Everything you need to know about NaaS and how it fits your business needs – Wired PR Lifestyle Story

After a massive takeover of consumer subscription services — accelerated by technological advances and the advent of Covid-19 — the “as a service” consumer model has grown in popularity among businesses over the past decade.

Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is a continuation of the rental trend, rather than ownership of infrastructure and applications. This change has made the company more flexible increase their spending and agility as the digital transformation progresses.

We’ve looked at the challenges of today’s network infrastructure and why NaaS is the best solution to these problems. As companies evolve and connectivity becomes more important than ever, it is clear that the NaaS model is reaping the most benefits.

Problems with current network

Although we are the most technologically advanced we have ever had, most business functions still require physical hardware, such as switches and routers, and an MPLS network to transport data across the data center or the Internet.

This means owning or renting expensive pieces of hardware that will eventually become obsolete and locked into multi-year contracts for a specific broadband circuit.

In addition, it takes a few regular months to provide network services, which keeps networking planned and budgeted as a fixed capital cost to be distributed over the long term.

Physical networks are built using fiber and copper trunks, switches and routers. Most are built by network operators, although some large companies build their own. In most cases, a private “portion” of the network is leased to the service provider.

The main drawback of these “closed systems” is that they are made up of a variety of technological layers full of operational complexity, vendor blockage, rising maintenance costs, and lack of flexibility.

But the promise of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) breaks this paradigm, not only for network builders, but also for business users.

NFV allows closed networks to be redesigned as various software functions running on goods servers, and while SDN separates and centralizes network control software from the network traffic forwarding function, both allow a new orchestration model: real-time network services. supply and optimization. through software programmability.

This software-defined centralized control feature enables the creation and consumption of network services according to the demand we expect from the cloud.

In addition, it specializes in interconnection platforms, such as PCCW Global Console Connect, it is now possible to supply networks on demand and in real time.

NaaS is cost-effective and secure

NaaS has a lower cost structure because companies can now park this expense on an operating cost basis (OPEX), where companies can purchase services instead of capital expenditures (CAPEX). The latter can sometimes get in the way of the ability to do business.

It also provides a higher level of operational automation with better skills for architects and creates new services. Thus, companies are not directly connected to their network provider and are integrated into the entire cloud ecosystem.

As the public cloud becomes a major host of many mission-critical applications, the demands for network security, speed, and agility are growing rapidly.

NaaS can solve these problems with easy, secure, and flexible business connections. The service is available when you need it and for the time you need it.

Ethernet connections provide users directly on a customer portal, disregarding traditional manual service delivery processes and reducing downtime from weeks to minutes.

It gives companies complete control over their network assets and gives them the ability to flex up and down their bandwidth requirements in real time.

This, in turn, gives them greater control over cost, allowing companies to choose their hourly pricing plans just as they do with cloud services or fixed-term contracts.

NaaS is becoming more efficient than relying on WANs (Wide Area Networks) that require ongoing maintenance, and often create bottlenecks for network traffic – something that shines through remote work, as cloud traffic returns hair via corporate WAN.

Introducing the Console Connect platform

As a pioneering NaaS platform, Console Connect enables businesses to connect to global data centers, clouds, applications, and business partners in a simpler, faster, and more secure way.

This gives the network the same flexibility as the cloud, allowing companies to self-supply high-speed network connections on demand, and manage and control them in real time.

Another advantage of NaaS is the global reach offered by the PCCW Global network. It is at the base of the platform PCCW Global’s main MPLS network, allows organizations to activate layer 2 connectivity on demand More than 650 data centers in more than 50 countries.

Businesses can access this high-performance network using a Console Connect Access Port, which can connect their business directly to all major public cloud providers.

The platform also has a growing business partner ecosystem and can be securely connected to Internet Exchanges, SaaS providers, IoT partners and other NaaS platforms.

No maintenance costs and quick setup

In addition, companies that use the service do not have to pay maintenance costs. The network provider owns and maintains the network, manages software and hardware innovations – an advantage that goes back a long way for businesses.

Another reason for choosing Console Connect is the extent to which the network can be configured. Businesses can connect to data centers, business partners, distributed IT infrastructures, and the world’s largest public clouds in minutes.

One of the concerns of any network is security. With NaaS, businesses are more relaxed, as well as the integration of network and security services, as well as firewalls that facilitate management.

The last thing is cost control. Instead of building your services, buying services can save you money, as companies don’t have to buy and maintain hardware. In this way, capacity can be increased, reduced and moved across the network as needed, providing more precise cost control.

We live in a thriving digital economy, where you can order food at your place, play a movie, or arrange a taxi to get there in minutes. There’s no reason to apply the same experience to network connectivity, especially when connecting to a cloud with a critical business workload.

NaaS platforms, such as Console Connect, solve a crucial part of the puzzle to turn your digital assets into a strategic advantage. You can learn more about Console Connect here and sign up for the app here.

This article was written in collaboration with Console Connect.

Featured Image Credit: Console Connect