SD-WAN Deployment Options: DIY vs.Cloud Managed

So you can implement SD-WAN. Now you must make a decision: do it yourself or buy it as a managed service?

 

As the market for software defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) continues to grow significantly, the way that companies use SD-WAN Deployment Service, and the way that vendors sell it, is evolving.

 

According to Lee Doyle, director of Doyle Research, there are three main models. At one end of the spectrum is DIY, where end users install and manage software and service. At the other extreme is a fully managed approach, where a vendor performs the installation and ongoing support of the deployment. A hybrid option combines the two, with the provider managing some aspects of installation and administration, and end users can tailor the solution to their needs.

 

"There is currently a real mix of customer attitudes towards deployments," said Ramesh Prabagaran, senior director of SD-WAN at Cisco. How do companies know which approach is the right one? He says it depends on your comfort level.

 

Many of the larger companies like Fortune 50 still use this technology, Prabagaran says.

 

Medium-sized companies are rather mixed. Some have the experience to manage installation and ongoing support, while others want some level of help from their vendor.

 

The hybrid option with managed service providers, with which customers can tailor certain aspects of provision, is becoming increasingly popular. According to Robert McBride, head of product marketing at software vendor SD-WAN Versa, this approach enables customers to control things like providing new network connections, setting compliance rules, and creating policies for specific applications. Versa, which sells its software to a variety of managed service providers and telecommunications providers, enables it through role-based access controls of multiple tenants in SD-WAN software. In this way, a supplier can enable the provision of certain aspects of the provision by the customer.

 

DIY vs. Managed SD-WAN

Deciding whether to manage an SD-WAN deployment yourself or use it as a service depends on the client's ability to run it. Does the customer have in-house staff to manage the deployment and resources to redesign WAN connections to branch offices and remote locations? As a rule, the largest companies have sufficient resources, says McBride. Smaller companies do not have this experience and use SD-WAN as a service. Medium customers are divided between the two approaches.

Capital One’s SD-WAN Deployment 

Capital One took a hybrid approach to implementing SD-WAN, Jason Abfalter, chief technology officer for Capital One's retail and direct banking division, said at the Open Networking User Group meeting in New York last fall. The company recently completed its SD-WAN installation at branch number 75 in the past five months. The company performs at least one new installation a week, sometimes even two a day. Capital One does this primarily in-house, but plans to install Versa installations, which are also available during installation, to resolve issues.

 

Andrew Dugan, senior vice president of technology planning, network architecture and security at CenturyLink, which offers a managed SD-WAN service, says working with a managed SD-WAN provider brings benefits. "Many customers come to us because they not only want to use SD-WAN, but also want to integrate it more fully into a range of network services that we can offer," he says. Customers combine various types of broadband connections, MPLS with a private connection, and even mobile or LTE services at their branches. A service provider can group these services on a consolidated invoice while performing ongoing maintenance.

 

Another advantage of working with a service provider, according to McBride, is that you can have direct connections to public cloud services, be it IaaS providers like Amazon Web Service or Microsoft Azure, or SaaS providers like Salesforce. It can be difficult for individual organizations to connect directly to cloud providers unless they go through a connection point.

The Next Wave: SD-Branch

There is currently an even bigger trend in the industry, which can be seen as the next development beyond SD-WAN. This involves creating a software-defined branch (SD branch) and managing many network functions in the branch through software. McBride says that many customer sites have six to ten network management devices, including routers, wireless access points, firewalls, unified threat management systems, and WAN optimization. The purpose of SD-Branch is to consolidate all of this into one system.

 

SD-WAN is considered one of the applications that can be consolidated into an SD branch. If customers want to combine these multiple branches into a single system, they face similar decisions to do it themselves or to work with a service provider. As with SD-WAN, customer appetite depends on the resources they have to move on to the next wave of branch virtualization.

 

How to determine if the Managed IT Services are Right for Your Business

Technology plays a central role in companies and is therefore a key component in almost all companies. Keeping track of your company's computer game can be a real challenge as the technology environment changes. Many companies often spend too much on IT without understanding what technology costs are significant, luxurious, or unnecessary.

