete course offering lab material to download. The uniquely designed course includes all key elements to understand the process of practicing VMware Workstation lab. It is a seven hours, thirty minutes course combined with practical and condensed knowledge. You will be given immediate access once you enroll for the course to collect videos, files and downloadable installation media. The required skill set to opt for the OPManager training video includes basic knowledge of Ethernet TCP/IP and the basics of Windows servers. Network monitoring experts can build a LAB-like real network through this course, analyze dashboards and graphs, and configure NCM and NTA modules.
6. Ultimate PRTG Network Monitoring with Full Lab GNS3
Learn to monitor network devices, applications, servers, and cloud and deploy custom sensors with the Ultimate PRTG network monitoring with a full lab GNS3 certification course. The course begins with an overview of PRTG's main features, covering important concepts like sensors and sensor states, as well as licensing information. It also guides participants in preparing their IT infrastructure for monitoring and provides recommendations for PRTG hardware and operating systems. This ensures a solid foundation before diving into the advanced aspects of PRTG. Opting for this course will help you delve into advanced PRTG sensors, including custom, receiver, and aggregate sensors. It will allow one to explore how to set up custom SNMP sensors, custom script sensors, and flow sensors. The course also focuses on monitoring specific areas of infrastructure, such as virtualization environments, enabling participants to gain expertise in administering PRTG effectively.
7. Network Monitoring Basics
Network Monitoring basics is a course designed to learn how to use network monitoring, it helps you gain ground level base knowledge and guides you on where to start. This course, led by expert instructor Josh Werner, equips beginners entering the networking industry with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize network monitoring tools. Participants will gain practical expertise in using these open-source solutions for efficient network monitoring and management with a focus on popular software such as Wireshark, Zabbix, Nagios, OpenNMS, Obiko, and NetDisco. This certification is ideal for those seeking to establish a strong foundation in network monitoring, enabling them to monitor and optimize their network infrastructure effectively. By mastering these in-demand skills, learners will be equipped to make informed decisions and ensure the smooth operation of their networks.
8. Network Monitoring Using Nagios
Monitoring infrastructure equipment using Nagios requires training and acquiring the necessary techniques. The 'Network Monitoring Using Nagios Course' enables network monitoring experts to delve into knowledge related to Nagios deployment and configurations within IT infrastructure. To opt for the course, one must fulfil the basic requirements, including familiarity with Linux basic commands and networking essentials. Both network and system administrators, as well as IT students, can benefit from this highly regarded networking certification. The Network Monitoring Using Nagios course consists of three sections and spans two hours and four minutes. It is divided into eleven lectures covering crucial aspects of Nagios implementation and operation.
9. Junos, Associate (JNCIA-Junos)
Junos, Associate (JNCIA-Junos) course is one of the most valuable IT networking certifications for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of Juniper Networks Junos OS. This certification is suitable for individuals with beginner to intermediate networking expertise. The JNCIA-Junos exam evaluates your understanding of the core functionalities of Junos OS, serving as a foundational certification for various tracks, including enterprise routing and switching and service provider routing and switching. By opting for this certification, candidates understand Junos OS comprehensively, enabling them to configure and troubleshoot Juniper devices effectively. The course covers essential topics such as routing protocols, switching concepts, security features, and network management
10. CCNA certification
The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification is a credential that enhances your expertise in navigating the dynamic world of IT. This certification encompasses a comprehensive range of topics, including networking fundamentals, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability. It equips professionals with the skills to effectively manage and optimize advanced networks prevalent in today's technology landscape. The CCNA training course provides a solid foundation for individuals seeking to advance their careers in network monitoring. It caters to network administrators, technicians, and other IT professionals involved in network operations and support. Additionally, as a CCNA-certified expert, you become part of a renowned community recognized for maintaining the highest standards of excellence in networking.
Key Takeaway
The recommended network monitoring certifications discussed in this article provide valuable insights and guidance for networking experts in the B2B sector. These resources cover various aspects of monitoring network performance, enhancing network visibility, and addressing security concerns. By delving into these monitoring courses, professionals can gain a deeper understanding of effective network performance monitoring techniques, ensuring optimal visibility across their infrastructure. With the ever-evolving networking landscape, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices is crucial for maintaining a high-performing network. These courses offer industry-relevant knowledge and empower networking experts to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to a robust and efficient network infrastructure.
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