Todays IT infrastructure face exciting and difficult challenges in their search to modernize aging technologies, increase business continuity and promote agility while remaining an expert in keeping costs reasonable. To do so, IT must automate workloads to allow for quicker responses to client needs, wherever that client might be. Through the right network infrastructure, and cloud planning, the ease in which your cloud applications and services are consumed by both clients and employees will be increased across your entire field. Whether a multi-cloud or single-cloud solution is used, evolving networks such as XO Communications “Bandwidth on Demand,” and Level 3’s “Azure ExpressRoute” are decreasing network costs while increasing security and access.
Network infrastructure is the driving factor behind the success of Cloud Deployments. Without dedicated network connectivity packet loss, throughput, and security become an issue for the accessibility of the Cloud service. To combat this problem network providers have built solutions based upon an increasing amount of data transfer and an increasing need for bandwidth and visibility into the network the data is traveling over. XO Communications, Level 3, and TW Telecom have built advanced cloud connectivity services that will provide flexibility and visibility.
In order to meet the expectations of cloud deployment, factoring in the following steps will increase the success of the initiative.
1. Network Connectivity – Is the provider being evaluated on-net? If so, do they provide cloud direct connect products such as “ExpressRoute” or “Bandwidth on Demand”
2. Service Level Agreement- How quick does data travel across the network? Will traffic travel across a protected redundant route?
3. Redundancy- Main connectivity as well as redundant services are key in ensuring 100% uptime.
4. Support- Dedicated contacts protect against miscommunication and the resolution of network issues.
Last, it is important to measure bandwidth capacity and network elasticity. A side effect of cloud deployments is that they can often be “bursty” in nature. Bursty refers to a short increase in the consumption of bandwidth, or an increase in data traversing the corporate network. As bandwidth drops in cost, burstable Internet circuits, while not new in technology are now viable options to accommodate short increases in network consumption.
At Fastblue we work with our clients through a process of cloud evaluation, network evaluation, and a continual support of the purchased services. To do this, we work with multiple cloud partners who add to our expertise and grow our support team. We also work with an array of network providers to meet the needs of your network.
Contact me today at Eric@Fastblue.com, or 888.972.BLUE to learn more.