 

This is especially true for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), since large companies work with larger budgets and have the ability to maintain internal IT roles. But it is SMEs that may really have a hard time staying afloat in relation to the crisis. It always pays to cut costs and maximize efficiency for all businesses whenever possible. Outsourcing in the IT department can lead to an advantageous scenario that saves time and money, not to mention improving team productivity.

 

Defining managed IT services

 

Managed IT services consist of outsourcing the coordination of everything to do with IT, from office equipment maintenance and network security requirements to cloud storage and processing services. Examples of this are outsourced help desks, outsourced CIOs, disaster recovery, and backup planning. If you're not a tech savvy, forgetting to make sure all of your antivirus software is up to date can lead to an attack that can disrupt your company's services and seriously damage your internal security systems. - as well as the reputation of your company. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for IT, as each company's requirements can vary considerably.

 

The economic impact of traditional internal function has been estimated to represent up to 70% of a company's IT budget just to make critical systems work. Given the growing importance IT continues to play in every business transaction, this is certainly not a viable formula, especially when experience is priced higher. In addition to the economics of these remotely managed services, you can take advantage of the more advanced skills your team may lack.

 

Where do I start with managed IT services?

 

Some companies may recognize that they need to download parts of their IT infrastructure, but they are not yet ready to get a complete plan from a third party. In this case, some a la carte services are a good place to start.

A common strategy is to outsource your company's cloud infrastructure management. This way, you have more time to work on new functions that offer your customers better value. Outsourcing an MSP to manage a single function that is routine but necessary, such as: B. Specific software maintenance or virus protection can also be the most cost-effective first step. In this way, less time is required to be informed about the technical details of managing these standard responsibilities.

 

Choosing the best wireless router

If your family is very similar these days, a typical night at home might look like this: it ends with the latest Netflix series designed in the living room, one of your kids is playing upstairs, and your spouse is uploading photos. the office.

 

A router is a magic box that lets you distribute your Internet connection to a variety of devices throughout the home, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and multimedia devices. Streaming, like Apple TV, Google Chrome Cast and Roku.

 

And while wired Ethernet connections are generally faster and more secure, it's best to use a managed wireless router connection if you want to roam around the house, using laptops and other mobile devices. Wireless technology also eliminates most cables.

 

If your ISP is your cable company, your router will connect to a cable modem, which provides your connection to the Internet. For other services, such as Verizon FiOS, the router can be combined with a single-box broadband modem provided by the provider at the time of registration.

 

In addition to the obvious reason, let's say your router is broken, you can also consider a new model because:

 

1. You do not want to buy or rent a router from your service provider.

2. You already have a broadband modem directly connected to a single computer, but you want to be able to connect to multiple devices.

3. The router only has wired connectivity, but you want to connect to wireless devices like laptops and tablets.

4. Your existing router is too slow or your wireless range is too short to reach important places in your home.

 

Features to consider

 

LAN ports

 

LAN ports are used to connect a computer to the router via an Ethernet cable. Many smart home devices connected to the Internet, such as Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings, require a hub connected to the LAN port to function. If more LAN ports are required than the router, you can increase the number available by adding an Ethernet switch.

USB ports

 

The router's USB ports are used to connect to a flash drive, external hard drive, or USB printer if the router has a built-in print server.

 

Quality of service (QoS)

 

Also called media prioritization or traffic control. If you're the type of person who likes to play around with your computer settings, you can appreciate the flexibility of this feature. You can optimize the performance of your router based on what you are doing at any given time. For example, you can change the settings to make it work better for streaming videos, making Skype calls, playing or playing music. This will give these applications more bandwidth. So, for example, your Netflix movie doesn't stop and grows again because someone in the house is downloading a large file.

 

Application based management

 

By supporting almost all new routers, the applications are designed to simplify the configuration and regulation of the WiFi network. The applications facilitate the monitoring of devices connected to the network and the configuration of priority devices. These applications can also notify you when an update is available for your router.

