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How to Increase Network Security with SD-WAN

Network security today is losing the battle and a lot of it is blamed upon the traditional security devices. Imagine running next-gen IT Infrastructure secured by security tools made to secure legacy IT.Data breaches have increased substantially and IT professionals are continuously looking at new ways to improve their network security. In this scenario, SD-WAN emerges as one formidable option to implementthat will bolster your network security.
 

Table of Contents:
- What is SD-WAN?
- How does SD-WAN work?
- What are the main benefits of SD_WAN to network security?
- What are the other advantages of SD-WAN?

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Let’s dig into it.

What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN stands for software-defined wide area network (or networking). A WAN is a connection between local area networks (LANs) separated by a substantial distance—anything from a few miles to thousands of miles. The term software-defined implies the WAN is programmatically configured and managed. So, it can be easily adapted quickly to meet changing needs.


How does SD-WAN work?
An SD-WAN connects end users to virtually any application, hosted at any location (e.g., in the public cloud or a company data center), via the best available or most feasible transport service, whether that’s an MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), broadband, cellular or even satellite internet link. To deliver this level of flexibility and performance to users in digital workspaces, an SD-WAN utilizes a control function that continuously analyzes traffic flows across the WAN and intelligently directs traffic in accordance with current policies.

Centralized control
The primary means of control in an SD-WAN is centralized. It often resides in a SaaS application running on a public cloud. Control is decoupled from the hardware to simplify network management and improve the delivery of services. SD-WAN appliances (and virtual appliances) follow operational rules passed down from the central controller. This greatly reduces or eliminates the need to manage gateways and routers on an individual basis.

Multi-connection, multi-transport
SD-WAN gateways support hybrid WAN, which implies that each gateway can have multiple connections using different transports—MPLS, broadband Internet, LTE, etc. A virtual private network (VPN) is typically set up across each WAN connection for security. Consequently, the SD-WAN can be an overlay spanning a diverse communications infrastructure.

Dynamic path selection
Another feature of SD-WAN is dynamic path selection—the ability to automatically and selectively route traffic onto one WAN link or another depending on network conditions or traffic characteristics. Packets may be steered onto a particular link because another link is down or not working very well, or to balance network traffic across all available links. SD-WAN can also identify packets by application, user, source/destination, etc. and send them down one path or another based on those characteristics.

Policy-based management
Policy is what determines where dynamic path selection will steer traffic and what level of priority (quality of service, or QoS) it is given. Business intentions can be implemented as policies via the central management console. New and updated policies are translated into operational rules and downloaded to all SD-WAN gateways and routers under control.

For example, to ensure the best performance for VoIP and interactive web conferences, a policy may be created by giving their packets transmission priority and routing them onto low-latency paths. Cost savings can be realized by sending file back-ups across a broadband Internet connection. WAN traffic that requires a high level of security can be restricted to private connections (e.g., MPLS) between sites and required to pass through a robust security stack when entering the enterprise.

Service chaining
SD-WAN has the ability chain itself together with other network services. WAN optimization (acceleration) is often combined with SD-WAN to improve network and application performance. Internet traffic leaving and entering a branch office may be routed across a VPN to a cloud-base security service to strike a balance between performance, security, and cost.

Read more: GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SD-WAN: FEATURES YOU NEED TO START USING TODAY

What are the main benefits of SD_WAN to network security?

Eliminate VPN concerns

One of the first areas in which SD-WAN impacts security is when a company uses the internet as a method of transport.

 

Before SD-WAN came along and companies were using internet as a backup or even a primary transport method, they would build a VPN or a DMVPN to ensure secure transport of their traffic. This introduces a couple of issues, the first of which is this proliferation of VPNs that has to be managed. The company must have firewalls sitting at their data center, along with a VPN device or firewall sitting in the remote locations to be able to do these VPNs. Every site is dependent on the effort to be up on the network.

- Hamza Seqqat, Director of Solutions Architecture, Apcela


Failover is an issue with this VPN approach, he said. Companies can’t seamlessly failover from a fiber-based type of transport without having to strike some keys in between. It's hard and expensive to do seamless failover.

