The limitations of on-premises hardware have often constrained traditional network infrastructure. As hybrid work models become increasingly prevalent, the demand for effective remote collaboration strategies has risen. Network-as-a-service (NaaS) emerges as a critical component of modern network architectures, offering scalable, secure, and flexible solutions to support distributed workforces. NaaS also allows organizations to access and utilize network resources on a subscription basis, thereby aligning their network capabilities with their evolving needs.

In this article, we’ll explore how one such solution plays a pivotal role in addressing these demands.

The Changing Face Of Networks

Traditionally, network infrastructure was designed to support employees in centralized office environments, connecting to an on-premises data center. This model worked well when operations were confined to specific locations and the workforce was predominantly office-based. However, this approach no longer meets the needs of companies managing dispersed teams, remote workers, and customers interacting from various regions. Organizations are rethinking their network infrastructure strategies to keep pace with modern demands for connectivity.

Several factors drive this shift:

• Hyper-distributed workforces: As remote and hybrid work models become the norm, businesses need flexible solutions to maintain operational continuity across multiple locations.
• Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR): In sectors like manufacturing, AR and VR technologies are now essential tools for overcoming physical access barriers and improving operational efficiency.
• Hybrid and distance learning: Educational institutions increasingly rely on robust connectivity to ensure that students can learn remotely without disruptions.
• Connected retail and drive-thrus: Retailers face staff shortages and operational challenges, making it crucial to adopt connected systems that ensure seamless customer experiences and business continuity.

These scenarios illustrate how edge connectivity is now a critical part of daily operations for businesses across various sectors. The growing reliance on edge computing and remote access highlights the need for a more flexible, agile, and scalable approach to network infrastructure management. This shift places network-as-a-service (NaaS) at the forefront of the conversation.

So why are organizations increasingly turning to NaaS? With NaaS, organizations can move away from rigid, hardware-dependent infrastructure to a cloud-based model. It also offers businesses the flexibility to adjust their network capacity and performance based on real-time demands. This approach ensures that networks remain scalable, secure, and efficient, no matter the size or scope of operations.

Unlike traditional models, where companies must invest in expensive hardware upfront, NaaS enables organizations to pay only for the services they need, when they need them. This “pay-as-you-go” model is particularly valuable in today’s fast-paced business environment.

NaaS also helps overcome several key challenges to network modernization and connectivity, such as:

• Financial constraints: Tight IT budgets make it difficult for companies to invest in capital-intensive projects. NaaS enables organizations to sidestep these financial hurdles by adopting an operational expenditure (OPEX) model, spreading costs over time.
• Sustainability goals: More than connectivity, NaaS makes it easier for organizations to responsibly dispose of outdated hardware while meeting environmental goals, ensuring old equipment is recycled or repurposed securely.
• Operational risk: By leveraging proactive management and AI-driven insights, NaaS can mitigate security risks and performance issues before they impact the business.
• Keeping up with technology: NaaS enables businesses to continuously upgrade their networks without the hassle of large, disruptive migrations.

This is where HPE GreenLake plays a pivotal role in helping businesses adopt this new networking model, offering NaaS solutions that align with the needs of today’s distributed and dynamic work environments.

Optimizing Edge Connectivity

HPE GreenLake for Networking, through its NaaS model, addresses these challenges. It offers businesses the opportunity to modernize their networks by delivering a powerful set of features aimed at enhancing agility, security, and scalability. Here’s how it optimizes edge connectivity:

1. Cloud-like agility
   HPE GreenLake for Networking enables businesses to scale their network infrastructure up or down based on their immediate needs. This agility ensures that companies can respond swiftly to market shifts, customer demands, or the implementation of new services, all while minimizing downtime. By providing a cloud-like experience, organizations gain flexibility without the need for large upfront investments in physical infrastructure.
2. AI-driven insights and automation
   Leveraging AI-powered capabilities, HPE GreenLake for Networking ensures real-time optimization of network infrastructure. This includes the detection and automatic resolution of network issues, drastically reducing downtime. Furthermore, the platform utilizes AI to monitor security threats, enabling proactive measures that help prevent breaches. This kind of automation reduces the burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.
3. Edge-to-cloud security
   With the proliferation of edge computing, securing data from end-user devices to the cloud has become increasingly crucial. HPE GreenLake provides comprehensive edge-to-cloud security, using frameworks like zero trust These solutions help protect network infrastructure at every layer, whether through securing Internet breakouts, remote work environments, or multi-cloud connections.
4. Unified network management
   One of the key strengths of HPE GreenLake for Networking is its ability to unify network operations across different environments, from the campus and branch to remote and IoT devices. This unified approach simplifies management, offering a single pane of glass for IT teams to monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize the network. The result is reduced complexity and more efficient network operations.
5. Flexible consumption model
   Organizations pay for the resources they use, avoiding large capital expenses and reducing over-provisioning. This pay-as-you-go flexibility also accelerates technology refresh cycles, ensuring that businesses always have access to the latest advancements in networking technology.

HPE GreenLake for Networking not only addresses current demands, but also prepares organizations for the future of the network, supporting innovations like AI, machine learning, and edge computing.

Final Thoughts

WEI’s expertise in delivering custom IT solutions, including maximizing HPE GreenLake for Networking’s capabilities, positions us as a trusted partner for organizations seeking tailored solutions. Whether it’s adopting NaaS, optimizing network infrastructure, or streamlining edge connectivity, WEI’s solutions are designed to meet your unique needs. Reach out to WEI today and take the next step in modernizing your network for a more connected, data-driven future.

Next Steps: Transform your network infrastructure with HPE Aruba Networking’s Edge Services Platform (ESP) through HPE GreenLake. Gain access to advanced networking capabilities without the need for leases or financing agreements. Tailor your plan to meet your specific needs and ensure your network infrastructure adapts to changing business requirements.

Download our free tech brief, for detailed insights and learn how WEI and HPE GreenLake can revolutionize your network management strategy.

The post Five Ways Network Infrastructure With NaaS Optimizes Edge Connectivity appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Hybrid work strategies have transformed how organizations ensure a consistent and secure experience for employees, regardless of their location. Similarly, organizations should expect the same level of consistency and security for their compute infrastructure throughout its lifecycle.

WEI partner HPE recognizes this need and is leading the way with its modernized compute management experience through HPE GreenLake. HPE GreenLake’s modernized compute management experience meets this demand by unifying operations as a service across the entire compute lifecycle, from edge to cloud, streamlining operations, automating key tasks, and delivering cloud-like operational agility. This results in a seamless, unified compute management experience, ensuring optimal performance, security, and efficiency across edge-to-cloud environments.

Simplifying Server Lifecycle Management

Server lifecycle management covers the comprehensive oversight of servers from initial deployment through their eventual retirement. This task has become significantly more challenging in today’s distributed computing landscape, where servers are no longer confined to a single, centralized data center. To address this complexity, HPE GreenLake provides a that supports remote site and multisite management, even for locations with low bandwidth or high latency network connectivity.

Their unified SaaS platform delivers the following features:

• Compute lifecycle operations and insights
• Account management
• Subscription management
• Server onboarding
• Inventory management
• Role and user management capabilities.

This cloud-based approach enables organizations to centralize and streamline the management of their globally dispersed compute infrastructure, ensuring consistent operations, compliance, and visibility across the entire server lifecycle, regardless of geographic boundaries or network constraints.

As part of the HPE GreenLake ecosystem, Compute Ops Management is a SaaS solution centered around three key themes: simplicity, unification, and automation. With this, organizations and IT teams enjoy the following capabilities:

• Unified compute device management
• Firmware baseline setting, monitoring, and notifications
• Hardware and firmware alerts
• Intelligent delta-only updates
• Remote and multisite deployment support
• Low bandwidth and high latency network compatibility
• Automated HPE iLO updates

While it may sound complex, the benefits are clear: HPE GreenLake for Compute Ops Management enables server firmware updates . This is achieved through scalability, which allows for efficient onboarding and the updating of thousands of distributed devices. The simplification and time savings start right from server deployment, using a secure, governed approach that includes bulk server onboarding, OS image deployment, and server tagging, streamlining the entire process from the outset.

Watch: 5 Strategies To Support IT Performance & Sustainability

Simple Because It Is Unified

The HPE GreenLake for Compute Ops Management solution offers a unified approach to managing distributed compute environments. This simplifies operations and provides comprehensive visibility across your entire compute estate – from edge devices to data center servers and public cloud instances. A centralized console offers real-time insights into server health, status, and compliance, which enables proactive issue detection and resolution through alerts and recommended actions.

As a cloud-based service, HPE GreenLake provides a modern, flexible operational experience with subscription-based pricing and access to new features like sustainability insights and carbon footprint reporting.

Watch: Become An Insights-Driven Enterprise With HPE Storage Solutions

Automation Included

Businesses are increasingly recognizing the transformative power of automation which speeds up tasks, offloads redundant tasks from your specialized talent, and reduces human error. HPE Compute Ops Management is a comprehensive solution designed to automate many of the routine tasks associated with server lifecycle management.

A key benefit of HPE Compute Ops Management is its ability to . This solution enables you to quickly establish firmware baselines across your entire device fleet, ensuring consistent configurations and facilitating compliance tracking. It can automatically identify devices that require updates and download only the necessary changes, minimizing network traffic and reducing downtime. Additionally, you can create policies to stage and schedule firmware updates in a controlled and automated manner across groups of servers.