 

SD-WAN Providers

 

The introduction of SD-WAN Providers is accelerating rapidly. According to an IDG study, almost 69% of IT experts are piloting or have SD-WAN in production. This is because SD-WAN helps companies gain better insight and control over their network performance, maximize bandwidth allocation, and automate many management functions. Since most companies are interested in it, IT managers must understand which SD-WAN approaches maximize interoperability and visibility, as edge devices and their configuration play a key role in the overall performance of the solution. Here is a quick guide.

 

SD-WAN Edge Devices and Interoperability

 

SD-WAN devices must be able to communicate seamlessly with other resources on your company's existing private networks. However, some SD-WAN devices may need to be deployed at each location to do this. Depending on how your private network and locations are configured, your SD-WAN peripheral devices may not communicate well with your private network and other IT infrastructures. Most SD-WAN peripheral devices communicate from one location to another or from one location to the cloud, effectively protecting them from much of your existing WAN infrastructure. It is essentially a new component that does not work well in your current IT test environment.

 

If you think of your corporate WAN as a litter box, the analogy for adding SD-WAN is like adding a separate litter box to your existing litter box. This smaller, separate SD-WAN sandbox cannot be seen or played by any of the other "kids".

 

As a result, you will experience these challenges:

 

Lack of visibility: Some SD-WAN devices do not work together or do not offer a unified view showing how the various elements work as a consistent unit in the larger network system.

 

Poor management and poor performance: Network optimization is difficult without a single dashboard and unified control tools because the data is fragmented. IT managers cannot effectively solve WAN problems. As a result, finding the root causes becomes an exercise in which multiple portals for network administrators and signal providers are reviewed and compared. Trying to find a clear answer that solves your problem becomes a game of frustration and waste of time.

 

Restricted security: Network visibility plays an important role in helping security experts understand how data and traffic flow in the IT environment. Without it, your IT team cannot detect lateral movements and other signs of an attack. Assessing network behavior becomes a challenge that reduces your security situation.

 

Visibility is one of the main advantages of SD-WAN, and buyers can inadvertently undermine the value of their IT investment. Given interoperability, transparency and security, careful design and considerations are important in creating the best solution for your IT environment.

 

Ensure maximum visibility and performance with SD-WAN built into the WAN infrastructure

 

A sure way to maximize interoperability and visibility is to migrate to a single software defined network platform where SD-WAN is embedded in the network structure. With these solutions, each SD-WAN instance works on the same backbone, stays in sync, and creates a unified view of performance. A unified global network provides businesses with the same benefits as an SD-WAN edge device and the benefits of a network built entirely on software-defined principles:

 

• A unique and consistent IT infrastructure that guarantees quality of service worldwide.
• Simplified network deployment with the freedom to combine any desired type of connectivity for any network environment (private and direct connections to cloud providers and public Internet connection)
• Unlimited number of segmented virtual networks - upstream / downstream test environments with private access as needed
• A single online portal with comprehensive analytics and controls spanning all WANs in the IT environment
• Easy access to a wide range of additional features, including routing, firewall, and direct cloud connections

 

What is Network Operations Center (NOC) Services and why to go for it?

The Network Operations Center (NOC) is a big improvement if MSPs or organizations want to run their IT services without investing a lot of local IT staff. The Network Operations Center is one or more centralized locations from which network monitoring experts manage and control the entire IT infrastructure using remote monitoring and management tools. Managed service providers use NOC services to ensure that their networks are operational without interruption or less. NOC services help detect and resolve alerts immediately before they become a problem. Plus, easily monitor and control global clients with securely connected networks.

 

NOC specialists are fully aware of current events and alarms that may affect the networks or systems for which they are responsible. They are often placed with multiple desktops, essentially displaying very important alert details, ongoing incidents, and network performance to keep IT services up and running. A certified team with experience in various technologies, it actively protects things like DDoS attacks, network outages, power outages, and black hole routing. NOC experts not only provide core network stability, but also provide remote assistance, support, hardware configuration (such as firewalls and routers, purchased by a customer), and vendor coordination for customers.