“Now you don't have to have firewalls for VPNs. You don't have to worry about building your own VPNs or encrypting your traffic,” Seqqat said. “Every SD-WAN product comes with a controller that takes care of things seamlessly. That means there is this smart software-defined engine that builds all these IPsec tunnels between all the locations as soon as you plug the device in. You're not actually having to build a VPN—the controller does it automatically for you, so all you have to do is give the device an IP address or enable DHCP and let it pick an IP address from the DHCP server. Suddenly it's on the network and its building tunnels to all the sites.”

He added that the SD-WAN controller builds a full mesh, so it can talk to every one of the sites without having to go back to the data center. This feature alone can reduce a company’s security footprint significantly because the site-to-site traffic becomes secure, easy, and seamless.

Reduce traffic going through security

A second significant benefit of SD-WAN that impacts security strategy is that it reduces the amount of traffic that needs to go through security parameters because all site-to-site traffic is encrypted. This makes security a bit easier to manage.“For a lot of companies, when they do VPNs for site-to-site traffic, they have to go through firewalls or some kind of encryption mechanism, and that increases their security footprint. It increases the complexity and the cost of security,” Seqqat said. “SD-WAN changes how traffic is routed through security.”

Seqqat gave an example of a site that has a gig worth of bandwidth, and out of that gig of bandwidth, some traffic goes to the internet and some goes to site-to-site.

“Without SD-WAN, generally you would have to run that whole gig through a firewall, and the firewall will split the traffic into what goes to the data center and what goes to the internet,” he said. “When you do SD-WAN, you don't have to do that. You can separate the traffic at the SD-WAN with a split tunnel, so you take half of the traffic and push it through the firewall to go to the internet and the other half goes straight site-to-site without having to go through a security parameter. Now you have a firewall to handle 500 megs as opposed to a gig, and that makes a huge difference because most security products are based on throughput and utilization. So, that can bring some cost benefits and ease management as well.”

Security inherent to SD-WAN

A third area where SD-WAN changes security strategy is the fact that certain security features can be implemented directly through the SD-WAN platform, which reduces costs and complexity in the actual security platform.

“This depends on what aspects of security you're talking about,” Seqqat said. “For example, security is included in the Silverpeak SD-WAN product, so the Silverpeak devices really do most of the security for you. You don't have to deploy another firewall on top of that. With Versa’s SD-WAN, you can virtualize the firewall, so there’s no need to deploy physical firewalls.”

For sites that simply need very basic security, SD-WAN has some inherent security capabilities. It can do things such as allow and deny certain sites and limit traffic that goes to certain sites.

 

When you look at most SD-WAN products, you can usually kind of steer toward one or another based on your security requirements. Deploying SD-WAN in itself can really eliminate the need for security at several locations or extend the security you have been using.

- Hamza Seqqat, Director of Solutions Architecture, Apcela


Simplify use of security platforms

In his final point, Seqqat said SD-WAN providers are making a lot of progress in partnering with both cloud security providers and cloud service providers. By making traffic encrypted and secure via SD-WAN, security platforms will only have to deal with public internet traffic.

“SD-WAN providers are really working towards partnering and certifying different security products,” he said. “Consider Zscaler as an example. Some SD-WAN products automatically route all your traffic through Zscalar, which does a cloud-based security parameter before it goes out to the internet or to cloud service providers.”

Seqqat said the most important part comes in the fact that Zscalar is distributed across 35 or 40 data centers that are all security parameters.

“Making that routing decision as to what data center your traffic goes through before it goes out to the Internet is extremely important to performance,” he said. “If your Office 365 instance is hosted in Seattle and your users in Europe are trying to reach that, which Zscalar data center the traffic is going to go through before it goes through the Seattle instance of O365 makes all the difference in what latency is going to be at round trip.

“SD-WAN provides somewhat of an automation and optimization of how traffic goes through Zscalar data centers based on performance metrics. SD-WAN can pull latency and jitter and packet loss and all that kind of stuff, so there is some intelligence that happens when a routing decision is being made as to where user traffic is going to go for security scrubbing or security features before it goes out to the cloud provider or to the Internet. That’s a huge feature that comes into play whenever you deploy SD-WAN.”