Another valuable feature of HPE Compute Ops Management is automated server onboarding, a process that enables you to deploy new server hardware from a bare-metal state to a fully configured system in minutes. The solution automatically sets BIOS settings, updates drivers and firmware, and labels/groups devices for inventory management. By automating these time-consuming tasks, you can significantly accelerate the deployment of new servers and improve operational efficiency.

In addition to firmware management and server onboarding, HPE Compute Ops Management offers a range of other automated capabilities, including:

• Automatic and on-demand iLO firmware updates
• Automatic and on-demand firmware compliance checking
• Automatic creation of HPE support cases for critical serviceable events
• Automated self-healing capabilities to resolve issues before they cause downtime

HPE Compute Ops Management intelligently automates lifecycle management tasks to deliver enhanced value and cloud-like agility to your organization’s hybrid compute infrastructure. This solution significantly reduces operational overhead, ensures continuous compliance, and accelerates time-to-action for server events across your distributed environments.

Final Thoughts

How can you seamlessly integrate this advanced agility-defining management solution into your infrastructure? Simply acquire an HPE ProLiant Gen 11 server. Each server includes a three-year subscription to HPE GreenLake for Compute Ops Management, providing automatic enhancements in agility, visibility, control, and operational efficiency for your mission-critical servers.

By leveraging these technologies, your organization can streamline compute operations management, optimize server lifecycles, and gain a competitive edge. With our expertise in server modernization solutions, our team is ready to guide you through this transition. Don’t let outdated server management slow your business down. Contact us today to discover how HPE Compute Ops Management can propel your business forward and transform your IT infrastructure.

Next Steps: In this free WEI white paper titled, deepen your understanding of AI and the critical role of High-Performance Computing (HPC) in managing extensive datasets and advancing sophisticated machine learning models. This asset touches on:

• AI’s growth challenge
• Growth of AI expenditure
• HPE-as-a-Service with HPE GreenLake

The post A Modern Solution To Streamline Server Lifecycle Management appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Cloud adoption is transforming businesses – however, it also introduces new security challenges. Traditional network security practices struggle to adapt to the cloud’s dynamic nature, exposing organizations. A key question must be asked: How can an enterprise effectively secure data and applications amid the widespread adoption of the cloud? A unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) offers a comprehensive solution. Let’s examine the obstacles organizations encounter when securing their cloud deployments, and how a unified SASE platform can effectively mitigate these challenges.

Challenges In Digital Transformation

The digital era is characterized by two major trends: a surge in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and various enterprises’ widespread adoption of cloud services. Fundamentally, these trends demand a fundamental shift in how organizations approach security.

A recent study published in the Wall Street Journal revealed a 13% increase in the global average cost of data breaches since 2020. In 2022, it reached a hefty average of $4.35 million. This highlights the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, which have doubled in recent years, constantly testing an organization’s defenses.

These factors contribute to the following challenges faced by organizations in the digital era:

• Traditional data center-centric security, built around centralized firewalls, is failing to keep pace as applications migrate to the cloud and users access data from anywhere. This is especially true for organizations with hybrid work models where data and applications are scattered across various locations.
• Legacy security methods suffer from many limitations including bottlenecks and limited scalability for geographically dispersed users. Additionally, inconsistent security policies across devices and networks increase complexity and leave vulnerabilities. Finally, traditional VPNs, designed for on-premises networks, limit cloud adoption by focusing on user access rather than securing cloud workloads.

To navigate this complexity, organizations need a comprehensive security solution. This solution should provide three key functionalities: secure and reliable user access, robust cloud application protection, and agile security management. Unified SASE stands out as an answer to these challenges, as it offers a cloud-based, integrated security framework that adapts to the changing needs of businesses.

How Unified SASE Simplifies Security

Unified SASE offers a more streamlined solution by combining SD-WAN with comprehensive network security functions like secure web gateways (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), firewalls as a service (FWaaS), and zero trust network access (ZTNA). This integrated approach is designed to meet the evolving security needs of today’s digital businesses, especially those with hybrid workforces and cloud-based applications.

Think of it this way: Instead of a bulky security setup at each branch office, SASE provides a thin WAN edge with the full suite of security features delivered as a convenient cloud service. This approach unlocks a multitude of benefits to enhance your organization’s operations, such as:

1. Streamlined Security: SASE consolidates networking and security functions into a single, cloud-delivered solution. This simplifies management and eliminates the need for multiple-point products.
2. Unified Security Posture: IT teams can apply consistent security policies and centralized access controls across all networks, regardless of location. This reduces the attack surface, making it easier to detect and respond to threats.
3. Reduced Complexity: SASE streamlines network and security deployment and management. Save time and resources by eliminating the need for multiple hardware appliances.
4. Optimized User Experience: SASE ensures secure, high-performance, and low-latency connections for users accessing applications and resources. This eliminates the need for backhauling traffic through a central data center, improving overall user experience.
5. Scalability: SASE can easily adapt to changing business needs. It can support initiatives like hybrid work, cloud migration, and the adoption of IoT and OT devices.

Exploring Unified SASE Solutions

understands the challenges businesses face in today’s digital world. To address these concerns, they have partnered with leading cloud security providers to offer a comprehensive SASE solution. This solution seamlessly combines technology with their . By embracing a zero-trust approach, HPE Aruba Networking empowers organizations to secure users and applications everywhere. This unified and powerful solution allows businesses to confidently pursue digital transformation with a robust and secure access strategy.

HPE offers a unified approach to SASE built on three key components:

1. HPE Aruba Networking SSE: This solution provides both agent-based and agentless ZTNA, granting you deployment flexibility. Additionally, it offers unified policy management for streamlined control and a global network of points of presence (PoPs) for optimal performance.
2. EdgeConnect SD-WAN: It transcends traditional SD-WAN with multi-cloud support, guaranteeing secure access to any cloud application. By prioritizing user experience, it optimizes application performance for a seamless workday.
3. HPE Aruba Networking Central NetConductor and ClearPass: This combination offers a unified network access control (NAC) solution. Powered by AI, it delivers deep client insights and enforces granular access through dynamic segmentation. Continuous network monitoring identifies and mitigates threats, fortifying your security posture.

The Benefits Of HPE Aruba Networking SSE

This cloud-based platform provides robust and unified network security through zero-trust access. This minimizes potential attack points and shields your network from modern threats. Administrators benefit from enhanced control and visibility into your IT infrastructure, allowing them to prevent data leaks and unauthorized software usage.

Furthermore, intelligent global routing and centralized management ensure a smooth user experience when accessing applications and data. This translates to increased productivity and effortless scalability to keep pace with your growing business.

A Look At EdgeConnect Secure SD-WAN

The EdgeConnect SD-WAN platform is designed for cloud-first enterprises, providing a secure foundation for zero trust and SASE. It combines a first-class SD-WAN with a next-generation firewall, ensuring both advanced security and an unmatched quality of experience. Whether your applications reside in the cloud or on-premises, EdgeConnect delivers reliable connectivity and protection.

Its key features include:

• App Performance Enhancement: Utilizing SaaS and WAN optimization techniques, and path conditioning, to optimize application performance.
• Next-Generation Firewall: This offers end-to-end security, including deep packet inspection (DPI), intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and role-based segmentation.
• Multi-Cloud Networking: EdgeConnect seamlessly integrates with multiple cloud providers (such as Azure and AWS) to support cloud-first organizations.
• Dynamic Routing: BGP and OSPF support ensure efficient traffic routing across the WAN.
• Visibility And Reporting: Gain insights into application and network performance.
• Automation And Zero-Touch Provisioning: Simplify deployment and management.
• Unified SASE: EdgeConnect operates within the framework of the SASE model. This means it intelligently directs traffic to the cloud, eliminating the need for unnecessary backhauling of data. By strategically processing information at the edge of the network, EdgeConnect offers a more efficient and secure approach to cloud connectivity.
• Branch Network Consolidation: Replace branch firewalls and routers, streamlining network and security functions.
• Quality Of Experience: Prioritize mission-critical applications, including high-quality voice and video over broadband.
• Secure IoT Segmentation: Implement zero-trust network segmentation for IoT devices, going beyond SASE-defined boundaries.
• Integration with Multiple SSE Vendors: Tight integration with various cloud-security vendors

EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform combines robust security, performance optimization, and cloud integration to empower modern enterprises.

An Overview On HPE Aruba Networking Central NetConductor and ClearPass

HPE Aruba Networking offers sophisticated AI-powered client identification and profiling through Client Insights, a feature built directly into HPE Aruba Networking Central. This eliminates the need for additional physical collectors or VM-based agents typically required by competitor solutions.

Client Insights delivers highly accurate AI/ML profiling, reaching . This enhanced visibility empowers customers to experience immediate IT efficiency gains. Automated policy enforcement based on these insights further streamlines network management. Additionally, Client Insights’ always-on AI/ML behavioral monitoring provides superior protection against security breaches.

Client Insights within HPE Aruba Networking Central NetConductor and ClearPass offer a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for comprehensive network visibility, automated policy enforcement, and enhanced security through AI-powered client identification and profiling.

Additionally, HPE Aruba Networking Central offers the following components as well for organizations:

• Cloud Authentication

As HPE Aruba Networking’s built-in cloud-based NAC solution within HPE Aruba Networking Central, Cloud Auth assigns roles to users and devices for secure network access. This ensures only authorized users and devices can connect, with clearly defined access privileges. Cloud Auth integrates with common identity stores (like Google Workspace and Azure AD) for seamless user and device identification and authentication. It also simplifies management with time-saving workflows for policy configuration and user onboarding with Multi Pre-Shared Keys (MPSK).

