Difficulty in curing choices! What is the difference between 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E?
In the past, wireless networks were considered convenient
networks, while wired networks were the ones that provided the best
performance. This is not what it used to be, because many mission-critical
services are wireless, such as medical, manufacturing, and warehousing
services.
Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or 5G as appropriate
In the past, wireless networks were considered convenient
networks, while wired networks were the ones that provided the best
performance. This is not what it used to be, because many mission-critical
services are wireless, such as medical, manufacturing, and warehousing
services. The rise of video has put tremendous pressure on traditional Wi-Fi
networks, which reduces network quality. The newer wireless solutions are
obviously better, but the choices are confusing.
Wi-Fi 6 is built on the basis of Wi-Fi 5, but introduces
many functions of the cellular network community to reduce congestion, extend
battery life, and extend coverage distance. Wi-Fi 6E uses 6Ghz spectrum.
Compared with Wi-Fi 6, it has faster access speed and less congestion, but it
is not backward compatible with Wi-Fi 5 and earlier versions. Proprietary 5G uses
standards such as CBRS (Citizen Broadband Radio Service) to enable Wi-Fi to
reach the speed of cellular networks.
These technologies can't be said to be better, and their
uses are different. The general deployment model is a hybrid of the three.
Wi-Fi 6 is used for general-purpose connections. Areas with higher customer
density can be enhanced with Wi-Fi 6E. Proprietary 5G will be used in
mission-critical use scenarios, such as production workshops.
☆ Make
security an inherent part of the network
In the past, network technology and security technology were
deployed independently, and the latter was usually overlaid on the network.
This is by no means ideal, but it is sufficient to prevent most security
incidents. Network engineers will design the network, and security
professionals will deploy security tools at each entry point.
One of the challenges facing today is that there are
hundreds of entry points from SaaS applications to virtual tunnels to visitor
access on Wi-Fi networks. Even if a company has money to spend, it is
impossible to deploy all security tools to guard every entry point.
Another complication is the increasing number of security
tools. In the past, firewalls and IDS/IPS systems were sufficient to protect
enterprises. Modern security systems include not only these systems, but also
ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access), SWG (Secure Web Gateway), CASB (Cloud Access
Security Proxy), endpoint and network detection and response, and other tools.
An increasingly popular way to escort enterprises is to
embed security into the network as a cloud service. This is often referred to
as the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), which enables companies to deploy
enterprise-level security measures anywhere on the network, including
employees’ homes. The success of SASE depends on combining the security
operations team with the network operations team. This may be a challenge, but
it is essential for any business that wants to modernize the network.
Skill mix of network professionals
It is worth mentioning that today's network engineers need
to become advanced software users, because modern network devices can be
managed, configured, and programmed through software APIs and developer
interfaces.
A few years ago, companies required network engineers to become
developers in order to take full advantage of these software systems. However,
this has encountered a lot of resistance in the network industry, because most
network professionals have little interest in becoming developers.
In fact, network professionals do not need to be developers,
but they should be familiar with how to use software. Making API calls to
perform certain tasks is much simpler than using a command-line interface, and
it also greatly reduces the possibility of errors. Although network hardware
has been equipped with software interfaces for many years, the adoption rate
has been low. If the network is to be modernized, the skill set of the people
who run the network must also keep pace with the times.