TechDogs-"5 Networking Technology Trends That Will Change The Game In 2021"

Networking Solutions

5 Networking Technology Trends That Will Change The Game In 2021

By TechDogs Editorial Team

TechDogs
Overall Rating

Overview

A few words and phrases are lost forever. Tell us, when was the last time you heard someone say 'we have to leave early to buy the movie tickets'  or 'we gotta burn this CD ' or maybe 'my boss is paging me' ? For those who do remember #ageisjustanumber. Yet one such phrase we recently lost was "meet me at the water cooler" - yes, we feel your pain!

The COVID-19 pandemic uprooted the regular work routine for millions worldwide, replacing it with a pivotal and experimental remote work model. Apart from the impact on essentials like our networking infrastructure (a given), the pandemic impacted one of the best parts of going to office- water cooler gossips! As enterprises began transitioning to a work-from-home model, they recognized the need for a more robust and reliable networking setup for remote workers. With more than half the American workforce operating from home this year, compared to just 3.4% pre-pandemic, Networking Technologies severely need an upgrade.

Join us as we discuss five significant Networking Technology trends that will change the game in 2021.
TechDogs-Suit Up, It's Time To Network-"5 Networking Technology Trends That Will Change The Game In 2021"
Who would you call if you accidentally bought a haunted house? The Ghostbusters, duh!

Now, who would you call if you accidentally signed over your voting rights and firstborn child to a business partner because you didn't read the fine print? Well, we recommend two kickass attorneys from New York City who specialize in looking dapper as heck and winning unwinnable cases.

Of course, we're talking about the dazzling duo of Harvey Specter and Mike Ross from Suits - the Batman and Robin of the legal world! Even New York's best closer and his genius associate are working remotely this year. The transition from the corporate environment at Pearson Specter Litt to a home setup hasn't been easy but as Harveys always says, "Winners don't make excuses." Instead, winners like Harvey and Mike spend time exploring the latest trends shaping Networking Technologies, so they can lock up the baddies despite working from home! Well, suit up and join us as we look at five trends that will transform Networking Technology in 2021 and beyond.

Let's go, hotshot!
 

Trend 1: Network Security For The Hybrid Workforce


TechDogs-Trend 1: Network Security For The "Hybrid Workforce"-2D Image Of People Working Remotely -Distant Work Backgrounds - Organizations To Setup The Networking Technology Game With Stringent Security Protocols For The Hybrid Workforce
While most people were frantically obsessed about a microscopic virus that brought the world to its knees, do you know what forward-thinking businesses did? They refused to budge and found ways to keep the economy going. In the hour of need, early adoption of remote working was critical in ensuring business continuity during the pandemic. However, organizations are now gradually allowing employees to return to work, giving rise to a hybrid workforce – some employees work remotely; others operate from a central office. 

In the wake of the pandemic, experts believe that hybrid workforces will endure and become the #NewNormal for most enterprises soon.  

Don't be so shocked; it simply means employees will be able to use company apps and devices from their homes, coffee shops, beaches, Louis's mud baths and other places. The question is, what about security? A hybrid work environment, although ideal, leaves company data exposed to hacks and threats that might jeopardize business continuity. 

A new Cisco statistic perfectly summarizes the need for more reliable connectivity: "An average of 4.7 times more employees are working from home now compared to before the pandemic. Many IT teams struggled with scaling to cope with the sudden demand."

As a result, the ‘work from anywhere’ paradigm necessitates a high level of security and scalability in the network infrastructure, in order to ensure that corporate data is secure and that performance is maintained while accessing company data from various places and devices.

TechDogs' Opinion: With work from home being a big hit amongst businesses, maintaining a hybrid workforce will probably be the right move for most companies. One thing to remember, organizations will have to up their Networking Technology game by setting stringent security protocols, properly configuring VPNs, using Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and maintaining a 24/7 IT staff to assist both halves of the hybrid workforce. Just to be clear, Harvey, you will need Benjamin's help to set up a secure connection.
 

Trend 2: Enterprises Will Transition To Multi-Cloud Infrastructure To Improve Business Resilience


TechDogs-Trend 2: Enterprises Will Transition To "Multi-Cloud Infrastructure"-2D Image Of Characters As Employees Working In Data Center Room Hosting Server Computer - Enterprises To Invest In A Multi-Cloud Approach Would Benefit From Enhanced Scalability, Security And Disaster Recovery Capabilities
One of Harvey Specter's most iconic quotes of all time, "I don't get lucky. I make my own luck", perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the badass lawyer! However, when working remotely, your luck depends on your organization's networking technologies. Imagine while working on a million-dollar merger, Harvey’s laptop malfunctions and nothing is saved! He calls the IT guy (Benjamin, who else?) but he's out having an Egg McMuffin as the systems are still syncing last night's data. Donnaaaaa!