• HPE Aruba Networking Central NetConductor

HPE Aruba Networking Central NetConductor automates tasks like configuration and policy enforcement across geographically dispersed networks, simplifying management of wired, wireless, and WAN infrastructure. This streamlines setup, optimizes performance, and enforces granular access controls – the foundation of secure network architectures.

Final Thoughts

The digital landscape has fostered exponential business growth through widespread cloud adoption. While moving to the cloud creates new security challenges, SASE offers a comprehensive solution to consolidating critical network and security functionalities into a single, cloud-based platform. This streamlined approach simplifies security management while ensuring reliable data protection across all locations within your organization.

WEI’s cloud security specialists can guide you through securing your cloud environment. We combine our expertise with personalized security assessments and custom-built SASE solutions, featuring advanced technologies like HPE Aruba Networking. This empowers your business to confidently navigate your digital transformation while protecting your critical assets. Contact us today to get started.

Next steps: The acceleration of migrating applications to the cloud in addition to leveraging cheaper and flexible internet alternatives such as 5G/LTE connections drove the need for SD-WAN technology. Greater visibility and better security tools are needed to ensure the zero-trust network environment that companies desire. Additionally, hybrid networks have evolved far beyond the basic composition of a public cloud and on-prem environment. Today’s SD-WAN solutions must accommodate multiple clouds in a dynamic fashion.

WEI’s free tech brief identifies the three main components of Aruba Network’s powerful EdgeConnect Enterprise platform:

• Physical or Virtual SD-WAN Appliance
• Aruba Orchestrator
• Aruba Boost

to access your free copy of the tech brief, SD-WAN: 3 Components To Efficiently Connect Users To Applications.

The post Unified SASE: A Secure And Streamlined Path To Digital Transformation appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Organizations today encounter a significant challenge in handling and safeguarding data. The reasons include the inflow of various customer and business information, the widespread use of multiple devices, and the growth of remote work arrangements. As businesses increasingly rely on data for decision-making and forecasting, the need for reliable storage solutions has become important.

How can organizations protect their data and assets without making things overly complicated? Let’s discuss these challenges and learn about available solutions to keep organizations on top of their game.

Why Is Data Agility And Security Important?

Data serves as the lifeblood of organizations, whether they have a digital business model or not. Securing your critical data assets is as equally vital as maintaining the tangible aspects of your business ecosystem. Data agility and security are not mere buzzwords; they are essential elements that significantly impact businesses. Let’s explore why prioritizing these aspects is crucial for any organization.

1. Reputation Matters. Building a healthy brand reputation requires a reputable product/service, significant workforce investment, meeting consumer needs, and keeping all stakeholders/investors abreast of all significant business events/transactions. Meanwhile, customers, partners, and stakeholders also expect their sensitive information to be handled with care. Yet, can shatter even the strongest of brand reputations that took years to build. Prioritizing data security helps ensure your organization is maintaining its integrity and preserving customer trust.
2. The High Cost Of Breaches. Data breaches come with significant financial losses and long-term impact. Moreover, the damage to brand value leads to decreased revenue and customer turnout. By prioritizing data security, you invest in risk mitigation and prevention. This approach is far more cost-effective than remediation.
3. Operational Efficiency. Cybersecurity incidents disrupt productivity and business operations. When systems are compromised, employees spend valuable time firefighting instead of focusing on growth. Prioritizing security ensures minimal disruption to business operations and a proactive, long-term approach to risk management.
4. The Cloud Dilemma. Cloud adoption transforms business processes, but also introduces additional security complexities. When transitioning to the cloud, it is important to understand what the shared responsibilities are between the enterprise and the cloud provider. Directives around access controls, encryption, and continuous monitoring must be identified and implemented. Ignoring these critical measures puts data integrity at serious risk.
5. Data Agility Requires A Secure Foundation. Simply put, data agility enables an enterprise to make simple, powerful, and immediate changes to how their information is interpreted and acted upon. As organizations adapt to market changes, security checkpoints should be integrated into agile processes — whether through DevSecOps practices or continuous monitoring.

Data agility and security are symbiotic. The strength of your data security directly impacts your business’s resilience and longevity. Prioritizing both ensures your organization thrives in a dynamic digital landscape.

Enabling Data Security And Agility In Operations

When organizations aim to improve both data security and agility, they need to consider storage solutions aligned with the five strategic objectives we mentioned above. Here are the key points to focus on when selecting a comprehensive solution:

1. Data Integrity And Transparency: Maintaining data consistency and accuracy is essential for any organization’s reputation. To achieve this, preventing unauthorized access and maintaining detailed audit logs are important to ensure transparency and accountability. Solutions like HPE Alletra ensure data consistency and monitoring across distributed systems to prevent discrepancies. This robust data integrity fosters trust with both customers and regulatory bodies.
2. Simplified And Cost-Effective Security: Consider investing in a solution with file and block storage capabilities while streamlining data protection features into a single platform. This approach reduces the costs associated with managing separate security tools. Furthermore, if the platform includes predictive analytics, it can proactively detect threats and minimize the risk of breaches.
3. Automation And Rapid Recovery: Automated data management boosts business productivity and ensures faster recovery during security incidents.
4. Cloud Security Reinforcement: You get value in your investment when the storage solution integrates seamlessly with cloud environments. Key features should include encryption and fine-grained access policies, which are especially useful when you migrate critical applications to the cloud. Organizations benefit from data confidentiality and compliance across all their data, regardless of where it resides.
5. Agility And DevSecOps Synergy: When organizations invest in proper storage solutions like HPE Alletra, they benefit from its agile data movement features. These allow seamless and secure transfers across different storage tiers. For organizations engaged in data-intensive projects, secure data movement during agile development cycles should be a priority without compromising safety.

Businesses flourish in a data-centric environment when they choose to invest in reliable storage and security platforms.

Which Solution Should You Consider?

Reliable data protection is significant for any organization. Recognizing this critical need, HPE developed , a versatile storage platform designed to meet the evolving demands of businesses.

seamlessly integrates to streamline IT operations. With support for Network File System (NFS) and Server Message Block (SMB) protocols, it ensures scalability and facilitates efficient collaboration and data sharing across the organization.

For critical workloads, deliver optimal responsiveness. Whether handling databases, virtual machines, or other performance-intensive tasks, Alletra provides the necessary speed and reliability. Moreover, such as snapshots, replication, and encryption mitigate various threats and enhance overall security.

HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud integration enhances the value of Alletra by offering users a consumption-based model for greater flexibility. Additionally, the platform ensures intuitive and consistent management across various deployment environments. This seamless connectivity between on-premises data centers and public clouds optimizes performance and agility. Furthermore, enhances the ecosystem by offering high availability, data reduction, and predictive analytics capabilities.

HPE Alletra empowers businesses with data agility, robust security, and innovation. As organizations navigate the complexities of the digital era, HPE serves as a reliable partner in each business’s transformative journey.

Final Thoughts

HPE Alletra, a robust data management solution, empowers businesses by enhancing data agility, security, and innovation. As a leading IT solutions provider, WEI collaborates with HPE to streamline infrastructure and enable data-first modernization. Contact our team of experts, as we’re ready to support your data agility and security goals.

Next steps: The IT consumption model allows businesses with an on-prem footprint to benefit from the cloud. This includes networking, storage, data protection, etc. Learn more in our free tech brief below:

The post Five Reasons To Prioritize Data Agility and Security appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Every organization relies on data, and it’s crucial to keep it safe, recoverable, and secure. When it comes to data security, organizations act like vigilant guardians protecting a treasure. To shield against threats like ransomware and hardware failures, they continuously upgrade hardware and software and analyze methods to improve systems and backups. Research suggests that the best way to reduce hidden threats is by using technologies that automate infrastructure checks and implementing network segmentation.

In addressing data protection, various approaches are adopted by organizations. Some prioritize continuous monitoring, others opt for the integration of advanced security architectures, and some choose to augment their teams and centralize security decision-making. Despite the effectiveness of these strategies, challenges persist in securing data within hybrid cloud environments. This article aims to explore how to best bridge the existing security gap by securing data and hybrid cloud.

Challenges In Data And Cloud Security

Traditional data protection means copying the data that changed in various production environments during off-peak hours and storing that copy in a secondary location. The limitations of daily backups pose the following challenges:

• Outdated copies can hinder quick recovery, especially during times of cyber-attacks or natural disasters.
• Costly backup management.
• Shortages in competent and experienced IT security personnel.
• Difficulty in meeting regulatory requirements.

With data being generated at lightning speed, businesses must update their protection strategies to ensure efficient data safeguarding and recovery. To minimize concealed threats, it is essential to embrace technologies such as cloud environments, automated infrastructure, and network segmentation.

Research shows a growing inclination towards adopting zero trust and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architectures to handle vulnerabilities and user access. Prioritizing data safety demands robust measures for protection, recoverability, and security. In the face of these developments, businesses are urged to adapt swiftly and modernize their approaches for comprehensive data management.

Using Backups For Data And Cloud Security

As more organizations amplify their security measures and migrate to the cloud, more than 90% leverage the cloud for data protection. IDC predicts that by 2025, 55% of organizations will adopt a cloud-centric data protection strategy. There are several ways to boost data security, and one of the fastest-growing data protection solutions that businesses can utilize is Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS).

