Reducing Complexity in Network Infrastructure
Automation in the Network Infrastructure for Agility at Scale

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Executive Summary

Network infrastructure services, such as DNS, DHCP and IP-address management (also called DDI), have remained mostly unchanged for more than a decade. These network services are now facing challenges from new technologies such as virtualization, VOIP, and video. Meanwhile, business trends such as globalization, the emergence of the virtual workplace, and mobility are leading to the proliferation of connected devices and an explosion in the address space,putting further pressure on DDI services. Overall, these changes are making the management of network services simultaneously increasingly critical to network operation, efficiency and stability, and harder to achieve. As networks continue to grow in size, importance, and complexity, organizations need to implement network services that are secure, scalable and fault tolerant.

More Devices in More Places

Networks are growing in size and complexity. Network addresses are proliferating because enterprise IP networks are expanding to include an ever wider set of device types: no longer just computers, but also phones, building control systems, surveillance systems, door controls, sensors, and heavy machinery. The transition from an Internet of computers to an Internet of people and things means an explosion of connected devices, each with its own unique IP address. Another factor in the growing size and complexity of networks and their address spaces is the combination of mobility and globalization. Enterprises are more distributed than ever before, with a growing percentage of staff operating across multiple offices, regions, or countries. Nearly 90% of Nemertes research participants say they operate a “virtual” organization in which members of distributed work groups must collaborate with each other across multiple locations,as well as with partners, suppliers, and customers. Virtual workplaces include branch offices, home offices, hotels, and airports. As companies increasingly operate globally—as both large and small organizations do today---this trend will only increase. Branch office scope is broadening to include the “micro-branch,” mobile worker, or single-user telecommuter site. An overwhelming majority of companies(85.6%) increased the number of telecommuters in 2009, after two years of relatively mild growth in the number of telecommuters (17% in 2007 and 20% in2008).