Worldstream
Elastic
Network

While traditional networks rely on data center hardware, the software-defined character of an SDN network makes it more agile by nature. With SDN, the network control plane is decoupled from the routers and switches and moved to a centralized user interface. The SDN Controller – a component uniquely designed in the case of Worldstream Elastic Network – functions as the brain of an SDN. In contrast to traditional networking, a smartly designed SDN Controller can be capable of managing all components comprising on-premise and off-premise data centers.

An SDN network can provide plenty of advantages over traditional networking, such as centralized network provisioning; dynamic data center resource interconnection; instant workload migration; hardware savings and reduced operating costs; more granular IT security and data compliance control; the abstraction of private and public cloud resources; the ability to implement network automation, and more.

The Worldstream Elastic Network, with its custom-developed SDN Controller, incorporates all of these advantages, at SMB level pricing. It is an SDN network capable of modernizing your IT infrastructure while tremendously extending the available functionality and reducing your IT operating costs.

Software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) are actually complementary to each other. Powered by EVPN VXLAN technology, the Worldstream Elastic Network (WEN) has combined both SDN and NFV in its software-defined global network architecture. Allow us to explain.

SDN separates the control plane of a network from the data plane forwarding the network traffic. The disaggregation allows for the creation of a network at a global scale that is centrally managed and programmable.

NFV is a key element supporting the current global trend towards SDN adoption. NFV virtualizes network services and abstracts them from dedicated hardware. It can run software-defined networking services (called virtual network functions, or VNF) that were previously hardware-based. VNFs may include network services such as routing, load balancing, firewalls, and more.

Combined, SDN and NFV provide the opportunity to centrally manage the routing of individual packet flows through the appropriate service layers as needed, while instantly moving these network functions when required. It results in fast and flexible deployment of data center and network services in response to the growth and evolving business needs of SMBs to enterprise businesses, even at remote data center locations.

Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) is used by both large, geographically-dispersed enterprises and SMBs. It is based on SDN and NFV principles. SD-WANs make use of these SDN and NFV principles to connect locations at a lower cost than, for example, the expensive managed MPLS services traditionally used by SMBs and enterprise organizations.

Replacing MPLS links, internet-based SD-WANs sure can reduce the cost and complexity of managing IT infrastructure at multiple locations, but mainly in a regional context. SD-WAN might work for companies with multiple offices in one region, although it has its limitations. Organizations operating in multiple countries with large distances between branch offices, for instance, will definitely risk performance problems with SD-WAN due to possible high latency and a variety of connections.

The rise of multi-cloud applications can also be a challenge with traditional SD-WAN architectures, as well as for SMBs and enterprise companies operating regionally. Extending an SD-WAN to the cloud would probably require deploying SD-WAN in (or next to) a cloud provider’s data center. A far from impossible task.

For SMBs and enterprise companies seeking to deploy hybrid cloud and/or multi-cloud infrastructures while aiming to cut capital expenses, an SDN network like Worldstream Elastic Network (with NFV principles included) can make a difference. Worldstream Elastic Network offers SMBs to enterprise organizations flexible and low latency provisioning of data center, network, and cybersecurity resources. On a global scale.