Getting your network environment right is the key to enabling your employees to work more efficiently and be more productive.

To maximise the capability of your IT networks to support your needs now and in the future, organisations should consider the pros and cons of cloud-managed versus on-premise solutions.

The pros and cons of on-premise vs cloud managed networks

On-premise networking is a tried-and-tested solution which allows IT teams to maintain a level of control and processes they are familiar with. Some organisations may prefer on-premise solutions if they have increased privacy concerns due to sensitive data or have invested in legacy IT infrastructure. 

But cloud networking is rapidly becoming the first choice for modern workplaces. The cloud networking market is expected to reach USD 14.61 billion by 2027. Many IT teams now rely solely on cloud solutions to manage their wired and wireless environments, wi-fi and SD-WAN.  Fifty percent of new network deployments will be managed via cloud-based platforms by 2022.

The innovations making cloud a winner-takes-all solution

Edge cloud and hybrid work have influenced the next generation of networking. 

While on-premise solutions rely on system locations to protect networks, edge cloud pushes data and intelligence to its ‘edge’.  This means data is processed closer to the source, which reduces latency and boosts network performance. Significant benefits in security, privacy and data sovereignty have accelerated the mass adoption of edge networking.

Technological solutions that are purpose-built for the edge are emerging, such as Aruba ESP. This industry-first solution has a ‘sixth sense’ capability to optimise corporate networks on the edge. Combine this with Aruba’s built-in Zero Trust foundation, which reduces the risk of hackers getting through firewalls, as well as Aruba’s self-healing AIOps (which reduces the need for human intervention to fix errors), and cloud-first organisations can further accelerate secure and efficient network performance.

Multi-cloud and hybrid workplaces also increase the complexity of corporate networking.  Without the right infrastructure solutions in place, IT teams may struggle to gain visibility into dynamic IT environments. 

“Looking at monitors - or ‘Eyes on glass’ as it’s sometimes called - doesn't work anymore. You've got to automate that process. You've actually got to trap that information because there's so much data flying through now. Automation is absolutely vital,” says Adam Kirkpatrick, Associate Director of Networks Australia at Datacom.

Aruba ESP EdgeConnect helps solve these networking challenges. By unifying SD-WAN, WAN optimisation and segmentation, ESP EdgeConnect connects multi-cloud environments and does so by integrating into existing networks with zero interruptions.

Aruba ESP EdgeConnect also supports IT, OT and IoT convergence for more direct and accurate monitoring of IT environments.

Doubling down on cloud networking with Aruba & Datacom

The move to the cloud has transformed corporate networking - and will continue to improve it. Navigating network complexities is challenging and may seem costly, so business decision makers may be hesitant to invest in upskilling or updating network management.

But with 92% of businesses now using at least one cloud-based application, the time for cloud-managed networking has arrived.  

While the on-premise versus cloud debate is still worth considering, yesterday’s on-premise networks will often struggle to meet the demands of today’s high-performing organisations.  

Partnering with a trusted technology partner like Datacom will help you accelerate your digital transformation and drive business success. 

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