Read more: FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS SD-WAN IS A MIXED BLESSING

What are the other advantages of SD-WAN?

SD-WAN has many advantages when implemented well:

More predictable and reliable application performance, which helps support users in any digital workspace, across all connections. Superior connection security for cloud applications, without the performance tradeoffs of MPLS backhauling. Congestion reduction due to lack of bandwidth or brownouts with aggregation of bandwidth via multiple bonded and disparate or redundant links.

  • More reliable access to apps and fewer slowdowns due to congestion.
  • Resiliency and redundancy with fast failover when outages impact WAN connections.
  • Quality of service for prioritizing business-critical application traffic.
  • Fast deployments that fuel business agility when bringing applications online at a branch office, or simply changing the configurations. Zero-touch provisioning allows fast set up of sites in minutes with local staff instead of hours or days.
  • Reduced network transport costs and more flexibility through the use of MPLS-alternatives like broadband and cellular. Quick procurement of bandwidth from multiple transport services, contrast to the long lead times needed with legacy WAN carrier-based technologies.
  • Simplified administration with a centralized console eliminates the complexity of configuring edge devices in the field.
  • Deep SD-WAN analytics to monitor links for performance characteristics. Analytics benefit administrators who can use them when troubleshooting problems across the WAN.
  • Simpler branch office infrastructure that doesn’t require management of as many single-function devices
  • Intelligent traffic steering and dynamic path selection
  • Integrated security with leading 3rd-party solutions, including those for SaaS security


Conclusion

Interest in SD-WAN among organizations is on the rise, and we hope to see a tremendous rise in its adoption in network security strategies over the next few years. Vendor selection will be one of the factor for successful implementation of SD-WAN, as many are quickly developing new and effective software-defined platforms. An ideal vendor would be the one who effectively addresses your specific pain points and is able to meet your current as well as future requirements.