Driven by an increase in cloud-related spending and new cloud application deployments, BaaS solutions range from “do it yourself” options to more full-service options.

BaaS solutions have multiple benefits, including:

• Lower operational costs
• Scalability
• Ease of use
• Data security
• Disaster recovery
• Reduction of backup windows and reusing backups for other tasks
• Provision of automated reporting, monitoring, and management.

Moreover, BaaS integrates with other cloud services, such as analytics, archiving, and content delivery.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise responds to the demand for BaaS and addressing modern cybersecurity challenges through . Expanding their focus on storage software and data management, one notable offering is .

Reasons To Choose HPE GreenLake For Backup And Recovery

HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery is crafted for hybrid clouds, streamlining protection across diverse storage in such settings. It caters to administrators managing on-premises and cloud workloads, ensuring fast data recovery, consistent backup and encryption, and seamless restoration of operations. This bridges the security gap between on-prem and cloud environments.

The service delivers the following benefits to your IT infrastructure:

1. Simplified protection and enhanced security measures delivered as SaaS. This approach removes the complexity of managing various components traditionally associated with backup servers. HPE also manages the entire backup environment, including updates and new functionalities.
2. The Global Protection Policy guarantees uniform protection for organizational policies across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid workloads.
3. Integration and comprehensive data management with various HPE edge-to-cloud services such as , HPE GreenLake, and .
4. Data protection which extends to various storage solutions like HPE GreenLake for Block Storage, HPE Alletra, HPE Nimble Storage, and HPE Primera.
5. Ease of operation via a secure, single cloud console. This addresses security concerns with built-in encryption, backup data immutability, and dual authorization.
6. A consumption-based, pay-as-you-go model, which eliminates the need for upfront investment.

Originally designed for VMware virtual machines (VMs), the service has now expanded its protection to include Amazon EBS volumes and EC2 instances. This broader coverage makes HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery a dependable BaaS solution suitable for any organization.

Final Thoughts

Effective data protection is crucial. The cloud, particularly in hybrid architectures, is emerging as the primary platform for safeguarding data. This trend aligns seamlessly with cloud-based data protection, such as BaaS. IT managers seek to unify data protection across application platforms, and outsourcing routine tasks through BaaS can empower teams to prioritize essential business activities.

WEI offers expert guidance on data protection solutions tailored to your organization’s needs. Pay-as-you-go solutions like HPE GreenLake for Backup and Recovery ensure reliable protection and seamless integration into broader frameworks to simplify your operations. Contact our team for information on implementing an effective data protection strategy for your business.

Next Steps: As you begin preparing your enterprise for the move to the hybrid cloud, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss any critical steps. Download and read our free and informative checklist, now.

The post How To Navigate Modern Data Security Challenges In The Hybrid Cloud Era appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

In 2023, the era of using data to transform how businesses operate continued to gain steam. To keep up with shifting business demands and ensure data remains safe, security and IT teams need to expand the capabilities within their support teams and the widening IT environments they cater to. The challenge is even more significant with the rise of modern hybrid cloud setups, which trigger unexpected complexity and unknown security vulnerabilities.

While some organizations have defined a roadmap to properly navigate these challenges, maintaining a resilient cybersecurity practice continues to be a persistent challenge due to the evolving threat landscape and ongoing IT security gaps. In this blog, we’ll explore the current state our customers are facing in today’s cyber threat landscape and discuss the recommended strategies businesses should consider and adapt to over the next few years.

Current Challenges In Cybersecurity

Over the past year, faced security breaches due to their inability to understand and act on newfound cyber threat complexities. A critical challenge goes back to the lack of visibility for securing all apps and workloads – something the experts at WEI can readily assist with. After all, a CISO cannot protect what is unknown to their landscape. Apart from that, organizations cite the following as additional challenges to fortifying their IT landscape:

• The inability to verify app and workload security
• Legacy controls/unable to modernize their security operation center
• Reliance on isolated security solutions
• Too many alerts to address and prioritize, especially with ransomware and hardware attacks, which create disparity between IT security teams
• A lack of automated solutions for handling increasing data volumes
• Shortages in security staffing, skills, and experience

2023 And Beyond: Best Practices In Cybersecurity

Recently, HPE sponsored conducted by the Ponemon Institute to identify distinct and proven practices for a more effective cybersecurity posture within the enterprise and how to tighten the IT security gap. Notably, acknowledged their organizations as highly effective in navigating the evolving threat landscape.

These forward-thinking organizations have already begun reevaluating their security strategies in the face of expanding edge computing and storage and are also integrating solutions from both security and hybrid cloud providers.

Below are summarized strategies that serve as a valuable blueprint for other enterprise security teams. Notable features include:

1. Bigger Teams, Fewer Breaches: High performers experienced fewer data breaches and downtime when they prioritized investing in expanding and hiring highly-skilled IT security professionals.
2. Zero Trust Control In Network-As-A-Service (NaaS): In the era of NaaS, high-performing teams assume direct responsibility for their zero-trust implementation and avoid reliance on service providers. This empowers them to tailor security precisely to their organization’s needs.
3. Centralized Decision-Making: Clear leadership leads to a more cohesive and effective security position. High performers centralize critical decisions on security solutions and architectures. They do so with either the network or security team leading, rather than opting for a shared responsibility model as seen in other organizations.
4. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Adoption And User/Device Visibility: High performers are embracing SASE architecture. This cloud-based security approach involves maintaining the visibility of all users, networks, and devices – a crucial aspect of strong cybersecurity.
5. Continuous Monitoring And Real-Time Solutions: Proactive teams boost internet of things (IoT) risk mitigation through continuous network traffic monitoring, swiftly identifying anomalies, and implementing real-time solutions to counteract malicious activities from compromised IoT devices.
6. Network Access Control (NAC) Solutions And Integration: Integrating NAC solutions into the security stack improves compliance and IoT security.
7. Evolving Vendor Relationships: Leading organizations are actively and consistently reassessing vendor relationships in response to the shift to edge computing and storage. Many anticipate their current vendors will provide customized security solutions specifically designed for edge environments, rather than relying on their infrastructure providers for edge protection.
8. Hardware Security Focus: Organizations that prioritize cybersecurity actively focus on securing both software and hardware. This involves the use of servers equipped with security certificates to detect tampering and infrastructure employing chips or certificates for the same purpose. They also emphasize the value of data protection and recovery in their overall security strategy.

By investing in these best practices, any competent IT team can demonstrate a clear commitment to a robust cybersecurity posture, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of cyber threats in the years to come.

Final Thoughts

In the current era of data-driven transformation, success lies in seamlessly integrating security measures with modern hybrid cloud solutions. Businesses that strategically adopt this approach are then equipped to meet the challenges presented by the evolving data landscape.

Certified at the highest levels by a myriad of the industry’s top cybersecurity partners, WEI’s security experts are ready to guide you through a holistic security practice. This involves leveraging protective foundations from providers, adopting technologies for automated infrastructure integrity verification, and implementing network segmentation.

Through these measures, we effectively mitigate hidden threats within your IT infrastructure, ensuring long-term security within your organization. Contact WEI today to get started. 

Next Steps: Explore disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) from Zerto and dive into the benefits with the experts. Learn how DRaaS from Zerto, paired with the intelligence of HPE ProLiant Gen11 servers powered by 4th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, helps mitigate downtime and data loss.

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The University of Phoenix once faced : outdated infrastructure, technical debt, and annual data center costs upwards of $1.7 million. The online university’s previous attempts to switch to a hyperscale cloud failed due to the complexity of modernizing old applications and workloads.

Their story took a better turn when the university adopted and started migrating its most challenging workload. Their success enabled a more efficient and cost-effective digital transformation which replaced technical debt with modern solutions.

Addressing Edge Computing Challenges

Many organizations require access to nearby computing resources to maintain smooth operations. The primary obstacle that enterprises encounter is providing these on-site services at remote locations.

The University of Phoenix’s experience reflects the common business challenges of today: the need for a consistent managed service across multiple locations, including the cloud. However, proximity-based applications often struggle with connectivity and latency issues. For that reason, edge computing is essential, which brings us to Expedient.

Most of the time, businesses resort to do-it-yourself approaches to save on costs. This has been the traditional solution to edge computing. This causes several issues, including:

• Increased Costs: Setting up these solutions involves shipping, configuring, and maintaining systems. This is expensive and comes with logistical challenges, especially in a period where many IT teams are struggling to fill personnel as solutions grow more complicated. 
• Hardware Update Complications: These solutions often require frequent hardware updates. This adds to the complexity and expenses over time as technology evolves. As with many customers who partner with WEI for Expedient solutions, it is often too late when they realize the impressive cost savings and hassle-free subscription method as opposed to being locked into unfriendly multi-year contracts.
• Ongoing Support: Traditional methods find it difficult to handle ongoing hardware support, monitoring, patch management, and unexpected repairs. This leaves organizations struggling to keep their systems running smoothly. WEI can help your enterprise with ongoing support and training to empower difference-making upskilling.
• Scalability Challenges: Scaling these solutions across different locations is a significant challenge. It’s not easy to adapt them to various environments and needs.

While a DIY approach might be tempting, this method often costs businesses more money in the long-run.

Solving Key Challenges With Expedient Edge

The transformation we referenced early on with University of Phoenix proves solutions like and effectively virtualizes existing applications and workloads. With this solution, the university streamlined operations, cut costs, and reduced their owned hardware from 100 servers to seven.

