Networking that provides flexibility and growth

A flood of data from multiple new devices and technologies like AI and the Internet of Things is placing massive strain on networks, which have to keep up and be future-proof. So says Chris Larkins, our Enterprise Business Unit Manager, adding that in a constantly evolving networking space, tech departments felt as if they were operating in response mode. “Previously, network traffic patterns were partially predictable, but that is no longer the case. COVID-19 saw entire workforces moving home overnight, driving tremendous shifts in network traffic. This burdened the network further.” 

“Massive strides have been made in server and storage solutions, but networking innovation has lagged,” he explains. However, Larkins says one company that has been focused on changing is Dell Technologies. “Dell’s revolutionary open networking vision offers previously unseen scalability as well as increased agility in solutions that are open and disaggregated. Organisations can cherry-pick the hardware, software, as well as network operating systems that are best suited to their unique data centre and edge environments. Concurrently, they can harness all the benefits of automation and next-generation management tools and other key integrations that make their experience with open networking technology both seamless and simple.” 

While most networking vendors run systems with proprietary features and functionality, Dell realised that this hampers innovation. “In the past, this might not have been a major issue for companies who can afford to wait around for the next system upgrade. But who can do that nowadays? Today's reality is that organisations must move faster than the pace that proprietary systems with long development cycles allow.” 

Similarly, most network operating systems are still highly complex, employing a command-line interface (CLI) for management, which is onerous, labour intensive and highly prone to error. “This, along with all the other factors I’ve mentioned, has driven a demand for  networks which can scale faster and are more flexible and open to change.” 

This is where Dell excels, says Larkins. “Dell focused on simplifying on-premise and multi-cloud connectivity and significantly improving the networking experience for its customers. The company realised that incredibly scalable and agile networking solutions were the only answer, as these can help businesses address all these challenges.”