Read more: SD-WAN SECURITY: THE IMPACT OF ORCHESTRATED SERVICES MULTIPLICITY

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The traditional business ecosystem, data, and stakeholders are unprepared for the considerably more intelligent and ever-changing hackingtechniques. As a result, important and confidential data can get breached and compromised. Payment Barriers Payment transactions are often more complicated, time-consuming, and costly due to the diversity of currencies and parties involved. Blockchain technology promises to make processing payments and other transactions around the world faster, safer, and cheaper by getting rid of the need for mediators like correspondent banks and clearing institutions. Payment barriers are another problem that the adoption of blockchain business models can ease. Shoot-up Your Business Growth with Blockchain Technology Blockchain in business is aiding the transformation of business across industries all around the globe. Blockchain is transforming supply chains, banking and financial services, healthcare, government, retail, and other industries. Here are some statistics that demonstrate blockchain's significance in strengthening industries: The financial sector contributes to around 30% of the market value of blockchain. (Statista) By 2028, the value of blockchain in healthcare will be $1189.8 million. (Vantage Market Research) By 2026, the value of blockchain in agriculture and food will be $1.48 billion. (BIS Research) In 2022, the blockchain market in the manufacturing industry will be worth $85.64 billion. (Globe Newswire) Accelerates Your Business Processes Blockchain is taking a central role in the ongoing digital transformation process. In digital transformation, time is one of the most critical factors that keeps you ahead of the curve. Moreover, business operations that use a blockchain to store and transfer data provide high levels of security. On this basis, you can create completely automated transactions in various business domains. This method is not only dependable and safe, but it is also exceedingly fast. Improves Your Online Security Encryption and validation are two significant advantages of mainstreaming blockchain technology. Every operation and communication that happens online will be encrypted. It protects against data alteration. Due to its distributed nature, you can verify that no one has altered even a bit by checking signatures across all nodes. Blockchain in business will be helpful for storage, private messaging (between companies/clients or friends on social media), safer DNS, and IoT security. Blockchain use in business will enhance cybersecurity, but this transformation won’t happen overnight, it will take years before it impacts the ways in which we use the internet. Eases Online Payments While online transactions are safer than ever, users' data is still at risk. However, this decentralized platform can make payments transparent and tamper-proof in the financial ecosystem. Decentralized blockchain technology protects data. Simply put, it allows you to make payments without a payment processor. Blockchain technology protects financial transactions by removing central points of failure and minimizing errors. This helps in saving time and money. In addition, blockchain technology ensures that transactions remain unaltered and only those involvedcan see the history. A Game-Changer in the Supply Chain & Logistics Anything that can conceive of as a supply chain, blockchain can vastly improve its efficiency - it doesn’t matter if it’s people, numbers, data, money.” - GinniRometty, CEO of IBM. The integration of blockchain simplifies supply chain and logistics work. The blockchain's decentralized nature ensures maximum transparency in every transaction in the supply chain, from raw material purchase and manufacture to distribution and sale of the finished product. At a minimal cost, each transaction can be promptly and readily documented on the blockchain. There are very few risks this way, because the final buyer can track a product's origin along the whole supply chain. Reduces Operational Cost Blockchain-based smart contracts are a boon. Businesses can make and receive online payments through some set guidelines. Brokers, escrow agents, and other intermediaries are excluded through smart contracts. Smart contracts are self-executing programs that safeguard the interests ofall parties. These contracts use unbreakable cryptographic code and automatically implement contract terms. Lastly, smart contracts keep track of all consumer, worker, and stakeholder activities. Many global corporations use smart contracts to perform essential HR and administrative tasks. What Does Blockchain Mean for Entrepreneurs? Blockchain technology is so much more than just a technology used for cryptocurrencies. For a commoner, whenever we talk about blockchain, the first thing they think of is bitcoin or cryptocurrency. However, for businesses and entrepreneurs, blockchain is more than just a cryptocurrency. Let's take a look at the ways in which blockchain technology can empower business leaders. Case Study Blockchaintechnology is being rapidly usedin the logistics industry.The main advantages include higher confidence in the system due to greater transparency, improved product traceability, and cost savings by eliminating manual and paper-based administration. One such example Tradelens, a blockchain-powered open and neutral supply chain network, is one example. It was founded by IBM and Maersk and has expanded to 150 members, including some of the world's largest logistics companies, including CMA CGM, MSC, ONE, and Hapag-Lloyd. In 2020, it claims to have made businesses 15% more efficient by letting them get rid of legacy data systems, manual document processing, and limited visibility. By 2050, it claims to have made them 15% more efficient. Final Thought Blockchain technology is theinevitable future, and its use is no longer restricted to crypto transactions. In the coming years, blockchain development solutions will be used ineCommerce marketplace, peer-to-peer financial transactions, content distribution, healthcare data exchanges, supply chain, and customer services. Blockchain applications are no more the pie-in-the-sky dreams of early adopters. This technology has the potential to revolutionize practically every sector and solve your company's greatest challenges. Smart and strategic use of new technologies, can make your company more secure, transparent, and ready for whatever comes next. FAQ What Is the Impact of BlockchainTechnology on Business Models? Blockchain implementations can minimize transaction costs such as negotiation and search expenses and eliminate intermediary costs. This means that by 2022, blockchain technology is expectedto cut costs in the financial sector by$15–$20. What Is the Size of theBlockchainMarket? The global blockchain market was valued at $1.57 billion in 2018 and is expected to more than triple to 163 billion USD by 2027. What Does BlockchainMean for Business? A blockchain is a digital record of who owns what, and it is constantly updated. The time, date, dollar amount, and participants in a transaction are encrypted into a "block" that is connected to other blocks to create a chain.