How will you know if your enterprise is ready to embrace edge computing? Have you already explored this option? We recommend that you consider this solution if your business requires:

• A cost-friendly cloud model
• Workload management and support
• Integrated storage and networking
• Resilience to internet connectivity issues
• An adaptable solution for various networking conditions

Expedient Edge, a fully-managed VMware-powered infrastructure, offers timely assistance by providing the following services:

1. Consistent Management: Unifying and elevating the level of services through a cloud-based management platform, ensuring a consistent and reliable experience at a fraction of the cost.
2. Improved Connectivity: Allowing apps to run independently of internet connectivity to ensure seamless operations no matter where they are deployed.
3. Fully Managed VMware Infrastructure: The solution boasts a fully managed , ensuring clients have a robust and reliable foundation for their workloads. And did we mention that Expedient deploys the world’s largest VMware clouds just an hour away from WEI in Boston, MA?

Expedient Edge also meets the increasing demand for a cloud operating model while providing a wide range of features. This makes it a significant choice for organizations in search of dependable and flexible IT solutions.

The Future Of Edge

Companies now understand the need to invest heavily in edge computing, and this trend is expected to continue over the . A recent in March reveals that companies anticipate increased edge budgets in 2023, with a focus on security, automation, and orchestration software investments. Moreover, this technology is not ideal for just one industry, but many where traditional IT is not suitable. This plays into the favor of manufacturing as the edge appliance can fits just about anywhere – a closet, factory floor, or anywhere that cooling conditions are not ideal. 

Additionally, one-third of the respondents plan to increase short-term edge spending according to a recent survey, with variations based on region, company size, and industry. This uptick is fueled by tech updates, heightened security, and growing data center needs.

With a feature-rich offering, Expedient Edge is an excellent choice for organizations seeking reliable, adaptable IT solutions.

Contact our experts at WEI to learn more about edge computing and discover how Expedient’s host of solutions could potentially benefit your business. The future of computing is here. By embracing this transformation, your organization will remain at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness in the digital era.

Next steps: The blueprint for an effective ransomware protection strategy starts with maximizing the resources you already have. WEI can help explain how in our free tech brief.

The post How Expedient Is Shaping The Future Of Edge Computing appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

It is no surprise most enterprises are prioritizing network modernization in the day and age of digital transformation. Outdated infrastructure harms productivity and hinders security, making it a challenge to build a future-ready network that meets evolving expectations. All too often, our team will assess networks based on traditional VLAN architectures that will 100% struggle to accommodate hundreds of thousands of users and devices. A modern network should seamlessly connect remote workers to physical locations, data centers, and the cloud, following an edge-centric and data-driven approach.

As organizations embark on their journey towards network modernization, one of the most promising solutions that have emerged is (NaaS). In this article, we discuss its significance and identify why its adoption is a promising solution for your network modernization effort.

Embracing NaaS For Network Modernization

The emergence of NaaS platforms is a game-changer in network modernization, enabling businesses to be agile with changing needs through flexible consumption models. However, on the other side of this, a move to NaaS also presents potential concerns, including financial risks and customer default through contraction or revocation of service.

Despite these common and preventable challenges, incorporating new products and services with desirable pricing models ensures ongoing evolution. Moreover, offering diverse server and storage options from the outset facilitates sustainable customer relationship growth.

Principles Of Network Modernization

Creating an agile network that accelerates your organization might seem like a huge undertaking, but it also makes for an incredibly positive difference in productivity. Here are five principles to keep in mind to help you manage network modernization effectively:

1. Connectivity And Scalability

Traditional virtual LAN (VLAN) architectures may face challenges accommodating the increasing number of users and devices. To address the evolving need to scale workloads, organizations should consider the following options:

• Subscribe to cloud-based services for quick and efficient delivery of a secure network.
• Add network overlays like Ethernet VPN (EVPN)/Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) to the existing infrastructure to enhance network capabilities.
• Modernize WAN solutions with SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network)

2. AI-Powered Automation

Artificial intelligence for IT operations (AIOps) streamlines network management through automation. In fact, AIOps can help solve troubleshooting issues up to 90% faster, while reducing trouble tickets by 50% simply by seeing issues before the user does, according to HPE Aruba Networking. These complex technologies handle tasks like optimization and troubleshooting, freeing your workforce for more complex operations.

If you’re looking to implement AI, start small by testing solutions. Some vendors claim to have adopted AI in their platforms, but you will want to ensure their models have domain expertise and applicability across various organization sizes.

3. Security

In the era of digital transformation, modern data security threats are on the rise. To safeguard networks, businesses are focusing on enhancing their zero trust and SASE frameworks to close protection gaps and stay ahead of evolving threats.

When deciding on a provider, make sure SASE and zero trust frameworks are integrated with their solutions. Features like unified network access and security ecosystems are also important to ensure smooth integration into your existing environment.

4. Agility
As business objectives evolve rapidly, organizations need a highly-responsive network infrastructure to stay competitive and meet changing demands of users and the market.

To maintain an agile network, businesses should take time to:

• Assess the capabilities and scalability of current cloud-native network management tools.
• Adopt a versatile cloud-native service which can be deployed in the cloud and on-premises.
• Read the fine print and pay attention to licensing terms to avoid lock-ins and forced upgrades.

By following these steps, you can build a future-proof network that adapts to evolving needs and requirements.

5. Flexibility

Most organizations have limited budgets and IT staffing shortages which make it challenging to acquire and manage new network solutions. NaaS offers a modern solution.

This feature lets you scale workloads and use the latest technology without huge upfront costs. Luckily, there are providers available to help you find the perfect NaaS solution for your organization without overspending or overloading your team. 

Final Thoughts

HPE Aruba Networking is leading the era of network modernization for businesses at all stages of their edge-to-cloud journey through their unique features, including:

• : A secure, AI-powered edge services platform that offers faster connections, scaling, issue resolution, and operational insights with a cloud-native approach
• : Their management console, powered by AI-enabled insights and robust security features, streamlines network management and operations with a user-friendly single dashboard.

With support for Zero Trust and SASE frameworks, HPE Aruba Networking also provides full visibility and control across your existing infrastructure. A trusted IT solutions provider like WEI will guide you toward a network modernization solution that deploys network solutions in just minutes, not weeks.

Is it time for your organization to modernize networks? WEI understands the power of a modernized network to meet dynamic business demands. To create future-proof environments, we advise partnering with a provider experienced in agile networking. Contact us today to explore how HPE Aruba Networking’s NaaS platforms adapt to your specific needs and benefit your business.

Next steps: is the next logical step in progressing from owning and maintaining physical assets and moving to a highly flexible and service-oriented approach for all network components. That includes computer, networking, & data protection, and so much more.

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Within the “CIO’s As-a-Service playbook,” it explains how the previous consumption-oriented model of the public cloud system changed everything. However, the previous consumption-oriented model required IT to buy service and resource capacities themselves, which introduced new risks for CIOs. These limitations were identified when contrasted with the scalability and cost efficiencies of the cloud. IT wants to deliver the public cloud experience their users crave, yet some workloads cannot make that transition and must remain on-premises for many reasons.

As-a-Service not only removes complexity, but it also speeds business outcomes and creates cost savings typically only seen with public cloud. The As-a-Service model enables rapid development of hardware, software, and services anywhere and anytime.

Basics Of The As-a-Service Model And How It Works

The As-a-Service model is an on-demand service available in a pay-per use format. There is no upfront capital investment; instead, CIOs utilize resources and pay for what is actually being used. Usage is determined based on metering technology, with units of measure aligned to the hardware and/or software being consumed.

The As-a-Service model mimics the public cloud experience, but in your own environment or co-location facility. In traditional environments, it’s difficult to predict how much infrastructure will be needed but with the new model it is now easier to scale up or down on-demand. Most organizations over-provision for storage capacity, according to . With the improved forecasting and use of IT resources, the As-a-Service model makes a significant difference.

With this model, companies can get the same cloud experience everywhere – in their on-premises data centers, at the edge, and in multi-cloud environments. CIOs can operate, manage, and control multiple business units and environments from one location. Companies are quickly shifting to hybrid cloud environments, where the workload placement can be determined on a best-suited basis. As a result of these changes, integrating, managing, and gaining visibility across newly complex IT infrastructures has become a challenge, making the As-a-Service model attractive to many enterprises.

Why Invest In The As-a-Service Model?

There are three value propositions for the As-a-Service model. First, in the “CIO’s As-A-Service Playbook“ Jason James, a CIO Net Health professional states, “In the next 12 to 18 months, many CIOs are going to focus as heavily on cost optimization as they are on digital transformation.” By paying only for the capacity that is actually used, CIOs can get a better handle on budgeting and forecasting and avoid the risk of over-provisioning resources.

Second, a study by found undoubtedly faster time to market among users of As-a-Service models. The ability to quickly scale on demand brought efficiencies in meeting deadlines. Additionally, it enabled business units to develop products, applications, and launch new projects even faster than before.

Finally, by optimizing costs and speeding project delivery, IT organizations can focus on more strategic tasks. In the “CIO’s As-A-Service Playbook Paige Francis, a CIO at the University of Tulsa states, “It seems by eliminating the need to manage the hardware piece and the budget piece, more time can be spent on focusing on our users, carving out exactly what they need – without having to spend time worrying about the transition period of one piece of hardware to the next piece of hardware.” Francis also explained that the beauty of the As-a-Service model is when companies can quickly deploy infrastructure and optimize their data centers for fast delivery.