Do you what the IT team at Pearson Specter Litt should have done? Adopt a multi-cloud strategy. Keeping business continuity and a consistent experience in mind,organizations should proactively deploy a multi-cloud networking strategy that aligns the network with cloud, security and IT operations. A multi-cloud strategy helps enterprises distribute business information and workloads across on-prem data centers and public clouds, significantly reducing storage costs, enhancing flexibility and improving network security. Employees can enjoy seamless access to virtual systems and services, although they exist on different cloud platforms.

According to Karthik Ranganathan, Founder and CTO of Yugabyte, a free and open-source database management system, "Multi-cloud deployments are becoming the norm in today's enterprise. A multi-cloud approach is critically important for organizations that run on-premises since they need to stay in a hybrid mode when moving microservices to the cloud." 

TechDogs' Opinion:  In the aftermath of the worldwide epidemic, IT professionals will turn to multi-cloud services to ensure that business operations are not hampered. Multi-cloud infrastructure will provide employees with an integrated experience across multiple cloud environments no matter their location – home, office or beach. Enterprises that invest in a multi-cloud approach will also benefit from enhanced scalability, security and disaster recovery capabilities. Hence, it is reasonable to expect businesses to adopt multi-cloud solutions rather than on-premises solutions in 2021.
 

Trend 3: The Introduction Of 5G Will Take Networking To A New Level


TechDogs-Trend 3: The Introduction Of "5G" Will Take Networking To A New Level-3D Image Showing 5G Wireless Network With Global Map And Connection - 5G To Become The Worldwide Dominating Mobile Communications Standard Of The Next Decade
Let's be honest, folks, there are a hundred and one reasons to love Mike Ross but we're all admirers of his razor-sharp memory. Heck, he can recite novels he read in high school forwards, backward and sideways! However, unlike Mike, we might not be as sharp-witted or quick in our actions. We need some help from technology and in 2021, we've got it! 

5G Technology - surely you've heard of it! Although this next-generation technology is still in its infancy, more businesses will rely on 5G cellular communication in 2021 than ever. 5G has turbocharged IoT applications, emerging technologies and intelligent devices due to its lightning-fast speeds and low latency. It has also enabled a transition from wired to wireless networks in many industrial and corporate spaces. Christoph Grote, Senior Vice President Electronics of BMW Group, states, "We expect 5G to become the worldwide dominating mobile communications standard of the next decade." Other industry experts back his claim. Eben Albertyn, CTO at VodafoneZiggo, one of the first companies to offer unlimited 5G data to consumers, says, "The network of the future is already being built as we speak. 5G is an important part of that." The odds of 5G dominating throughout 2021 (and beyond) is the same as Harvey winning – one hundred percent!

TechDogs' Opinion: Expect a deluge of 5G devices and applications to emerge as enterprises begin moving toward a truly wireless network in 2021. As more 5G-capable devices hit the marketplace, we will see last-mile connectivity, extreme user mobility and highly efficient data-intensive services. This means that wireless network capacity will be substantially enhanced, with lightning-fast data rates capable of powering everything from advanced machine learning to industrial IoT. Even Mike Ross can't beat the speed of 5G and that's all we need to say!
 

Trend 4: SD-WAN Will Take Centre Stage


TechDogs-Trend 4: "SD-WAN" Will Take Centre Stage-2D Image Of Multiple Characters Connected Via Social Media Networking Channels - Software Defined Wireless Area Network (SD-WAN) Technology Will Help Reduce Networking Costs By Routing Non-Essential Tasks To A Lower Bandwidth Network
Apart from our two favorite legal eagles, Harvey and Mike, hundreds of employees work at Pearson Specter Litt - from attorneys and paralegals to secretaries and associates. Like every other workplace, they all rely on the enterprise's network to access the Internet, send and receive case files and connect with clients. So, how does the best law firm in New York ensure that everyone has adequate network bandwidth and speed? Step in SD-WAN or Software Defined Wireless Area Network!

