Software-Defined Networks Support Future-Proof Connectivity

Organizations are broadening their healthcare networks to reach out beyond the confines of the facility. In order to do this successfully there needs to be more visibility and control over the network, and many organizations are turning to software-defined networking gain more control. SDN uses virtualization to remove the intelligent management software from network hardware. By doing so, SDN creates a centralized, more intelligent, and easier managed network architecture.   The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) describes SDN as the “physical separation of the network control plane from the forwarding plane, and where a control plane controls several devices.”   SDN allows network administrators to manage the network through abstraction which gives apps and programs a simplified platform to operate on. ONF breaks down SDN architecture as: Directly programmable: Network control is directly programmable because it is decoupled from forwarding functions. Agile: Abstracting control from forwarding lets administrators dynamically adjust network-wide traffic flow to meet changing needs. Centrally managed: Network intelligence is (logically) centralized in software-based SDN controllers that maintain a global view of the network, which appears to applications and policy engines as a single, logical switch. Programmatically configured: SDN lets network managers configure, manage, secure, and optimize network resources very quickly via dynamic, automated SDN programs, which they can write themselves because the programs do not depend on proprietary software. Open standards-based and vendor-neutral: When implemented through open standards, SDN simplifies network design and operation because instructions are provided by SDN controllers instead of multiple, vendor-specific devices and protocols.