How HPE GreenLake Works With As-a-Service

Many enterprise’s applications and data aren’t appropriate for the public cloud. They are still on-premises for a variety of reasons – security, compliance, governance, or legacy entanglement issues. However, this doesn’t mean these workloads can’t achieve the same cloud experience. Enterprises are switching to more hybrid cloud experiences like HPE GreenLake.

On June 18, 2021 HPE announced plans to offer by 2022. HPE GreenLake offers a wide range of cloud services delivered to your data center, co-location facility, or edge location. It provides the agility and economics of public cloud with the security and performance of on-premises IT. With HPE GreenLake, companies can centralized operations and insights across their entire hybrid IT estate using the As-a-Service platform.

works by allowing you to choose your cloud services. They offer a wide range of pre-configured services like VMs, storage, compute, data protection, or SAP HANA. Additionally, you only pay for what you consume. This allows CIOs to free up capital and gain financial flexibility for their business units to take on new ventures and operations. HPE GreenLake allows you to scale with ease with an installed buffer of capacity.

Are You Looking To Transition Into An As-a-Service Model?

HPE is a global technology leader focused on developing intelligent solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data from edge to cloud. HPE enables CIOs to provide a seamless cloud experience everywhere with its As-a-Service model. If you’re ready to make the change now, contact WEI to begin building a custom solution for your business.

NEXT STEPS: Read our blog on other new announcements at HPE.

The post How HPE’s “CIO’s As-A-Service Playbook” Improves The Business Environment appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

While 2021 hasn’t brought a definite end to pandemic-era IT challenges like many hoped, other technology predictions have held steady, largely propelled by the new remote working and hybrid workforce standard. Examples include the continued proliferation of internet of things (IoT) devices, the accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies, and an increased interest in software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) technologies.

With that in mind, in the article below, we discuss five SD-WAN edge trends that will help IT leaders plan for what’s coming next and make informed decisions about their SD-WAN strategies, as shared by .

1. SASE Will Continue To Gain Steam

To fully take advantage of the benefits of digital transformation and a remote or hybrid workforce, enterprises need to make improvements to their WAN and security architectures instead of just focusing on one or the other. This is especially important as cybersecurity threats continue to multiply and remote workforces serve as tempting targets for bad actors.

Secure access service edge (SASE) offers the security needed to handle these evolving workforces while ensuring a consistent and enjoyable user experience for employees.

2. IoT Security Challenges Will Require New Solutions

In addition to remote workforces, the continued proliferation of IoT devices has created its own security challenges. Zero trust access and granular segmentation at the new WAN edge, which can enforce distinct security policies for each class of IoT endpoints, will be key in securing these devices and preventing them from being utilized by cybercriminals.

3. SD-WAN, SD-Branch, and SASE Will Be Essential To Edge Success

When it comes to security, a multi-pronged approach ensures that data will stay secure, regardless of the threat. By combining SD-WAN with cloud-first connectivity and steering, SASE, which provides a more direct way to connect users to business resources, and SD-Branch, which offers an easy way to simplify the branch even as IoT adoptions create new complications, enterprises can enhance their security posture while also improving operational efficiencies.

4. Edge Strategies Will Continue To Evolve As Circumstances Require

While many hoped that at this stage we would be in the post-pandemic era, the virus continues to impact enterprises and IT on a daily basis, delaying plans to return to the office and necessitating technologic creativity when designing and implementing infrastructure. Looking ahead, as we do eventually reach the end of the pandemic, enterprises will continue to utilize edge strategies to improve security and user experience for remote and hybrid workforces.

5. Enterprises Will Utilize Software-Defined Principles To Support Growth

As we’ve seen with SD-WAN, software-defined strategies are proving to be the most efficient and logical step forward for the modern enterprise. Beyond SD-WAN and SD-Branch, these software-defined principles are being applied to other areas of the enterprise, including the data center and campus LAN. To stay competitive in the market and ready for unexpected change, enterprises will need to adopt these strategies throughout their digital environments.

SD-WAN By Aruba And Silver Peak

In 2020, , the parent company of Aruba, acquired , a global leader in SD-WAN solutions. Through this acquisition, Aruba and Silver Peak are working together to provide customers with the very best in SD-WAN solutions, while also significantly reducing costs.

Silver Peak’s SD-WAN offerings will strengthen the by expanding Aruba’s cloud capabilities. Additionally, through a combination of Silver Peak’s SD-WAN and Aruba’s SD-Branch offerings, customers can simplify branch office and WAN deployments, benefiting remote workers and supporting cloud-connected distributed enterprises.

Are You Interested In SD-WAN From Aruba?

Regardless of your specific use case, Aruba offers the SD-WAN and edge computing solutions your enterprises need to be successful. By transforming WAN and security together, enterprises can discover increased benefit from their current and future investments in cloud-computing. Beyond the initial advantages of SD-WAN solutions, IT will experience additional benefits through reduced management complexity and overall lowered costs.

NEXT STEPS: SD-WAN is ideal for campus-based networks or distributed enterprises, or any enterprise with remote/branch offices. Explore the top three benefits of SD-WAN in our short video below.

The post 5 SD-WAN Edge Trends All IT Leaders Should Know appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

In today’s rapidly changing work environments, enterprises can no longer mix and match solutions in an attempt to provide security for on-premises and remote employees. Instead, enterprises need one solution that can provide comprehensive, holistic security from edge-to-cloud.

This is a critical time in cybersecurity. Over the last 18 months we’ve seen new security challenges arise as a direct result of the pandemic, including:

• A rise in shadow IT-related incidents fueled by the exodus to remote working.
• Increased cyberattacks, especially ransomware attacks.
• Massive growth of the attack surface as enterprises prioritized performance and productivity over security.

Mix in the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and the inherent security challenges associated with cloud computing and it seems impossible that one platform can secure your on-site users, your remote employees, and the multitude of other devices used across your enterprise every single day.

, begs to differ. Keep reading to find out how Aruba Networks’ built-in security solutions can protect against advanced threats.

1. Aruba For Device Discovery And Profiling

Regardless of the industry, enterprises have huge numbers of devices to manage, whether they’re known and are IoT devices, are utilized by employees, or are unknown and belong to vendors, customers, or other visitors. To stay ahead of the security challenge presented by these devices, enterprises need a solution that can bring visibility and control. Through Aruba ClearPass Device Insight, IT can address the risk associated with these devices and block security holes before bad actors find them.

2. Network Access Control For Wired, Wireless, And WAN

With Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager, IT can rest assured that vulnerable data is protected through centralized user and device authentication, role-based access policies, and continuous attack response.

Through this dynamic, real-time device management system, access for authorized users is simplified, improving employee productivity and reducing risk. ClearPass also supports BYOD initiatives, further improving user experience.

3. Unified Threat Management For SD-WAN

Unlike other security solutions, doesn’t sacrifice performance for security. Through built in edge- and cloud-based security controls, enterprises can reap the full benefits of their cloud and broadband investments.

Despite the attention devoted to performance, enterprises can be confident that the network is secured from edge-to-cloud. Through firewalls placed at the edge, to dynamic segmentation and advanced threat response, Aruba prevents and contains threats, regardless of how distributed your environment is.

4. Secure Remote Access VPN Solutions

These days, you can never be sure where your employees are going to be working from. While many enterprises made plans to go back to the office this fall, those plans have been put on hold due to the ongoing health crisis. Instead, many users continue to work from home, from the road, from hotels, and basically anywhere with an internet connection.

As a result, enterprises need to be ready with secure remote access virtual private network (VPN) solutions. This same technology can also be applied for micro and macro branch locations, reducing the need for multiple, often incompatible solutions or complicated integration scenarios.

5. Policy Enforcement Firewall

With Aruba Networks, enterprises can take security right to the source of data with a policy enforcement firewall (PEF), which provides automated dynamic segmentation for wireless and wired access security in any Aruba Networks environment.

By placing a firewall at the point of connectivity, Aruba Networks is giving enterprises a simple way to control access to the network without creating additional cost or complexity.

6. Integrated Protection For Aruba WLAN

Last but not least, software prevents denial-of-service and man-in-the-middle attacks, while also reducing the risk of over-the-air security threats. As a result, enterprises no longer need to install separate RF sensors or security sensors if they’re using Aruba wireless LAN.

Securing the future of ‘work’ looks different than yesterday, but WEI and Aruba can help.

The edge will only grow and become more complex if you don’t start taking an active approach to integrating security at the endpoints of your business. If you’re interested in any of the security strategies discussed above, WEI can help. offers the holistic security and architectural simplicity needed to stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. By taking advantage of Aruba’s full portfolio of security solutions and out-of-the-box integrations, enterprises can fully secure their remote, hybrid, or on-premises workforces.

To make the transition easy, talk to WEI. Our team of network security experts know Aruba’s portfolio inside and out an have implemented it for customer across several different industries. While the details of each project may be different, the goal is always the same, secure my business and the way people interact with it, at the edge.

NEXT STEPS: Just about every business we talk with has long-term remote workforce initiatives, and security has become a larger focal point of each conversation because devices are no longer protected by the traditional enterprise perimeter. Don’t leave security to chance with your remote workforce. See how Aruba is solving the challenge with Aruba Remote Access Points, and find out just how easy Aruba RAPs are to implement and manage in our tech brief below.

The post Six Ways to Achieve Edge-To-Cloud Security With Aruba appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Even as we conquer one technology and discover all the different ways we can bend it to our will, another comes along and the cycle begins anew. For today’s enterprises edge computing represents a great leap forward in data processing.

