SDx
The Definitive Guide
Software Defined Everything (SDx)
The Definitive Guide to SDx (Software Defined Everything)
The Definitive Guide To SDx
(Software Defined Everything)
For many executives, it may seem like every conversation with an IT pro includes the phrase “Software Defined.” You may ask, “Is this just another buzzword?
Isn’t the capability of any piece of hardware mostly defined by its software?”
Though this is true, most companies simply purchase the latest technology as a Capital Investment (CapEx), locking them into systems that don’t change as quickly as software does.
Companies can become landlocked by their latest purchase, and their departments end up spending precious time solving hardware-related issues.
But if you move away from a hardware-defined mindset and toward a Software Defined Everything (SDx) model, your company can turn IT into an ongoing Operating Expense (OpEx), freeing you from the sunk costs associated with large Capital Investments.
SDx network, delivered as a service, will make you more agile as technology changes. You’ll be able to automate more of your systems, simplify your IT resource needs, and increase your ability to respond to opportunities.
SDx technologies will keep you on the cutting edge of your industry.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand why moving your enterprise to SDx network solutions will increase your employees’ productivity and secure your data, all while keeping your business competitive for years to come.
What Is SDx (Software Defined Everything)?
What Is SDx (Software Defined Everything)?
SD devices and services are defined, not by their hardware, but by the software they use. Your computer and your phone are software defined, not only by their current operating system and apps, but by whatever updates, upgrades, and additions you’re able to make to them.
SDx technology can be improved with a simple SDx software update. It means that when a department has found an app that enhances your business, you can often incorporate it into your existing infrastructure without a costly Capital Expense.
It means that when a new security threat emerges, the software governing the device can be upgraded – often automatically – to deal with that new threat.
It also means that technology is less dependent on its hardware. From security cameras to massive data centers, from simple printers to large-scale WANs (Wide Area Networks), an SDx environment keeps everything working together with up-to-the-minute software.
Unfortunately, many companies are still viewing things in the old way. IT departments are spending less time innovating and more time maintaining legacy hardware systems. They make updates and manage access one device at a time.
While enterprise-scale companies will always need IT experts, an SDx environment will allow your company the agility it needs to leave much of this maintenance behind and move confidently into the future.
- Reduce Costs
Move your IT budget from a costly Capital Investments (CapEx) model to a more cost-effective and scalable Operating Expenses (OpEx) model. - Simplify
Reduce the complexity of your current systems and automate more tasks. - Move to the Cloud
Migrate all – or most – data to a secure cloud service. Shorten the delivery time and integration of new applications. - Secure Your Information
With up-to-the-minute threat protection, SDx systems are always changing to keep your data safe. - Control Access
Set security, filtering, and access levels automatically and accurately.
- Centralize Monitoring
Manage all software defined systems at once, including your organization’s computers, wireless-access points, and the IOT (Internet of Things). - Much, much more (read on!).
The Definitive Guide To SDx
(SOFTWARE DEFINED EVERYTHING)
The Main Components of a Complete SDx Environment
The Main Components of a Complete SDX network Environment
SDI
(Software Defined Infrastructure)
In the past, IT infrastructure meant hardware: cables, routers, interfaces, and on-premise hard drives. Besides representing a huge CapEx, they require constant monitoring and repair.
Though you’ll likely never be rid of all your hardware, Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) dramatically improves your ability to update and upgrade what you already have.
Plus, the hardware can then become part of your overall IT service, allowing you to grow and change with your needs and the demands of your industry.
Your entire infrastructure, reimagined as SDI, will become more agile, more secure, and less prone to human error than ever before. A professionally managed SDI, delivered as a service, changes everything.
SDN
(Software Defined Networking) and SD WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network)
Traditionally, each workstation in an office had to be plugged into a Command-Line Interface (CLI) in order to access the company’s network. This was slow work, done a single device at a time.
Then, a senior-level engineer would manually configure each device to make sure it had the proper access. Since each user’s needs are different, the configuration process was done one user at a time and was always prone to human error.
Software Defined Networking (SDN) automates that work. Everything done on the network can happen more quickly and efficiently. SDN solutions are:
- Simpler to operate.
- More secure.
- Less prone to policy violations.
- Provide increased telemetry (the ability to observe what’s happening on the network at any given time.)
SD WAN
(Software Defined Wide Area Network)
SDN systems must be able to connect to other campuses, or even remote workers, reaching employees wherever they are.
An SD WAN, as part of your total SDx network solution, can often run on secure and straightforward routers that can be set up in minutes. It can allow workers to have all the benefits of Software Defined Networking wherever in the world they need to work.
