Enterprise networking modernisation is the effective technical refresh of network infrastructure and communications applications to support the delivery of distributed IT applications in the most compelling way possible for users and customers, says research firm Gartner.
According to its The Enterprise Networking Modernisation Paradigm report: “A systematic, integrated and targeted approach to network modernisation is necessary for enterprises to maintain their competitive position and facilitate improvement of business agility beyond the current standards. Proper modernisation must treat the upgrading of obsolete infrastructure as an orchestrated and purposeful refresh of networking and distributed IT resources.”
In other words - if you don't modernise, your competitors will get a jump on you, and, modernisation needs to be done with all due care and attention that any other major upgrade would merit.
As report author Geoff Johnson notes: “In most businesses, the management of refreshing networking technology is suboptimal due to the short-term pressures that are a feature of corporate life. These pressures lead to tactical decisions, instead of more thoughtful and complete plans.”
He further adds that “traditional approaches to infrastructure upgrades, using the next generation of the same technology (or worse, a 'one-for-one' replacement) will not capture the positive results that can occur by using non-linear thinking on how new technologies, sources and models can be used for delivering networking.”
He also states that the use of an effective methodology to deliver complete, thoroughly integrated and high performing networking refreshes is imperative.
Johnson has the following recommendations to offer enterprises considering a modernisation exercise:
* Review your organisation's "state of networking" to establish its status and capability to conduct reliable networking modernisation.
* Evaluate alternative sourcing of networking resources to allow for opportunistic and long-term, well-planned modernisation of networking infrastructure and services.
* Apply networking modernisation methodologies that are consistent with the business drivers, culture, end-state goals and long-term vision of your enterprise.
“Effective network modernisation is about refreshing a business' approach to networking. It means reviewing and implementing networking technologies to obtain an appropriate mix of networking solutions in the enterprise's portfolio, and to achieve better integrated future outcomes. The distinguishing characteristic of future-state modernised networking is that, today, it appears to be abnormally well planned, synchronised, cohesive and effective,” he says.
Proper modernisation must treat the upgrading of obsolete infrastructure as an orchestrated and purposeful refresh.
Geoff Johnson, report author, Gartner
And, for the sceptics: “The increasing agility demanded of businesses (whether they're operating in flat or buoyant economies) can be delivered only by a networked IT infrastructure that's poised to facilitate opportunistic responses and long-term plans. Modernisation is needed to advance integration in all areas of information management, whether for Web 2.0 needs or modest practical hooks into legacy systems. The most obvious response to the question, 'Why modernise, and why now?' is that modernisation is necessary to handle the progressive obsolescence of network infrastructures and the sourcing of networking services.”
According to Johnson, there are four critical elements that need to be addressed by businesses to achieve a distinctively well-integrated and customer-pleasing outcome:
1. Facilitating early, easy and rapid adoption of current or emerging business goals.
2. Using a comprehensive understanding of the corporate culture of your business to extend the benefits of modernised networking in a way that will be supported and embraced by stakeholders.
3. Adopting governance, compliance and technical standards that will deliver an abnormally thorough and satisfying integration of current and planned infrastructure with network services and emerging delivery models, such as communications as a service for hosted or managed network services, or cloud computing.
4. Making incremental, creative and responsible use of alternative business models and network delivery models to derive networked applications as services from large-scale networked computing "in the cloud" or by other application service providers.
* Report courtesy of Gartner. Information sourced from: The Enterprise Networking Modernisation Paradigm, Geoff Johnson, 20 June 2008.
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