Archives for September 2016

5 Trends Driving Businesses to Use SDN

September 28, 2016 by admin

With emphasis on virtualization, big data, and other challenges that are causing headaches for some IT professionals, there is an emerging network architecture that could solve many of their problems. This architecture is called software-defined networking (SDN), and it could revolutionize how IT heads control their networks and manage their business needs.

SDN is an up-and-coming architecture that decouples the network control and forwarding functions. The result is that the network is programmable and the infrastructure surrounding it can be used for applications as well as network services. The increase of network control makes SDN especially desirable for startups and traditional wide area network (WAN) optimization appliance vendors,IHS reported. The global information firm found that the SDN market grew to $1.4 billion in 2015, up 82 percent from the previous year.

What is making SDN increasingly popular to small and large businesses alike? Here are five trends driving businesses to use SDN, according to the Open Networking Foundation:

1. Big data is putting more pressure on networks.

A major issue IT heads have had to deal with is the rise in demand for bandwidth to accommodate big data and its applications. Companies are gathering more information on customers, their products and services, and even their employees’ performance. This means more pressure on networks to handle the flow of traffic and information. SDN could alleviate this pressure by making way for a high-bandwidth environment.

2. Cloud applications and services are booming.

It’s hard to mention SDN without mentioning the cloud. With more businesses storing their sensitive information in the cloud, the need to access this data quickly and reliably makes it essential to look into SDN.

3. BYOD policies are taking over.

To cut tech costs, companies are increasingly turning to bring your own device (BYOD) programs. Almost three-fourths of companies either already use BYOD or are considering it, according to Tech Pro Research. IT professionals will have to prepare their networks for employee devices, which means more support and security will be required. A dynamic infrastructure like SDN ensures that requirements for these devices can be met.

4. Globalization and outsourcing are on the rise.

As companies take advantage of the power of globalization and are expanding across various locations or even continents, their networks will have to grow with them. SDN facilitates the cloud services and applications that make it easier for workers to communicate and collaborate with each other. It also makes managing traffic and adjusting bandwidth quickly less difficult.

5. Progress is being made in open APIs and standards.

SDX Central notes that SDN could grow as API refinements and open standards develop and progress. One of the reasons why this is the case is the increase in cooperation between the Open Networking Foundation and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. The focus on optimizing the standards and specifications for the telecommunications industry is key.

With these five factors helping to grow the SDN market, IT professionals should carefully consider whether the changing tech environment makes use of this dynamic infrastructure not only a trend, but a necessity for their own business.

Legacy Systems and Beyond: 5 Ways to Plan for Enterprise Growth

September 21, 2016 by admin

Businesses aim to expand, but what happens when their infrastructure and IT systems can’t keep up? Not only will revenue likely peak sooner than expected, but the organization could come to a standstill that may affect future investment.

It’s not just startups that have to look toward future growth. Medium and large organizations cannot settle for where they are now, especially in an increasingly competitive and global business climate. Rather than react to challenges related to growth, corporate heads must be proactive and prepare for business expansion, from talent acquisition to systems updates.

Here are five ways to plan for enterprise growth:

1. Overhaul existing infrastructure and IT systems.

A company is unlikely to move towards growth if it doesn’t have the tools and technology needed to expand. Rather than relying on old infrastructure or networks, business owners and managers should consider upgrading their systems to be compatible with changing technology, software updates, and more. For example, they could reduce the number of proprietary applications or devices in favor of cloud-based services and software for increased flexibility and reduction in on-site costs.

2. Review choices for vendors.

As a business grows, it’s important to inspect the offerings of current vendors and compare them to competitors. It may be possible to cut costs, negotiate a better deal, or switch over to faster or more reliable products or services.

3. Hire effective recruiters.

Great recruiters know that talent is critical to the success of a company. Talent is the fuel for profit-driving ideas and productivity within a business. Getting the most sought-after employees in the door is a crucial step toward corporate expansion. Business heads must ensure they are hiring the best recruiters to find, interview, and vet only top talent.

4. Focus on talent retention.

Recruiting talented employees is not enough if companies are not able to keep them. More than three-quarters of business heads view employee retention as either important or urgent, according to HR publication TLNT.

Talent retention could cut down costs from hiring, onboarding, and training new employees. This leaves more room in the budget for other worker-related initiatives like incentive or health/fitness programs that are important to employees and make them more likely to stay with a company.

5. Determine how to maintain and oversee systems.

Even if it’s not the right time to start anew with current infrastructure, corporate leaders must decide how they will maintain these systems for compliance or other aspects necessary for growth. In addition to keeping compliant with rules and regulations within their industries, company heads will have to guard against cyber attacks, patch up security loopholes, and more. This will require a high level of oversight of existing systems and the right management and talent in place.

Business heads are aiming for a bright future. Consider the above factors to stay on a straight path toward growth.

5 Eye-Opening Data Breach Statistics

September 14, 2016 by admin

Security executives know cyber attacks can happen anywhere and at any time, threatening their companies’ data and putting customer and corporate information at risk for exposure. With the high risk of data breaches, security heads should know where their greatest vulnerabilities lie — whether through outside hackers or malicious insiders — and protect their data accordingly.

Here are five data breach statistics that might scare security heads into action:

Stat No. One: 91% of Businesses Are at Risk for Data Threats

Security professionals may be concerned about the results of a recent study. According to the 2016 Data Threat Report conducted by Vormetric that surveyed more than 1,100 global senior security executives, 91% of businesses are at risk for cyber-related threats. The report also revealed that 30% of companies are very or extremely vulnerable to data threats. A lack of preparedness combined with the growing number of cyber attacks can compound this problem.

Stat No. Two: 20 Million Records Exposed

One of the reasons a large portion of international businesses feel the pressure to improve their security is the rise of cyber attacks. In its latest study, the Identity Theft Resource Center recorded 584 breaches in which 20.5 million records were exposed. The majority of these records came from the healthcare field. The next most vulnerable category was the government/military sector, with 27.5% of records breached.

Stat No. Three: Majority of Companies Store Sensitive Data in the Cloud

With the increase in cyber attacks around the world, it is no wonder that confidential information is even more at risk for data breaches. The Vormetric report showed 85% of surveyed companies use sensitive data in cloud environments, with 53% also utilizing sensitive data in Software as a Service (SaaS) environments.

While investing in SaaS is a big part of many companies’ cost-saving strategies, storing valuable information in the cloud or on third-party servers could expose it to unknown cyber threats.

Stat No. Four: 93% of Data Breaches Only Take Minutes to Happen

The 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon highlighted a major issue with data breaches: They can be quick yet devastating, especially if security professionals are unaware the attack happened. The Verizon report noted that while 93% of data breaches only took minutes to occur, four in five victims did not know their systems were compromised for weeks or even longer.

Stat. No. Five: The Average Cost of Data a Breach Is $4 Million

According to the IBM Security and Ponemon Institute 2016 Cost of Data Breach Study, the average cost of an incident rose 29% in three years. The total cost is now $4 million per breach with the average cost per record exposed reaching $158.

The concern surrounding cyber threats should motivate company leaders to invest in the tools and resources necessary to effectively protect their most sensitive data.