The technology that enabled networking has changed the way businesses operate and how we work. In fact, modern businesses would not be able to function the way they do now if it were not for the advancements made from what started as LANs in Networking.
What started off as a simple technology (LANs) to share files and physical resources within an office grew to a technology that helped networks span the globe (WANs). Today that tech has evolved to be faster, more intelligent, and easier to manage, software-driven, hence aptly named: Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN).
SD-WANs are the new standard, and if you want to capitalize on them as a business, you need to understand their evolution, and that is what this blog is all about.
Key Takeaways
- LAN laid the foundation for what is modern business communication today.
- WAN expanded connectivity across locations but introduced cost and complexity.
- SD-WAN brings flexibility, speed, and intelligent routing to distributed networks.
- AI and ML, SASE, and 5G are shaping the next era of networking in IT.
- A SD-WAN hosting model for your business should be dictated by your IT resources and goals.
The Evolutions of Networking in IT
It's been nearly 50 years in the making for networks to get to where were are now. Let's start from the beginning.
LANs: The origin of networking
Before the concept of networking came into existence, information was shared either by printing out physical files or via the cutting-edge tech of the time: floppy disks. Every department, be it in an educational institution or in an organization, had its own systems, and all of them were siloed.
Things changed in the 1970s, when research at the Palo Alto Research Center (a research company founded by the Xerox Corporation a year earlier) developed Ethernet: a protocol that enabled data transfer across wires.
The protocol was standardized (in 1985 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)). As a result, it made it possible to build a reliable connection between devices within a small area, and voila, Local Area Networks (LANs) were created.
From here, operations changed; co-workers could connect to the same system and collaborate, centralized printers replaced the numerous desk printers, and information sharing became super easy.
From here, the next obvious step was to go bigger, and this is where Wide Area Networks (WANs) entered the picture.
WANs: The inevitable evolution of LAN in networking
As businesses grew and globalized, the limitations of LAN became apparent. The need and the demand for interconnectivity between LANs grew, and this led to the rise of Wide Area Networks (WANs).
Now, WANs, in fact, were already in use since the 1950s: they were originally developed by the US military to interconnect their Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) radar defense systems.
Commercially, WANs were created using dedicated lines or using Frame Relay and Point-to-Point circuits. These were expensive but could transmit data at about 45 Mbps (which was excellent for the time).
Later, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) became the standard, and so did VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), which allowed secure remote access over public lines.
As time progressed, one thing was clear: WANs were too expensive to set up and maintain. Configurations were static, any modification was a monumental task, and if the WAN needed to be expanded, it involved even more overhead and extended deployment times.
Then came the cloud, along with the ability to work remotely: something WANs weren't designed for, and this led to the development of SD-WAN.
SD-WANs: Where we are now
SD-WANs, short for Software-Defined Wide Area Network, were a smarter take on creating and connecting wider networks.
The key breakthrough with SD-WANs is that software now controls traffic flow, replacing fixed hardware and manual router configurations.
SD-WANs also solved several core problems of physical WANs. The biggest was not restricted to the existing hardware stack or a specific vendor.
Network performance improved by eliminating central data centre routing. So, traffic now takes the shortest path between source and destination.
Another key SD-WAN upgrade is combining multiple networks (Broadband, LTE, 5G) and switching between them in real time for optimal performance. The "Software-Defined" aspect of this technology also means that control can be centralized, traffic management and routine are dynamic and far more efficient.
What Could Be The Next Stage of Networking in IT?
While SD-WANs are already the pinnacle of Networking in IT, there is a lot that is already happening that will push their capabilities out even further.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) integrations: This will make networks more adaptable by learning and identifying usage patterns. They can proactively prepare for traffic surges or predict failures and re-route traffic before it affects end users.
2. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): The next step in secure networking is essential as data and work rapidly move away from secure on-premise setups. Plus, SASE unifies network control with real-time, cloud security and Zero Trust principles. This verifies every user and device before granting access be it on-site or remote.
3. 5G: With 55% of the world now experiencing 5G, we will see network performance increase across the board. This will be further improved with the integration of edge computing.
As a business, you want to be in a position to take advantage of what’s coming next, and the time to act is now.
How Are SD-WANs Hosted Today?
To fully take advantage of SD-WANs, you first need to understand how they are hosted. There are four hosting models to choose from:
DIY Model
The DIY model is a hands-on approach in which your in-house IT teams will create, manage, and maintain the entire system. However, though you need the skillset and spend time and resources here, you will have full control.
Fully Managed Model
At the other end of the spectrum, a fully managed model means your entire SD-WAN setup is handled by a third-party service provider.
This model will free you from the overheads and the burden of managing everything in-house: a boon for smaller businesses or one whose IT department is already stretched to the limit.
Co-Managed Model
A co-managed model offers the best of both worlds. Your IT department works with the hosting provider, you retain partial control, while offloading the more technical or time-consuming tasks.
Cloud-Hosted Model
Here, all the components required to host your SD-WAN are delivered as a service. If you are already on the cloud, this is the model for you.
Get Future-Ready Networking In IT
The evolution from LAN to SD-WAN shows just how fast networking in IT has changed. As a business, it's vital to strategically position yourself to be able to capitalize on what comes next, and CNWR can help you do just that.
Our networking solutions support a host of industries and cover everything from planning and deployment to co-managed support.
Want to get your network future-ready? Get in touch today.