In this article, we’ll offer a high-level overview of the edge, explain why your enterprise should take advantage of the benefits of edge computing, and three tips to help you get your edge strategy started.

What Is Edge Computing?

Understanding exactly what the edge encompasses is the first step to devising your own edge strategy. That said, the definition of edge computing is a bit nebulous, with organizations often defining exactly what constitutes as “the edge” based on their own computing environments and their specific organizations.

That said, the fundamental principle of edge computing remains the same: Bringing computation and data storage closer to the sources of data, which is turns speeds up processing time and improves data-related productivity.

In a recent report commissioned by Dell, the technology was described as:

“Edge computing” is a term that encompasses a broad array of execution venues, including devices and equipment with embedded compute, adjacent computing devices that augment compute-constrained endpoints, gateways to legacy equipment, and proximate compute resources in closets, cages and within the network operator infrastructure. Edge computing also includes hyperconverged infrastructure that integrates and virtualizes key components of IT infrastructure including storage, networking and compute.”

The bottom line is that while the exact definition and application of the edge can differ, enterprises are all searching for the same things when they utilize it: increased agility, productivity, and a reduction in the time spent processing data before it can be properly utilized.

Why Your Enterprise Needs To Embrace Edge Computing

Now that we’ve explained what the edge is, let’s delve into why enterprises are so keen on employing their own edge strategies.

Some of the motivation can be attributed to seeking a competitive advantage, the same reason any new technology is adopted once it’s been proven to be effective.

Other reasons enterprises are seeking out edge computing are the specific benefits offered by the edge.

As shared by Dell, these benefits include:

• Reduced latency – Through edge computing, the latency inherent to physical distance can be overcome.
• Bandwidth conservation – The locations that need the edge the most often have limited WAN bandwidth. By processing data locally, enterprises can extract the maximum business value from it.
• Operational technology (OT) connectivity – Enterprises in some industries require specific compute devices in order to acquire data and pass control information. Edge computing can help support the needs of these businesses.
• Business process availability – Critical tasks undertaken at the edge need to be able to continue even during network outages or other crisis situations. Edge computing can ensure that these locations, whether a factory, retail location, or hospital, can continue to operate even during outages.
• Data sovereignty – Depending on the industry and location, the movement of some types of data may be restricted. Edge computing can help enterprises overcome these restrictions and still leverage the data produced.

3 Tips for Building Your Edge Computing Strategy

Once it’s decided that an enterprise should move forward in adopting an edge strategy, the next step to plot the path forward. Like any other technology, adopting it without a proper plan in place can reduce the technology’s effectiveness in the long-term. So, what do enterprises need to keep in mind for their edge strategy?

1. Plan your strategy around your specific business goals. Every enterprise is different and edge strategies are not one size fits all. Keep your specific targeted business outcomes in mind when designing your strategy and you can ensure that your edge strategy will drive your business forward.
2. Be efficient when designing your infrastructure. The edge is all about consolidating and looking for opportunities to save on resources to improve agility and productivity. By integrating your data streams, your edge infrastructure can also take advantage of the existing edge data.
3. Keep the future in mind. Your edge strategy shouldn’t just be planned for the here and now, it should also take the future into consideration. Consider what the growth of your enterprise will mean for your edge strategy and plan accordingly. Planning now will pay dividends down the line.

Do You Need Help on Your Journey to the Edge?

is committed to helping enterprises transform the way they do business. To support this, Dell offers a broad range of applicable for a variety of industries and that can meet the unique requirements of your enterprise. The best part? You can leverage WEI’s expertise across Dell’s portfolio of infrastructure solutions to help determine the best solution for your business. WEI is here to help set you up for success with your edge computing strategy.

NEXT STEPS: Adoption of hyperconverged infrastructure solutions are on the rise as more and more enterprise businesses see the benefits first hand. Check out our tech brief below that features several of the reasons our customers choose VxRail for HCI. (No forms required!)

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The data needs of today’s enterprises continue to evolve and to keep up, many IT organizations are turning to hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI). The benefits of HCI, which include rapid deployment, reduced physical space requirements, and streamlined infrastructure, match perfectly with the immediate priorities of IT organizations looking to modernize legacy systems to increase agility, improve the management experience, and simplify scalability.

That said, HCI is continuing to evolve as does the needs of the enterprise. As shared by IDC, it’s predicted that by 2023, 70 percent of enterprises will run varying levels of processing at the IoT edge, and the compound annual growth rate of edge infrastructure spending on compute and storage will grow to hit $21.2 billion in 2023.

As companies modernize their infrastructure and adopt HCI, they realize workloads at the edge are different from typical enterprise workloads. These workloads are creating and processing data at the edge, they are small and resilient, and they require friction-less deployment, connectivity and mobility. HCI must evolve to service the world we are living in, the world at the edge. Let’s take a look at the next steps needed for your organization to extend HCI to the edge, and the reasons why HPE SimpliVity just might be the right choice.

Achieving Edge-Optimized HCI

To optimize and bring HCI all the way to the edge, IDC specifies that enterprise requirements include:

• More efficient technologies for capturing and processing data
• Local resiliency and no-touch IT
• Built in security
• Automation to simplify management and automate day-to-day activities
• Simplified deployment, connectivity, and operations
• High availability (HA) in the smallest physical footprint possible

HCI at the Edge with HPE SimpliVity

is edge-optimized HCI. This leading HCI solution offers enterprises the simplest and most efficient all-in-one appliance (including data protection) with HA in as little as two nodes, remote and multi-site management, and artificial intelligence (AI) and automation through .

Four differentiators of HPE SimpliVity:

1. Easy to deploy – Low-entry price point and packaging for compact, highly available, all-in-one HCI with built-in data protection
2. Efficient data movement – global dedupe, space efficient replication and rapid multi-site DR for fast recoveries in low bandwidth settings
3. 2-Node high availability – Achieve resiliency with 2 nodes in small footprint with built-in data protection and disaster recovery features to help keep data safe at the edge
4. Simple to manage – Remote, multi-site infrastructure management with integrated data services and backup/recovery through VMware vCenter

Research by IDC shows that 75 percent of customers saw better storage utilization and 57 percent saw improved staff productivity when utilizing HPE SimpliVity.

Why are Enterprise Leaders Choosing HPE SimpliVity?

Businesses are moving to more data-centric business models; they are capturing and analyzing more data than ever before. This faster pace of business and the immense volume of data are forcing organizations to modernize IT infrastructure at a rapid rate. They require increased agility, improved manageability, and the ability to scale when needed. Turns out, HPE SimpliVity is solving the need.

A recent PeerPaper Report by IT CentralStation titled, , captures real user reviews of HPE SimpliVity. Of the many factors these companies considered before deploying HCI, here are the top reasons they ultimately went with HPE SimpliVity:

• Simplicity
• Manageability
• Efficiency
• Faster, more highly available applications
• Fast backup and Restore
• Footprint consolidation
• More Cloud options

The other major factor is data intelligence and is part of what makes HPE SimpliVity different from competing HCI solutions. comes with the benefit of AI-driven intelligence with HPE InfoSight, providing visibility and predictive analytics across your infrastructure. With VM-centric management and mobility, built-in , and unparalleled data efficiency in an architecture that’s already optimized for the edge, HPE SimpliVity has truly evolved from the HCI solutions of the past.

It’s Good for Remote Workforce Initiatives, Too!

We would be remiss if we didn’t stop for a moment to call out HPE SimpliVity’s ability to support your remote workforce. In an article on HPE’s Community platform titled, , HPE reports that HPE SimpliVity is a proven architecture for VDI, with running virtual desktops on the platform (that was from May 2020, we estimate it to be significantly higher by now given the implications of the pandemic). HPE customers are already benefiting from the powerful, built-in data protection and single-click lifecycle management of HPE SimpliVity, but the solution goes further to support the evolving needs of a remote workforce. Here’s how:

1. Easily scalable: Customers can start with a small, medium, or large configuration and easily add new nodes in small, powerful increments from pilot to production scale with no disruption.Powerful capabilities in a compact form factor: Starting with the very first appliance, customers can take advantage of the full software capabilities of HPE SimpliVity including guaranteed data efficiency, built-in data protection, and global VM-centric management and mobility.
2. Lower dollar per desktop cost: Doubling the virtual desktops per server provides businesses a 50% savings in cost per remote worker.
3. Seamless integration into existing IT environment: Customers can mix HPE SimpliVity 325 with HPE SimpliVity 380 and 2600 models in the same federation across many sites, easily integrating the new HCI nodes into existing environments.

Highly dense HPE SimpliVity 325 is a powerful hyperconverged infrastructure for space-constrained IT. The 1 rack-unit model is ideal for remote sites, Edge, and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Are You Interested In Utilizing HCI At The Edge?

As a global, edge-to-cloud company, HPE is helping enterprises around the world upgrade from legacy systems and experience the benefits of a new generation of HCI. With a variety of use cases, and powered by the industry’s most advanced AI for infrastructure, HPE SimpliVity is offering the HCI experience at the edge, without compromising performance.

If you’re considering a move to hyperconverged infrastructure, rest assured that WEI can help you along the way. Ask us about our experience implementing HPE SimpliVity for mid-market to enterprise companies across several industries. We are there by your side to consult, design and architect a solution, as well as implement and support your organization beyond deployment. Contact us today to talk more about how HPE SimpliVity can fit in your environment.

