managing tomorrow’s networks: the impacts of sdn and network virtualization on network management...

Managing Tomorrow’s NetworksThe Impacts of SDN and Network Virtualization on Network Management – Report Summary

Target: Communication Service Providers and Enterprises

Research report by Shamus McGillicuddy, An ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES® (EMA™) End-User Research Report December 2015

Source: http://www.enterprisemanagement.com/research/asset.php/3159/Managing-Tomorrow's-Networks:-The-Impacts-of-SDN-and-Network-Virtualization-on-Network-Management

Sponsored by:

2 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Report Summary and Findings

SUMMARY: This research study examines the impacts of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technologies on network management tools and practices within both enterprises and network service providers. It is based on a survey of 150 enterprises, IT professionals and 76 service-provider networking professionals who work within organizations that have either begun production deployments of SDN/NFV technology or have specific plans to do so within the next 12 months.

FINDINGS: “The majority of enterprises and service providers have discovered that their existing network engineering, monitoring, and troubleshooting tools do not fully support SDN, NFV, and network virtualization.”

Communication Service Provider Study Findings


Communications Service Providers Target Productivity Boosts, Revenue Growth with Early SDN Adoption

Service providers name the top benefits targeted with SDN-based network transformation efforts.

Source: Managing Tomorrow’s Networks: The Impacts of SDN and Network Virtualization on Network Management, by Shamus McGillicuddy, An ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES® (EMA™) End-User Research Report December 2015, Sponsored by CA Technologies


Top SDN/NFV Use Cases Communication Service Providers Are Pursuing To Support Business Goals

More than anything else, service providers are building virtual private clouds on their infrastructure with SDN and NFV.


49%

61%

51%

36%

46%

53%

0%

4%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Series1


Communication Service Provider SDN/NFV Network Management ReadinessOnly 1/3 or less say their current tools are ready

Todays’ network management systems unprepared to support SDN/NFV in Service Provider networks



Communication Service Providers Have New Requirements for Their SDN/NFV Network Management


CSPs reveal a number of new functional requirements for their network management systems to support SDN/NFV.


Communication Service Providers Divided On How To Address SDN/NFV Network Management Gaps

SDN/NFV Performance Management SDN/NFV Fault Management


Enterprise Study Findings


Enterprises Target Productivity Boost, Revenue Growth, Customer Retention with SDN/NFV Adoption


The most important business benefits sought as result of network transformation efforts with SDN and network virtualization.


Top Engineering and Operational Improvements Enterprises Are Pursuing to Support Business Goals

44%

43%

40%

42%

43%

38%

0%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Series1

The data center in particular is an area in which enterprises can innovate with SDN/NFV in order to support their business goals.



Enterprise Network Management Readiness For SDNData Center SDN Use Case


Todays’ network management systems Unprepared to support SDN in the Enterprise Data Center.


Enterprise Network Management Readiness For SDNCampus SDN, SD-WAN and NFV Use Cases

All SDN technologies present problems to todays’ network management tools for the Enterprise.



Enterprises Have New Requirements for Their SDN/NFV Network Management


SDN/NFV adopters uncovered a number of new functional requirements for enterprise network management systems.


Enterprises Divided On How To Address SDN/NFV Network Management Gaps

SDN Overlay Performance Management Enterprise NFV Troubleshooting



Conclusion: A Major Threat to SDN and NFV Success LoomsNetwork Management Tools Must Evolve for SDN/NFV

Organizations surveyed expect their SDN initiatives to boost end-user

productivity and grow revenue.

Before SDN can help companies be successful, they must make sure they

have the right network management tools in place.

This research has demonstrated that most service providers and

enterprises have determined that their existing network management

systems are ill-prepared to fully support SDN and NFV.

Service providers and enterprises are divided on whether they will modify

their existing tools or acquire new tools to address these gaps.



Conclusion: A Major Threat to SDN and NFV Success LoomsNetwork Management Tools Must Evolve for SDN/NFV

EMA recommends that service providers and enterprises carefully

evaluate their SDN/NFV management tool strategy. They should not

assume their existing tools will fully support their SDN/NFV investments.

– Ask network management vendors about their SDN roadmaps.

– Is your network management vendor addressing the new functional requirements you

need for business success?

– Can you complement your existing network management systems with a new tool?



For more information on how to transform your network management to SDN/NFV Assurance, please visit www.ca.com/vna

http://cainc.to/bLXQ3I



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