 

Control on Process and Procedures

 

It is the best practice to control processes and procedures in managed IT departments. At NOC Support, this is the key point that each member of the expert network must follow defined standard operating procedures and procedures. NOC services perform many tasks to make the network and its most valuable endpoints safe and secure in every way. The installation and deployment of any application should follow standard operating procedures to avoid future problems.

 

Security and Support 

 

Managed IT departments and their customers are most concerned about security, which is on the list of best guidelines for NOC services. They are well trained and expert in these activities to connect endpoints in a very secure way using various remote management and monitoring (RMM) tools. Each RMM is activated with bi-directional authentication to prevent any violation and make it secure enough. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) should not worry about endpoint connections due to increased security and support for NOC services.

 

Reliable and profitable

 

NOC services are very reliable and profitable in every way. Today, not everyone knows how much local IT staff costs. Additionally, it is highly inconvenient for local IT staff to manage multiple tasks at the same time that the NOC team can perform in comparison. NOC services maintain and follow the priority service level agreement. Monitoring and managing the network 24/7 from the central point is advantageous for all managed service providers (MSPs) and other IT clients, as they are available at a very reasonable cost.

 

The highest quality with the latest infrastructure:

 

Customer satisfaction is in their profession. NOC services never compromise their quality. To optimize the IT infrastructure for their clients, they use the latest technology tools and superior infrastructure to deliver services more efficiently. It is their cornerstone that Managed IT Services and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) literally need.

 

Certified and experienced experts reduce risk

 

Create your own style with NOC services by reducing risk in IT infrastructure. They set the threshold and trigger the alarm before it becomes a troublesome approach. Contact NOC support and protect your network with certified engineers monitoring 24x7 respectively. They review each of the alerts and generate an RCA to analyze and resolve them so that it never creates a problem in the future.

 

Administrative task during production and after hours.

 

In the IT field, it is common to have work outside office hours to avoid any network interruption. It is a continuous activity to perform administrative tasks outside of production hours. This type of task was quite easy with the help of NOC services. In most cases, they plan core activity outside of business hours and perform their critical tasks that require no downtime, in production hours.

 

24-hour network monitoring and support

Clients do not have to worry about their services, day or night, because NOC Services do their job 24 hours a day. It is an uncomplicated and painless act of NOC Services to monitor continuous Networks. 24/7 support reduces any unforeseen incident on the network and keeps them in perfect working order.

Noc Agile Services

 

Are you looking for NOC services? NocAgile services are available for the best level of NOC support at the most affordable prices with highly certified and experienced professionals. We deal with managed service providers (MSP) as well as medium and small business clients with reasonable rates. 24/7 network monitoring and managed IT services with phenomenal means are always provided.

 

Why the services of NocAgile?

 

A team of well-trained and experienced staff, working with global clients for over 10 years, monitoring and managing thousands of devices really makes a big difference to the rest. We work with various remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools, ticket systems and threat detection tools equipped with the latest technologies. 24/7 network monitoring and phone support available when needed.

 

Get support as internal virtual staff and contact them at any time through instant messaging, email or phone call. We understand the importance of IT services and are always ready to provide our best customer support. The best NOC services with NocAgile with 24x7 support and 100% availability.

 

Network Support Analyst Job Description

A network support analyst installs, designs, and maintains various aspects of an organization's network. The man or woman will plan, design, analyze and provide technical guidance for the network Support.

 

The analyst will also research and consider network technologies and make suggestions for purchasing network equipment. This character works collaboratively with the IT team to organize the systems.

 

Analysts are also responsible for managing and resolving tickets. Since they want to network with crew members and clients and must also create documentation, they must have strong verbal and written conversation skills.

 

Analysts must have exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills. They must be organized to carry out physical work, such as handling, transporting and installing the equipment.

 

Work description

 

Network support analysts are responsible for the installation, configuration, and support of local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), Internet systems, and certain aspects of community systems. They also diagnose problems with software, hardware, computer systems, and the network, fix them, and modify faulty items when necessary.

 

Analysts manipulate and maintain computer networks, hardware, software, and all configurations. Because they want to monitor the overall performance of networks and systems and align community access and use, they work on entry consoles.