SDDC
(Software Defined Data Center)
Data Centers for enterprise-scale businesses require a lot of space. In addition to all of the racks of physical hard drives, Data Centers need specialized HVAC (which drive up the cost of your utilities) and automated redundancies.
Because of the complexity of managing a data center, many enterprise-scale businesses are moving some of their operations to the cloud, diversifying by working within Software Defined Data Centers (SDDC).
Moving to SDDC means you can receive all of the elements of a data center infrastructure as a service. It means you can incorporate on-premise, public, and private cloud services together, so you don’t have to store everything in one place.
An SDDC gives you up-to-the-minute security. It allows you to increase your hard-drive space quickly and economically. And it takes away the hassle of maintaining complex physical systems, allowing them to operate and automate everything through a simple desktop manager.
Part of your SDDC infrastructure will be SDS, or Software Defined Storage. Your data no longer needs to be defined by the physical hard drives on your campus.
Now, your storage is delivered as a cloud-based service, kept safe with up-to-the-minute security updates and built-in redundancy, all managed and monitored automatically.
The VOX SDx Ecosystem
Top Sdx Providers for Optimal Performance
Top Sdx Technology Providers for Optimal Performance
Cisco / Meraki
SDI, SDN, SDDC, SDI, and SDS
Cisco’s end-to-end turnkey solution provides everything a corporation needs when they’re ready to move to an all-SDx networks environment.
Its cloud-first, SDN solution, Viptela, comes with Cisco’s vManage Console, allowing you to manage and monitor your entire network from a single computer. Add in their Meraki hotspots for firewall, content filtering, and malware protection wherever in the world you happen to be.
HPE / Aruba
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Aruba – SDN, SDDC, SDI, and SDS
HPE’s GreenLake Flex Capacity gives you cloud-like services with on-premises control. Its pay as you go service, PointNext, lets you choose what technology and services you need. You pay for what you use, and you get to keep as much as you like in-house.
Aruba, a subsidiary of HPE, makes SD-WAN simple. With the ability to handle policy-based routing for more than 2600 applications, each of your corporations’ campuses will only need a small investment in hardware. And their all-flash SDS system, Nimble, will keep applications running at the speed of your business.
Oracle / Talari
Talari by Oracle – SD WAN
Using Adaptive Path Networking technology, Talari provides a seamless experience, minimizing the user’s exposure to loss, latency, and delay. Its agility keeps your systems operating efficiently no matter how you plan to access your network.
Talari plays well with multiple carriers and third-party cloud applications. It can handle all Internet transport systems and bandwidths. It’s easy to start using too — just a handful of steps will get you up and running in no time at all.
Nutanix
SDS
Nutanix provides a powerful enterprise-business cloud solution. First, it unifies and allows you to manage your “multicloud” – all the private, public, and distributed cloud services your company is currently using.
Nutanix’s SDS (Software Defined Storage) will also allow the applications you use to scale with your company, providing uninterrupted service no matter how many users you add. And its Prism platform will allow you to oversee your entire network with one click with SDx technology.
The World Is Moving to SDX
The World Is Moving to SDX
(Software Defined Everything)
The best SDx infrastructure solution is different for every business. Each product meets a specific need. Every enterprise must evaluate its own needs and consider which services are best for them.
You need experts to guide you, pros who understand these systems inside and out. That’s where the VOX Lifecycle comes in.
VOX Lifecycle is our proprietary, consultative framework designed to assist and enable our clients to make informed decisions to achieve their desired business outcomes. We know SDx systems inside and out and will help you select the right one for your business.
Business Strategy Analysis
Through our proprietary Lifecycle methodology, our team of experts will discover and document your business strategies, objectives and KPIs and how these align with your key business units and their core processes. This robust engagement yields enlightening results and creates holistic clarity to shed light on the business imperatives that are critical to your organizational success.
Business Technology Assessment: SDx
The SDx Assessment is ideal for customers who are planning to move their traditional networking and storage systems to more agile, cloud-based, software defined systems. Our team of experts provides a thorough, consultative examination and analysis of your readiness for the migration to a new solution. The Assessment facilitates effective planning and deployment of a Unified Collaboration solution from end to end.
Technology Adoption Assessment
Get more value from your existing technology investments and achieve your desired business outcomes. This assessment measures adoption of in-house technologies by analyzing software versions, application and software usage, feature utilization and training programs and more.
Get to know…
VOX LIFECYCLE
High-Touch Partnership
Prescriptive Methodology
Robust Customer Success Plan
Process, Tech & Risk Assessments
If you’re ready to reduce your costs, increase your agility, and improve your operations with an agile SDx environment, get in touch with VOX network solutions today.
