8 predictions for the development of network technology in 2017

The Internet is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and we will see even more rapid change in the new year. Cloud computing deployments and mobile devices have already revolutionized the Internet, and these trends are likely to accelerate in 2017.

Gone are the days of maintaining and storing applications, data, and services in private data centers. Now that many companies have abandoned much of their internal infrastructure in favor of a hybrid cloud computing model, this shift from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud is unlikely to end. In fact, over the next 12 months, we will see companies move from a hybrid model to a full public cloud architecture. The question then becomes: How can IT departments best handle resources in a multi-cloud environment?

In 2017, the impact of mobile users and devices on network architecture may reach a tipping point. If mobile users outnumber average users at the enterprise network perimeter, many aspects of network design will change, including security, data flow, and the general need for flexibility. The network perimeter will disappear completely, which will rewrite the history of enterprise networks.

Businesses that have completely neglected their IT networks must face the reality that they will have to invest heavily in network infrastructure in order to succeed in 2017. Whether you are a small business with only a few employees or a large enterprise, investing in a network is a must if you want to take advantage of the latest IoT benefits.

2017 will be an important year for the network. The development of the network will require the support of network engineers and administrators. Let's take a look at the network development trends in the coming year:

100% migration of remote sites to cloud computing

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Cloud computing deployments have evolved to the point where, in many enterprises, traditional MPLS WANs or VPNs are no longer needed. Everything from applications to file sharing and even desktop telephony can be delivered from the public cloud.

Cybersecurity as a Service

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Now that the network perimeter has become meaningless, we will see a dramatic shift from on-premises network security tools to a cloud computing service provider model in 2017. The "as a service" deployment architecture will not only provide enterprises with greater flexibility in protecting network resources in a borderless network, but also save overall operational costs.

Network-based identity management

Many small and medium-sized enterprises are at a disadvantage in network security: they cannot identify the devices and users connecting to the internal network. Although identity management tools have been around for many years, they are expensive and difficult to manage. However, network-based identity management tools (such as Cisco Identity Services Engine ISE) are cost-effective solutions that enterprises can choose. In addition, these tools themselves have matured and are easy to deploy and manage in most enterprise infrastructures.

WiFi is booming because of IoT

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Like it or not, the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly. Most IoT sensors will likely be deployed wirelessly, as this is a cheaper form of connectivity. Even if we don’t see any large IoT projects in the next 12 months, 2017 is the year that businesses should reevaluate their WiFi networks to ensure they are not affected by the growth of IoT.

Multi-cloud management

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If you've ever managed a private network through one or more cloud service providers, you know the amount of work required to translate traffic and security policies from one architecture to another. Fortunately, 2017 will see the emergence of many multi-cloud computing management solutions to ease this work. These tools will allow enterprises to set security policies and automatically push them throughout the network.

Network automation becomes a necessity

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One of the simplest ways to control a network is to automate the interactions between devices. Networks are becoming increasingly complex, and the only way to control this situation is to automate changes to the network. Network vendors are investing a lot of time and effort into developing tools to automate processes, such as Brocade's Workflow Composer.

Cloud-hosted network equipment goes mainstream

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When the concept of cloud-managed network equipment first emerged, many networking veterans (including me) scoffed at the idea of ​​managing routers, switches, firewalls, and other network components through a SaaS provider. But for many, 2016 proved that cloud-managed network equipment strikes a good balance between functionality and ease of management, and 2017 will see cloud-managed network equipment truly become mainstream in the enterprise.

SMEs and startups target enterprise-grade devices

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Whether you are an established business with a few employees or a small startup with big ambitions, 2017 will mark the year that SMBs realize the advantages of running their networks on enterprise-grade hardware. This segment of the market has long been centered around consumer-grade wired, wireless, and security components, but networking has become so critical to many businesses that in 2017, SMB decision-makers will be willing to pay more for a better network experience.