Network experts are famously partisan, entrenched in their commitment to just one brand. Yet with the rapid innovations now occurring in networking, especially the evolution of cloud routers offering lower cost and greater flexibility, it has never been more important to explore the full range of vendor options. But it’s not simple: from complex licensing to ease of set up, security implications and quality of support, trusted advice is key if Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are to achieve the best solution for each customer, explains Mark Grindey, CEO, Zeus Cloud...
Virtual Networking
The good news for MSPs is that networking is getting easier. That part of the project that has always been expensive, time consuming and rife with problems will still demand specialist expertise but is, finally, becoming less complex. So, what’s changed?
The big innovation is the development of cloud routers and switches. Used in cloud computing environments to allow communication between virtual machines (VMs), containers, and other cloud resources, cloud routers eliminate the need for dedicated hardware appliances. In addition to reducing the capital expenditure and operational costs associated with traditional networking equipment, cloud routers can easily scale to accommodate changing workload demands, meaning better performance and resource utilisation.
In addition, this virtualised approach is easier to set up and much easier to manage. With a hybrid networking model, there is no need for physical on-site hardware configuration, the entire set up can be managed remotely. Equipment can be on and off premise and linked together easily using virtual routers and switches, adding enormous flexibility in infrastructure and support model.
Vendor Choice
Much of this innovation is being driven by a large number of smaller companies entering the market, putting pressure on the established brands – and the established brand fans. When newcomers such as Ubiquity can offer top quality technology at a fraction of the price charged by Cisco or Juniper, can an MSP really justify a continued blinkered commitment to just one brand, however strong its long-term reputation?
Most network engineers have a favourite but, in this industry, there is a tendency to push loyalty to the brink. Actively praising one vendor is fine, but there is rarely any justification for the accompanying vehement dismissals of rivals. Customers deserve the best possible technology solution and that puts the onus on MSPs to proactively explore the raft of new players entering the networking arena, their pros and cons, as well as the implications of market mergers and claims of “AI-enabled” technologies.
Exploring Innovation
For example, cloud routers are key to supporting the Zero Trust security model, increasingly becoming cybersecurity best practice. However, the introduction of cloud routers creates new security considerations. Being software based, they open up new security risks – although these risks are mitigated by the lack of hardware to breach. Best practice with a cloud router will be to have a replica running so, if the main router goes down, the replica can be spun up immediately to avoid downtime.
Plus, by wiping the compromised cloud router, there will be no risk of a hidden vulnerability remaining. In contrast, the downtime associated with a factory reset of a compromised hardware router may be increased if the hacker managed to install something in the hardware vulnerability. Further, firewalls are built-in to cloud routers, eradicating the need for the configuration demanded by a hardware router.
Understanding Options
This is compelling new technology that should encourage any network engineer and any MSP to explore the potential. But, as always, it is vital to consider not only the functionality of the product but the finances and the quality of support. This market can be confusing: complex licensing demands and a lack of usability can make it easier to default to a preferred supplier even if the technology is not the optimum solution.
Turning instead to a trusted third party with multiple vendor relationships and experience in sourcing and deploying a breadth of products can provide the confidence to step out of that ‘one vendor’ mentality and offer customers a level of innovation that will provide real differentiation.