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5G

Singtel delivers a model for future 5G and edge connectivity

Article | September 28, 2023

5G is a little higher at 3.4GHz to 3.6GHz, but that's tiny when you consider that microwaves go up to 300GHz. And visible light comes in at a range of around 430THz to 770THz. That's more than a thousand times higher than the maximum microwave – and 100,000 higher than 5G. Dangerous radiation, like UV rays, X-rays and gamma rays are also far higher up the spectrum still. Early theories suggested 5G could lead to cancer – and now crackpots have linked it to coronavirus too. But it's simply impossible for 5G to cause any of these problems. Radiation damages cells by breaking them apart, but 5G microwaves simply lack the power to do this. 5G is a low-frequency radiation, far below infrared and visible light. In fact, it's essential that 5G is low-frequency, because higher frequencies are less useful at delivering mobile signals over large areas. We know that this level of radiation is safe, because otherwise the visible light from our televisions would have killed us a long time ago.

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Enterprise Mobility

Upcoming 7 Conferences to Attend in Network Monitoring

Article | June 15, 2023

Before the COVID-19 crisis, the biggest news in tech was the ongoing -- and controversial -- rollout of the 5G network. First, there was the ban on Chinese companies, prohibiting them from being involved with 5G infrastructure in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Then articles started pointing out that the threat profile for 5G was an order of magnitude higher than that of existing telecom protocols. The coronavirus outbreak, though, has forced some analysts to reassess the value of 5G. While security concerns remain, the network has been invaluable in the fight against the pandemic.

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Network Infrastructure, Network Management

Top 10 Network Monitoring and Management Certifications

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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Enterprise Mobility,Mobile OS

MATRIXX Software’s Digital Commerce Platform Available in Microsoft’s Azure Marketplace

MATRIXX | January 27, 2023

5G monetization solutions leader, MATRIXX software, yesterday announced that the MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform (DCP) is now available on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing software and services to be used with the Azure cloud computing platform. MATRIXX DCP, a cloud native monetization platform gives Communications Services Providers (CSPs) a wide range of monetization options, making it simpler to take advantage of 5G revenue prospects. By installing MATRIXX DCP on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), CSPs may take full advantage of the reliable Azure cloud platform's benefits for the vital goal of monetizing new and cutting-edge services. With a no-code, cloud-native, real-time platform, MATRIXX DCP, a 3GPP-compliant converged charging solution, enables telcos to monetize at web scale. With MATRIXX DCP, operators can scale swiftly in the 5G era and beyond, create differentiated digital consumer experiences, and drive innovation. Marc Price, CTO at MATRIXX Software, said, “Multi-cloud deployments are increasingly important for operators around the world, and are defining the next era of telecommunications.” He further added, “MATRIXX empowers our customers to have access to advanced monetization capabilities, wherever they choose to deploy. Microsoft is a trusted cloud ecosystem partner for CSPs, and with MATRIXX DCP in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, telcos can easily procure and deploy monetization capabilities for emerging services.” About MATRIXX Software Matrix Software provides converged charging and commerce solutions. It’s cloud-native Digital Commerce Platform offers mission-critical, network-grade software that opens new prospects for network monetization. MATRIXX gives service providers the agility they need to quickly build, deploy, and monetize new products and services because to its no-code configuration features. Many of the world’s top IoT players, network infrastructure providers, and communications firms run on the MATRIXX platform. Utilizing business innovation and on-demand customer experience through MATRIXX enables businesses to compete better, produce new revenue, and pursue growth possibilities across markets and verticals.

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Wan Technologies,Wireless,5G