 

Analysts interact with network users to find a roadmap for solving existing system problems. They approve the adjustments to improve the configurations and systems of the community and decide on the hardware or software requirements to highlight the relevant changes.

 

Analysts stay on top of new applied science by participating in or studying roadshows and researching them to understand how they can be implemented within your company or at customer facilities.

 

Analysts consider how the tools work to determine if they need to be changed or corrected. They design, organize, and implement community security measures to protect software, hardware, and data.

 

Analysts reveal community performance in deciding whether or not changes are essential and in determining where they should be made in the future. They configure, manage and maintain antivirus software or email applications.

 

Educational and other requirements.

 

A network support analyst must have at least an associate degree if he no longer holds a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or an associated technical field. They must be able to write scripts in programming languages ​​like Perl, Python or Bash. They must be familiar with MS-Office (Excel, Word, Exchange and Outlook).

 

The future of a network support analyst

 

If network support analysts have completed more than three years and have an appropriate college degree, they can improve their careers and end up with IT security analysts or systems analysts. Job opportunities for professional computer guides predicted an eleven percent increase sometime in the 2016-2026 period, by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

 

5 Best Practices for Outsourcing Cyber Security & Compliance Services

Cybersecurity Outsourcing Report 

 

Cybervisors (cybersecurity advisers) from Lazarus Alliance, Inc. provide information security chiefs (CISOs) and IT security teams with information and advice on how to address the cybersecurity skills gap.

 

How to find a trusted GRC partner

 

Outsourcing Cybersecurity Operations is a great way to save money and time and close the very serious and growing gap in computer security skills. However, it is also a very serious decision. Your cyber security provider has access to your entire network and all your confidential data. How can you ensure that you trust your business to a provider that is not only legitimate but also suitable for your organization and data environment? Below are five best practices to follow when outsourcing your IT security and IT compliance.

 

If something seems "out" of a company, it is likely

 

At a minimum, avoid providers who do the following:

 

• You cannot provide an address and phone number.
• They do not have corporate email addresses and instead communicate with addresses from Gmail, Yahoo, etc.
• Do you have websites that look very "amateur" in design and / or contain broken English text.

These are instant red flags indicating that you are dealing with a hobbyist, or possibly night surgery.

 

Get referrals

 

Even if a provider seems absolutely legitimate and professional, always ask for references and call them. Professional cyber security companies are happy to provide verifiable references. You should also Google the name of the company and its customers and look for comments, or complaints.

Make sure the provider can meet all of your compliance requirements

 

GRC's ongoing assessment and evaluation services include HIPAA and HITECH, PCI DSS QSA, SSAE 16 and SOC, FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST, CJIS, ISO, NERC CIP, SOX, ISO Certifications and EU-US Privacy Shield reports. We are the only company based in Arizona that offers this depth of coverage.

 

However, many GRC companies, including some very large ones, meet certain IT compliance requirements, but not others. Make sure that your provider not only offers all of the compliance services you need, but also has experience performing these specific audits. Ask about your specific compliance requirements while reviewing supplier references.

 

Ask the provider about their audit and compliance processes.

 

Believe it or not, some IT auditors still use Excel or other spreadsheet programs for reporting and IT compliance audits, although spreadsheet programs were never used with the large amounts of data found in today's complex data environments. They were created. A GRC provider who is still messing around with spreadsheets will end up costing you a lot of time, money, and headaches.

 

Make sure your provider uses modern RegTech software to perform compliance reports and audits, such as: B. Continuum GRC's proprietary IT Audit Machine (ITAM). ITAM leverages big data and rapid reporting capabilities to automate reporting and data management. Instead of dozens of different spreadsheets and general ledgers, ITAM creates a central repository of all IT compliance requirements with associated controls and automated information flows for audits, evaluations and tests. This saves you time, money, and stress and gives you a complete picture of your data environment, as well as its risks and weaknesses.

 

Get everything in writing

 

Finally, make sure the provider signs a written contract that details what is expected of them and is willing to guarantee any promises you make.

 

By following these best practices, companies can reap the benefits of outsourcing, minimize risk, and build fruitful long-term relationships with trusted cyber security providers.