NEXT STEPS: Modernizing your IT infrastructure? Sure, we all are! Dig into the differences between Converged and Hyperconverged Infrastructure and find out the key questions to ask before investing in an HCI solution in our white paper below. Read it today!

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Picture the following. You are lying in the intensive care unit of an area hospital having just gone through the ordeal of major open-heart surgery. The IC medical staff is depending on medical IoT devices to monitor you. Question, do you feel better having your collected data make the journey across the Internet for analysis at a distant cloud location, or analyzed in near instant fashion at the hospital itself where the medical staff is?

Chances are you would pick the latter. This is what edge computing is all about. It is about retaining data, analyzing and processing it where it resides, at the edge. It is an analytical approach yet does not involve sending data to a centralized cloud by default as we have recently grown accustomed to. While the cloud sufficiently serves as the collector and processor for consumer IoT, it has its limitations when it comes to enterprise IT. This is especially the case for industries such as smart manufacturing and healthcare. The fact is that most traditional networks were not designed for an IoT dominated world. If your data lives on the edge, shouldn’t your processing reside there as well?

Explore the TOP 5 Reasons why you need Edge Computing

1. Location matters
2. Getting it right ASAP
3. Edge computing reduces costs
4. Edge computing is more secure
5. Be closer to your customers

Let’s dig into each reason a little more

1. Location Matters

Most people want to live as close as possible to their work to shorten their commute. Amazon manages regional warehouses designed to get products quickly to their customers. Location matters. That is why 33 percent of IT decision makers plan to invest in new edge computing technology over the next two years. (Source: IDG Research commissioned by WEI, 2019.) Just as IT moved from a centralized mainframe model to a decentralized client/server model, companies are realizing the power of distributing their intelligence-driven IoT functions at the edges, rather than depend on a centralized cloud collector. The laws of distance apply the same whether you are commuting to work or transmitting data to a centralized cloud. Distance increases latency. Connected data drives intelligence-based insights today, which drive decisions and create greater value. For many enterprises, these generated insights need to be derived as close to real time as possible to attain optimum analytical decision-making. This means data needs to be analyzed and processed as close to its data source as possible.

2. Getting it Right ASAP

Here is another universal truth. The sooner you can correct a problem, the better. It takes less time and expense to correct a problem early on. Think of a manufacturing operation that utilizes sensors to detect issues in quality control. The ability to implement a near instant remedial response to a serious fault detection provides great value. When you think about it, does it really make sense to send all of your sensory data to a cloud collector far away when the remedial processes that are driven by those analytics take place back where the data originated? While it was necessary at one time to send all sensory data on a needless round trip due to the lack of storage and processing power to act on that data, that is no longer the case today. In an environment of razor thin margins and extreme competitiveness, companies cannot always wait for data to loop to and from the cloud. Edge computing can act on process anomalies and initiate line shutdowns immediately upon discovery. Edge computing can also potentially save the life of a patient when the seconds count most.

3. Edge Computing Reduces Costs

The pipe is not free. It costs money to send data from endpoint to edge to cloud and back. Think about the amount of data that a single IoT device such as a camera can produce in a 24-hour period. Now multiple that by hundreds, even thousands of devices. All of that data then aggregates to your data center to complete its journey to the cloud. Consider the bandwidth it takes to support all of that. Now consider the added stress on your network. Only a small percentage of that traffic can be acted on, yet it consumes bandwidth that other higher value traffic might need. Then of course, there is the cost of storing all of that data, much of which will never be used. At the very least, edge computing can help by identifying what information is useful for additional processing in the cloud. The efficiencies that edge computing introduces to your network helps reduce costs on a daily basis.

4. Edge Computing is More Secure

Yes, we are all aware of the security challenges of legacy IoT devices, but edge computing is different. Edge devices are now built with embedded functionality, not only when it comes to machine learning and analytics, but security as well. One of the things that the ubiquitous prevalence of data breaches has taught us is that any centralized congregation of data is a tempting target for hackers today. The localization of data processing not only quickens response times and optimizes the efficiencies of data transmission, it increases security as well.

5. Be Closer to Your Customers

While an exclusive reliance on cloud-based analytics by internet-based retailers may make sense, it isn’t so much the case for traditional or multichannel retailers. That is because a large block of their customers are on-premises, shopping in their stores. Edge computing allows retailers to provide better responsiveness to their customers, whether it be helping them find a product or issuing them a timely coupon based on where they reside in the store.

Edge Computing Makes Sense

When it comes to today’s enterprises, the phrase “living on the edge” does not equate to perilous behavior. The edge is where so much happens today. An edge computing architecture and strategy can reduce latency and costs, while increasing dependability and responsiveness to your operations and customer service. When you add it all up, edge computing just makes sense today.

Next Steps: Find out if your enterprise is ready for the edge in this video we created in partnership with Dell Technologies.

The post 5 Reasons Why Your Enterprise Network Needs Edge Computing appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

The interconnected worlds of today see increased access to more things at faster speeds. Wireless networking made these processes even faster, with IT administrators able to add more storage space, computing power, and other capabilities at the push of a button.

Think about autonomous vehicles for a moment. There is a lot that needs to be reacted to while driving, which is why distracted drivers and drivers under the influence are so dangerous to those inside and outside of the vehicle. The very concept of a car operating without a driver was once an unimaginable concept to the world. While it still may be a tough concept to imagine today, think about what is required to make this innovation work. The car would need to be able to have a built in GPS that not only tells the vehicle when to turn, but also makes it turn. It needs to be able to see and sense everything around it, from speed limits, to weather conditions, to other vehicles, pedestrians, and objects like telephone poles and potholes. For the autonomous vehicle to be successful, it needs instantaneous capabilities to detect, analyze, and make a potentially life-altering decision without any delays.

Edge computing is focused on optimizing data driven capabilities by bringing data collection, processing, and reporting as close to the end user as possible. It has uses in the enterprise data center, a house, in healthcare, in smart cities, and even in the middle of the ocean.

Top 5 Benefits of Edge Computing

1. Speed and Latency

The longer it takes to process data, the less relevant it is. In the case of the autonomous vehicle, time is of the essence and most of the data it collects and requires is useless after a couple of seconds. Milliseconds matter, especially on a busy roadway. Milliseconds also matter in the digital factory where intelligence based systems perpetually monitor all aspects of the manufacturing process to ensure data consistency. In many cases, there isn’t time to round trip data back and forth between the cloud. Situations such as equipment failures and hazardous incidents call for the instantaneous analysis of data. Confining data analysis to the edge where it is created eliminates latency, which translates into faster response times. This makes your data more relevant, useful and actionable. Edge computing also reduces the overall traffic loads of your enterprise at large, which improves performance for all of your enterprise applications and services.

2. Security

When all of your data must eventually feed to its cloud analyzer through a single pipe, the critical business and operating processes that rely on actionable data are highly vulnerable. As a result, a single DDoS attack can disrupt entire operations for a multinational company. When you distribute your data analysis tools across the enterprises, you distribute the risk as well. While it can be argued that edge computing expands the potential attack surface for would-be hackers, it also diminishes the impact on the organization as a whole. Another inherent truth is that when you transfer less data, there is less data that can be intercepted. The proliferation of mobile computing has made enterprises much more vulnerable because company devices are now transported outside of the protected firewall perimeter of the enterprise. When data is analyzed locally, it remains protected by the security blanket of the on premise enterprise. also helps companies overcome the issues of local compliance and privacy regulations as well as the issue of data sovereignty.

3. Cost Savings

Since all data is not the same and does not contain the same value, how does one justify spending the same amount of money on all of it when it comes to transporting, managing, and securing it? While some data is critical to your operations, some is nearly expendable. Edge computing allows you to categorize your data from a management perspective. By retaining as much data within your edge locations, you reduce the need for costly bandwidth to connect all of your locations, and bandwidth translates directly into dollars. Edge computing isn’t about eliminating the need for the cloud, it is about optimizing the flow of your data in order to maximize your operating costs. Edge computing also helps to reduce some level of data redundancy. Data that is created at the edge must be stored there at least temporarily. When sent to the cloud, it must be stored again, creating levels of redundancy. When you reduce redundant storage, you reduce redundant cost.

4. Greater Reliability

The world of IoT includes some pretty remote territories comprised of rural and less than optimal environments concerning internet connectivity. When can locally store and process ensuing data, it improves reliability. Prefabricated micro data centers are built today to operate within just about any environment. This means that temporary disruptions in intermittent connectivity will not impact smart device operations just because they lost connection to the cloud. In addition, every site has some built-in limitation to the amount of data that can be transmitted at one time. Although your bandwidth demands may not be tested as of yet, the exponential growth in generated data will push bandwidth infrastructure to the limit in the future for many enterprises.

5. Scalability

Although the idea that offers an advantage of scalability may seem contrary to promoted theory, it actually makes sense. Even for cloud computing architectures, data must first be forwarded to a centrally located datacenter in most cases. Expanding or even just modifying dedicated datacenters is an expensive proposition. What’s more, IoT devices can be deployed along with their processing and data management tools at the edge in a single implantation, rather than waiting on the coordination of efforts from personnel located at multiple sites.

Next Steps

Edge computing is a powerful resource and strategy in the modern data center. Talking to an IT solutions provider like WEI can help you determine if edge computing would be a good fit for your enterprise. Wireless networking presents many new opportunities, both operationally and financially. Wi-Fi now goes beyond the basics to support even the most strategic applications and business objectives. Learn more by downloading our free tech brief,

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