AMD and Viettel Collaborate on 5G Mobile Network Expansion

AMD | December 05, 2022

AMD and Viettel High Tech (Member of Viettel Group) today announced the successful completion of a 5G mobile network field trial deployment conducted by Viettel and powered by AMD Xilinx Zynq™ UltraScale+™ MPSoC devices. As the largest telecom operator in Vietnam serving more than 130 million mobile customers, Viettel High Tech has a rich history of using AMD radio technology with prior 4G deployments and is now accelerating new networks via new 5G remote radio heads. Designed to meet the growing capacity and performance requirements of mobile users globally, the Viettel 5G mobile network is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. AMD is the exclusive radio unit silicon supplier for Viettel’s indigenous 5G radio development. After the successful completion of the first field trial, Zynq MPSoCs are now set to be extended to an additional 300 Macro 8T8R base stations and 900 5G 8T8R Macro radios. The Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC was also chosen by Viettel for its first-generation 64T64R Massive MIMO radio which is currently being optimized for field trials. Viettel is developing the next generation of radios to also include Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC devices, to provide industry-leading integration and higher performance. “Viettel is committed to advancing mobile technology leadership by working closely with AMD to incorporate its adaptable SoC technology into our new generation of 5G networks. Going from VHT's history of making 4G BTS, this decision to scale for the growing demands of 5G was based on evaluating various factors including flexibility, simplification, design stability and the experience of engineers.” Nguyen Vu Ha, general director of Viettel High Tech “5G provides new opportunities to offer higher levels of performance, power efficiency and new services along with increased reliability required to meet the growing data demands of cellular networks,” said Yousef Khalilollahi, corporate vice president of APAC sales, Adaptive and Embedded Computing Group, AMD. “We are proud of our close collaboration with Viettel and remain focused on enabling its mobile network to deliver the optimal end-user experience as well as the flexibility to evolve and grow as Viettel’s user base and required bandwidth continue to increase globally.” About Viettel High Tech As the R&D arm of Viettel Group, Viettel High Tech develops full 5G network architecture including 5 layers: Service/App layers, Core layers, Transportation layers, Access layers, Devices; makes Vietnam one of the few countries that can produce 5G equipment. Collaboration with the leading partners is VHT’s strategy. With the desire to experiment, exchange knowledge, further develop diverse fields, VHT is moving to accompany the international high-tech community. About AMD For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible.

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Network Infrastructure,Network Management,Wan Technologies

Verizon continues to deploy 5G Ultra Wideband faster than expected

Verizon | December 06, 2022

Verizon now covers more than 175 million people with their ultra fast, ultra reliable 5G Ultra Wideband service, and will offer nationwide 5G Ultra Wideband in Q1 2023. The ongoing C-Band rollout is a full 13 months ahead of the original schedule, and continues to accelerate. Less than 21 months after announcing the results of the FCC’s C-band auction and after securing early access to an additional 30 markets this year, Verizon accelerated its build plan and surpassed its goal of reaching 175 million people covered by the end of 2022, a month ahead of schedule. “Our customers don’t stand still and neither does our network. Today, more than one out of every two Americans now have access to 5G Ultra Wideband. We know our customers rely on our service every day and we work for them – continuously enhancing, expanding and improving our wireless network. And as proud as I am to have crossed this milestone, I am equally proud of the way we are building our network – with the most advanced technologies, industry leading security, a robust fiber underpinning and a robust and varied spectrum portfolio. We are building this right. We are building this as a platform for innovation for years to come.” Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband brings power and performance comparable to a wired broadband internet connection to customers’ pockets. With download speeds up to one gigabit per second and the capacity to support data-heavy actions, 5G Ultra Wideband frees people up to do things on the go that many could only do before when connected to their home internet service. This includes everything from downloading huge documents and seamlessly streaming movies in HD audio and video, to playing console quality games and conducting video chats, video conferencing and FaceTime calls with clear sound and video. Verizon customers have much more to look forward to Verizon will continue to build out its 5G Ultra Wideband network using C-band spectrum providing service for millions more customers in the coming months, but Verizon’s engineers are not losing sight of the other critical components that will give customers the most reliable, secure, and robust experience possible on the Verizon network. In addition to providing greater coverage, especially in rural and suburban areas, Verizon will also enhance capacity by activating 100 MHz of C-Band spectrum in many markets, a significant step up from the 60 MHz of spectrum available when deployment first began. Once all of its licensed spectrum is made available, Verizon will have up to 200 MHz of C-Band spectrum deployed in many markets, which will provide exceptional speed and capacity. Complementing the wide coverage of Verizon’s premier C-Band spectrum, Verizon will continue deploying 5G on mmWave spectrum which provides for exponential capacity in areas with significantly dense populations such as venues, stadiums, arenas, airports, major metro areas, office complexes and more. mmWave will also continue to be used for private network deployments when enterprise customers need the fastest, most robust 5G service available for their enterprise applications from wireless manufacturing solutions to connected vehicles to remote healthcare and more. In addition to making 5G more accessible to more people, Verizon will continue focusing on building out the advanced technologies that provide increased security, reliability and customized experiences for customers. Those advancements include fully deploying the 5G core with Verizon’s proprietary cloud platform built specifically for telco workloads, advancing the fiber network to handle exponential increases in data traffic, continuing massive virtualization of the network to add programmability and flexibility into the network, using artificial intelligence to drive reliability and performance, continuing to develop edge computing capabilities to drive down latency, and continuing to advance antenna configurations to drive speed and efficiency.