We know it's quite a mouthful but we'll explain it as Harvey explains things to Mike. Business networks are generally a combination of enterprise-quality connections that guarantee security, uptime and reliability and cheaper, consumer-grade connections that are unpredictable and vulnerable. Ideally, you want to route crucial and confidential jobs such as Harvey's Zoom calls with clients to a reliable network connection while tasks such as Louis making a mud-bath appointment can be sent to the standard connection. SD-WAN helps you define what jobs are crucial and configure your network accordingly.

Vice President of market research firm Dell'Oro Group, Shin Umeda, says, "We are forecasting the growth to accelerate in 2021 and 2022. The pandemic caused some delays in SD-WAN deployments in 2020 but the underlying demand drivers for modernizing WAN infrastructures remain strong."

TechDogs' Opinion: The use of a Software Defined Wireless Area Network (SD-WAN) technology will undoubtedly increase in 2021. It will help reduce networking costs by routing non-essential tasks to a lower bandwidth network. It will also provide data transport options such as MPLS and 4G/5G LTE, further optimizing the user experience for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms and cloud applications. Additionally, companies utilizing SD-WAN technology will be able to use bandwidth better and assure more reliable performance for critical applications without jeopardizing data security and privacy. 

Win-win all around!
 

Trend 5: Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Will Transform Network Security


TechDogs-Trend 5: "Secure Access Service Edge" (SASE) Will Transform Network Security-3D Image Of Glowing Shield Icon Inside Hexagon Nano Grid Sphere With Glowing Edge  - SASE To Increase The Adoption Of Edge And IoT Devices, Enabling Enterprises To Deliver IT Services With Secure Access And Low Costs
From the summer associate douche to the charismatic name partner Jessica Pearson, every employee at Pearson Specter Litt needs to show their ID before entering the workplace. No exceptions! This is pretty much how SASE (pronounced sassy), or Secure Access Service Edge operates.

To think about it, all Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture does is add a layer of security by securing access to the enterprise network, no matter where the users, applications or devices are located. Pretty cool, we must say. This is especially vital in remote work environments where employees use private Wi-Fi and data connections (read insecure connections) to access the enterprise cloud. Enter SASE (with all its swag) to provide an identity-based, cloud-native security architecture. Moreover, it securely connects all the enterprise 'edges', that is, Wide Area Network, cloud, mobile devices and IoT devices.

The Dell'Oro market research group recently predicted that the SASE market would experience a compound growth rate of 116%, creating a market value of more than $5 billion by 2024. The rising cybersecurity concerns caused by remote working may have ultimately accelerated SASE adoption. However, another technological factor plays into SASE adoption. SD-WAN (Trend 4) makes it easier to manage enterprise networks while SASE secures access to all edge devices connected to the enterprise network. Guess that makes SD-WAN and SASE the Harvey and Mike of the Networking world!

TechDogs' Opinion:  Secure Access Service Edge promises to deliver all-inclusive network security and empower the digital transformation of Network Technologies in 2021. Believe it or not, the almighty SASE will increase the adoption of edge and IoT devices, enabling enterprises to deliver IT services quickly, with secure access and low costs. While products and capabilities are still growing, businesses could begin sketching out their strategies and roadmaps to transition to a SASE architecture.
 

To Wrap It Up


Every enterprise depends on its Networking Technologies, as Harvey depends on Donna. We mean, come on, she is the queen of networking! Just like their relationship evolved with time, your Networking Tech needs to transform and adapt to the trends set forth by the pandemic and other consumer demands.

Enterprise network experts will carry the responsibility for keeping their framework modernized, stable and functional. Anticipating the needs of a hybrid workforce and implementing technologies such as SD-WAN, SASE, 5G and multi-cloud setups will drive innovation and business growth throughout 2021.

Enjoyed what you've read so far? Great news - there's more to explore!

Stay up to date with the latest news, a vast collection of tech articles including introductory guides, product reviews, trends and more, thought-provoking interviews, hottest AI blogs and entertaining tech memes.

Plus, get access to branded insights such as informative white papers, intriguing case studies, in-depth reports, enlightening videos and exciting events and webinars from industry-leading global brands.

Dive into TechDogs' treasure trove today and Know Your World of technology!

Disclaimer - Reference to any specific product, software or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by TechDogs nor should any data or content published be relied upon. The views expressed by TechDogs' members and guests are their own and their appearance on our site does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by TechDogs' Authors are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of TechDogs or any of its officials. While we aim to provide valuable and helpful information, some content on TechDogs' site may not have been thoroughly reviewed for every detail or aspect. We encourage users to verify any information independently where necessary.

Join The Discussion

- Promoted By TechDogs -

IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Modern Endpoint Security for Midsize Businesses 2024 Vendor Assessment