Medium and large enterprises are adopting SDN as a way to automate operations, enhance consistency, bring greater flexibility and reduce troubleshooting time. As SDN matures, more and more small businesses can also benefit from the benefits of SDN.

SDN architectures have traditionally been targeted at enterprises with large data centers or hundreds or thousands of network devices, as these companies are most likely to benefit from it. In fact, when SDN first emerged, the conventional wisdom was that enterprises would only realize the benefits of SDN if they were running thousands of network devices.

This outlook changes over time as SDN technology matures and develops. Maturity stems from learning from some of the largest capacity data center deployments. For example, companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google have become more proficient with SDN.

Furthermore, SDN is defined beyond earlier architectures that focused on managing Layer 3 switch infrastructure. SDN moves beyond the hardware focus to a software-centric focus with a greater emphasis on automation and management.

SDN simplifies network management through abstraction

Managed network devices have two main platforms: a control platform and a forwarding platform, which sends data from point to point. Traditionally, the two platforms have been combined in a single device, each programmed individually. If access changes need to be made in the network, it is up to the administrator to make control changes across multiple devices, usually using a command line interface.

SDN moves the control plane to a central location, where a single controller handles access and configuration for all devices, and each physical device still manages its own forwarding platform. With centrally managed access and intelligence, SDN can make changes in one place and propagate those changes to all network devices, rather than relying on many separate configurations. SDN simplifies network management tasks by establishing a network abstraction between hardware and actual business intent.

While larger businesses may benefit from centralized procurement, many smaller businesses and branch offices have less standardized equipment, often from different vendors and, due to lower costs, occasional consumer-grade equipment. This leads to odd combinations of devices that are difficult to manage, and leads to higher support costs and lower productivity, even when outsourced to service providers.

When each device has its own management console and parameters, the support team cannot see a holistic view of the network. Troubleshooting becomes a complex and time-consuming process that eats into budgets and profits.

How Small Businesses Can Benefit From SDN

Small businesses can minimize these management and troubleshooting challenges with the following SDN benefits:

better visibility . With a consolidated console, businesses can more easily view routing, switching, remote access, wired and wireless components, as well as potential threats and intrusion attempts from the outside. A single SDN controller makes it easier to identify problems and, more importantly, translate them for non-technical people.

Small businesses have traditionally had little on-site IT, so SDN tools can help abstract the network into more understandable operations. For example, wireless traffic will eventually travel over the wire, so looking at the entire chain can help pinpoint problems faster than trying to correlate data through multiple consoles.

better security. Most security problems arise from inconsistent application of rules. Improperly enforced rules are more likely to accidentally compromise resources than malicious hackers outside the firewall. SDN centralizes functions and automatically configures them across the network. For example, if manufacturing should not have access to accounting data, IT teams can put that rule into effect. The SDN controller will then write instructions to all appropriate devices to ensure consistency and accountability.

higher efficiency. A major benefit of SDN is that it reduces troubleshooting time. An SDN console can help small businesses without in-house IT support or with fewer technical staff to identify problems faster, or at least rule out some possibilities. This classification helps reduce troubleshooting time and allows users to get back to work faster, sometimes even before remote technicians arrive on-site. A centralized SDN controller can even reside in the cloud, enabling remote support teams to monitor from anywhere, even without network access.

SDN Options for Small Businesses

Small businesses can find SDN products from Aerohive Networks, HPE's Aruba, Cisco, Dell, Ubiquiti Networks, and more. These highly integrated options give control back to small businesses with tools that are easier to configure and use.

Small businesses should consider the level of wired and wireless integration, as well as the availability of management consoles. If businesses need a smarter, more cohesive way to deploy and manage network resources, perhaps now is the time to study the benefits of SDN and determine if SDN is right for your company.