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Enterprise Mobility,Mobile OS

MATRIXX Software’s Digital Commerce Platform Available in Microsoft’s Azure Marketplace

MATRIXX | January 27, 2023

5G monetization solutions leader, MATRIXX software, yesterday announced that the MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform (DCP) is now available on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing software and services to be used with the Azure cloud computing platform. MATRIXX DCP, a cloud native monetization platform gives Communications Services Providers (CSPs) a wide range of monetization options, making it simpler to take advantage of 5G revenue prospects. By installing MATRIXX DCP on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), CSPs may take full advantage of the reliable Azure cloud platform's benefits for the vital goal of monetizing new and cutting-edge services. With a no-code, cloud-native, real-time platform, MATRIXX DCP, a 3GPP-compliant converged charging solution, enables telcos to monetize at web scale. With MATRIXX DCP, operators can scale swiftly in the 5G era and beyond, create differentiated digital consumer experiences, and drive innovation. Marc Price, CTO at MATRIXX Software, said, “Multi-cloud deployments are increasingly important for operators around the world, and are defining the next era of telecommunications.” He further added, “MATRIXX empowers our customers to have access to advanced monetization capabilities, wherever they choose to deploy. Microsoft is a trusted cloud ecosystem partner for CSPs, and with MATRIXX DCP in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, telcos can easily procure and deploy monetization capabilities for emerging services.” About MATRIXX Software Matrix Software provides converged charging and commerce solutions. It’s cloud-native Digital Commerce Platform offers mission-critical, network-grade software that opens new prospects for network monetization. MATRIXX gives service providers the agility they need to quickly build, deploy, and monetize new products and services because to its no-code configuration features. Many of the world’s top IoT players, network infrastructure providers, and communications firms run on the MATRIXX platform. Utilizing business innovation and on-demand customer experience through MATRIXX enables businesses to compete better, produce new revenue, and pursue growth possibilities across markets and verticals.

Read More

Wan Technologies,Wireless,5G

AMD and Viettel Collaborate on 5G Mobile Network Expansion

AMD | December 05, 2022

AMD and Viettel High Tech (Member of Viettel Group) today announced the successful completion of a 5G mobile network field trial deployment conducted by Viettel and powered by AMD Xilinx Zynq™ UltraScale+™ MPSoC devices. As the largest telecom operator in Vietnam serving more than 130 million mobile customers, Viettel High Tech has a rich history of using AMD radio technology with prior 4G deployments and is now accelerating new networks via new 5G remote radio heads. Designed to meet the growing capacity and performance requirements of mobile users globally, the Viettel 5G mobile network is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. AMD is the exclusive radio unit silicon supplier for Viettel’s indigenous 5G radio development. After the successful completion of the first field trial, Zynq MPSoCs are now set to be extended to an additional 300 Macro 8T8R base stations and 900 5G 8T8R Macro radios. The Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC was also chosen by Viettel for its first-generation 64T64R Massive MIMO radio which is currently being optimized for field trials. Viettel is developing the next generation of radios to also include Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC devices, to provide industry-leading integration and higher performance. “Viettel is committed to advancing mobile technology leadership by working closely with AMD to incorporate its adaptable SoC technology into our new generation of 5G networks. Going from VHT's history of making 4G BTS, this decision to scale for the growing demands of 5G was based on evaluating various factors including flexibility, simplification, design stability and the experience of engineers.” Nguyen Vu Ha, general director of Viettel High Tech “5G provides new opportunities to offer higher levels of performance, power efficiency and new services along with increased reliability required to meet the growing data demands of cellular networks,” said Yousef Khalilollahi, corporate vice president of APAC sales, Adaptive and Embedded Computing Group, AMD. “We are proud of our close collaboration with Viettel and remain focused on enabling its mobile network to deliver the optimal end-user experience as well as the flexibility to evolve and grow as Viettel’s user base and required bandwidth continue to increase globally.” About Viettel High Tech As the R&D arm of Viettel Group, Viettel High Tech develops full 5G network architecture including 5 layers: Service/App layers, Core layers, Transportation layers, Access layers, Devices; makes Vietnam one of the few countries that can produce 5G equipment. Collaboration with the leading partners is VHT’s strategy. With the desire to experiment, exchange knowledge, further develop diverse fields, VHT is moving to accompany the international high-tech community. About AMD For more than 50 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible.

