8 benefits of implementing a Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) model
1) Rapid deployment
NaaS eliminates the need to physically set up and configure your network equipment. This means you can rapidly provision new network resources or connections, reducing deployment timeframes and accelerating time-to-market for new services or locations.
2) Quick and easy to scale
Your organisation’s networking requirements are almost certain to change over time. While on-premise infrastructure can be difficult and expensive to expand, a cloud based NaaS model can be quickly and cost-effectively scaled according to your organisation’s size and requirements. This avoids you having to invest in additional network hardware that may be surplus to requirements during a contraction or seasonal business cycle. With a NaaS model, new software-defined network infrastructure can be rapidly added – or switched off – enhancing your overall agility.
3) Flexible configuration
A cloud-based model can also cater for a diverse range of requirements across a range of services, including cloud-based applications, high-definition video conferencing, and voice over the internet. Also, when changes are required, they’re implemented via software not hardware, which delivers even more flexibility.
4) Ease of maintenance
With NaaS, an outsourced partner takes care of all maintenance and management on your behalf—significantly easing the burden on your internal IT team. A specialist NaaS partner will also have in-depth skills in cloud networking and security, which can bolster the core skills of your own IT team. This arrangement alleviates day-to-day maintenance pressure, and frees your internal team to focus on other valuable initiatives.
5) Enhanced security
The need to ensure robust network security can be a major overhead for an IT team. With a NaaS model, security updates are automated and provided on a continual basis—significantly reducing risk, and the likelihood of vulnerabilities appearing in your network. NaaS can replace VPNs, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) connections, and other legacy network configurations.
6) Cost-savings
NaaS eliminates the need to invest heavily in purchasing and maintaining network hardware and equipment. Payment is usually on a flexible, monthly basis, allowing you to reduce capital expenditure and align your network costs with actual usage.
7) Data-led insights
Having insight and visibility of your network is critical in maintaining optimal performance and ensuring any issues can be quickly addressed. A NaaS model provides extensive network monitoring and data analytics, with dashboards offering full network awareness to as many users as required. Your outsourced IT provider can also take any required action to prevent issues escalating.
8) Anywhere access
NaaS offers you a geographically distributed network presence with access to multiple data centres or end points. This enables seamless connectivity and reliable network performance across different locations – and your employees can connect securely from anywhere, at any time.