Read More

Network Infrastructure,Network Management,Wan Technologies

Verizon continues to deploy 5G Ultra Wideband faster than expected

Verizon | December 06, 2022

Verizon now covers more than 175 million people with their ultra fast, ultra reliable 5G Ultra Wideband service, and will offer nationwide 5G Ultra Wideband in Q1 2023. The ongoing C-Band rollout is a full 13 months ahead of the original schedule, and continues to accelerate. Less than 21 months after announcing the results of the FCC’s C-band auction and after securing early access to an additional 30 markets this year, Verizon accelerated its build plan and surpassed its goal of reaching 175 million people covered by the end of 2022, a month ahead of schedule. “Our customers don’t stand still and neither does our network. Today, more than one out of every two Americans now have access to 5G Ultra Wideband. We know our customers rely on our service every day and we work for them – continuously enhancing, expanding and improving our wireless network. And as proud as I am to have crossed this milestone, I am equally proud of the way we are building our network – with the most advanced technologies, industry leading security, a robust fiber underpinning and a robust and varied spectrum portfolio. We are building this right. We are building this as a platform for innovation for years to come.” Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband brings power and performance comparable to a wired broadband internet connection to customers’ pockets. With download speeds up to one gigabit per second and the capacity to support data-heavy actions, 5G Ultra Wideband frees people up to do things on the go that many could only do before when connected to their home internet service. This includes everything from downloading huge documents and seamlessly streaming movies in HD audio and video, to playing console quality games and conducting video chats, video conferencing and FaceTime calls with clear sound and video. Verizon customers have much more to look forward to Verizon will continue to build out its 5G Ultra Wideband network using C-band spectrum providing service for millions more customers in the coming months, but Verizon’s engineers are not losing sight of the other critical components that will give customers the most reliable, secure, and robust experience possible on the Verizon network. In addition to providing greater coverage, especially in rural and suburban areas, Verizon will also enhance capacity by activating 100 MHz of C-Band spectrum in many markets, a significant step up from the 60 MHz of spectrum available when deployment first began. Once all of its licensed spectrum is made available, Verizon will have up to 200 MHz of C-Band spectrum deployed in many markets, which will provide exceptional speed and capacity. Complementing the wide coverage of Verizon’s premier C-Band spectrum, Verizon will continue deploying 5G on mmWave spectrum which provides for exponential capacity in areas with significantly dense populations such as venues, stadiums, arenas, airports, major metro areas, office complexes and more. mmWave will also continue to be used for private network deployments when enterprise customers need the fastest, most robust 5G service available for their enterprise applications from wireless manufacturing solutions to connected vehicles to remote healthcare and more. In addition to making 5G more accessible to more people, Verizon will continue focusing on building out the advanced technologies that provide increased security, reliability and customized experiences for customers. Those advancements include fully deploying the 5G core with Verizon’s proprietary cloud platform built specifically for telco workloads, advancing the fiber network to handle exponential increases in data traffic, continuing massive virtualization of the network to add programmability and flexibility into the network, using artificial intelligence to drive reliability and performance, continuing to develop edge computing capabilities to drive down latency, and continuing to advance antenna configurations to drive speed and efficiency.

Read More

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