What Is Network as a Service (NaaS)?

Network as a service (NaaS) is a cloud service model wherein clients lease networking services from cloud providers. NaaS enables clients to manage their networks without the need to maintain their own networking infrastructure.

Similar to other cloud services, NaaS providers execute networking functions through software, allowing companies to establish their networks entirely without relying on hardware. All that is required is Internet connectivity. NaaS has the capability to substitute virtual private networks (VPNs), multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) connections, or other outdated network configurations. It can also take the place of on-premise networking hardware like firewall appliances and load balancers. As a contemporary approach to routing traffic and implementing security policies, NaaS has significantly influenced the architecture of enterprise networking.

How Did NaaS Develop?

When most enterprises were setting up their network infrastructure, the Internet was not deemed a secure space for business transactions. Consequently, they constructed proprietary internal versions of the Internet, connecting facilities through leased links. The establishment of wide area networks (WANs) required enterprises to configure dedicated hardware for firewalls, DDoS protection, load balancing, and other functionalities at each office location. Individual connections between locations were established using methods such as MPLS.

For employees accessing the Internet instead of the internal network, their traffic had to navigate through the corporate networking infrastructure via a VPN before reaching the Internet. Consider a scenario where a company’s headquarters were in Seattle, Washington, and an employee in a branch office in Miami, Florida needed to load a website. Their HTTP request would traverse the corporate VPN, cross an MPLS link to the Seattle headquarters (approximately 3,300 miles away), and then proceed to the broader Internet.

This operational model became inefficient as certain business processes shifted to the cloud. For example, if the Miami employee frequently used a SaaS application, necessitating constant content loading over the Internet, requests from them and other employees would bottleneck in the Seattle data center, leading to a slowdown in network service.

Moreover, advancements in cloud computing have made additional capabilities available, with DDoS mitigation, firewalls, load balancing, and other critical networking functions now executable in the cloud. This eliminates the need for internal IT teams to construct and maintain these services.

Therefore, NaaS emerges as a more efficient alternative compared to internally managed WANs that require ongoing maintenance and often create traffic bottlenecks. With NaaS, company employees can directly connect to their cloud services through a virtual network managed and secured by an external vendor, easing the burden on internal IT teams striving to meet the demand for network services.

In transitioning to a NaaS model, the Miami-based employee no longer experiences delays in their web traffic passing through internal corporate infrastructure. Instead, they connect to the Internet through a browser, gaining access to all necessary cloud services. Simultaneously, the NaaS provider secures their browsing activity, safeguards their data, and optimally routes their web traffic.

In many respects, NaaS represents the logical evolution of several decades of business processes migrating to the cloud. Today, the entire network can be delivered as a service, extending beyond software, infrastructure, or platforms.

What are the Challenges of NaaS?

• Compatibility: The infrastructure of the NaaS vendor may not align with legacy systems that remain operational — including older hardware and on-premise-based applications.
• Legacy data centers: In numerous enterprises, crucial applications and processes continue to operate within on-premise data centers rather than in the cloud. This adds a layer of complexity to transitioning to a NaaS model.
• Vendor lock-in: Shifting to a cloud service always entails the risk of an enterprise becoming excessively dependent on a specific service provider. Should the service provider’s infrastructure experience failures or if they decide to increase prices, the consequences of vendor lock-in can be significant.

Advantages of Network as a service (NaaS)

• Flexibility: Cloud services provide enhanced flexibility and increased customization, as network modifications occur through software rather than hardware. IT teams can frequently reconfigure their corporate networks on demand.
• Scalability: Cloud services, such as NaaS, exhibit inherent scalability compared to traditional hardware-based services. Enterprise NaaS customers can effortlessly expand their capacity by acquiring additional resources from a vendor, eliminating the need to procure, install, and activate additional hardware.
• Access from anywhere: Depending on the configuration of a cloud-based network, users may gain access from any location and device without relying on a VPN, although this necessitates robust access control. Ideally, users only require an Internet connection and valid login credentials.
• No maintenance: The cloud provider assumes responsibility for maintaining the network, overseeing both software and hardware upgrades.
• Bundled with security: NaaS enables a single provider to offer both networking and security services, such as firewalls. This leads to a more seamless integration between the network and network security.
• Cost savings: While contingent on the vendor, opting for cloud services instead of developing in-house solutions often results in cost savings. Cloud customers are spared the need to procure and manage hardware, as the vendor already possesses the necessary servers to deliver the service.

How does NaaS relate to SASE?

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) integrates software-defined networking with network security functions, providing both through a single service provider. Similar to NaaS, SASE utilizes cloud-based hosting for networking functions and seamlessly integrates them with security functions. In many aspects, NaaS and SASE represent analogous models that reflect the evolving operational approaches of numerous enterprises today.

FAQ’s

What is NaaS, and how does it differ from traditional networking services?

Network as a Service (NaaS) is a cloud service model where clients lease networking services from cloud providers. Unlike traditional networking, NaaS allows clients to manage their networks without the need for maintaining their own networking infrastructure.

How is NaaS similar to other cloud services, and what does it require for implementation?

Similar to other cloud services, NaaS relies on software-based networking functions, enabling companies to establish networks without hardware. It requires Internet connectivity for operation.

How does NaaS impact enterprise networking architecture?

NaaS can replace virtual private networks (VPNs), MPLS connections, and other legacy configurations, influencing enterprise networking architecture with a contemporary approach to routing traffic and implementing security policies.

How did NaaS develop, and what challenges prompted its adoption?

NaaS developed as a response to challenges faced by enterprises in setting up traditional network infrastructure, such as security concerns on the Internet. The need for dedicated hardware and inefficient routing led to the evolution of NaaS.

What are the challenges associated with implementing NaaS?

Challenges include compatibility issues with legacy systems, complexities in transitioning from on-premise data centers, and the risk of vendor lock-in.

What advantages does NaaS offer over traditional networking?

NaaS provides enhanced flexibility, scalability, remote access, requires no maintenance on the client side, bundles security services, and often results in cost savings.

How does NaaS relate to the broader trend of cloud adoption in business processes?

NaaS represents the logical evolution of business processes migrating to the cloud, offering the entire network as a service beyond software, infrastructure, or platforms.

How does NaaS address concerns about vendor lock-in and compatibility?

NaaS providers focus on interoperability and often offer flexible solutions to mitigate concerns related to vendor lock-in and compatibility with existing systems.

Can NaaS be considered a cost-effective solution for enterprises?

Depending on the vendor, NaaS can be a cost-effective solution as it eliminates the need for purchasing and maintaining hardware, with the vendor already equipped with the necessary servers.

How does NaaS relate to the emerging Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) model?

NaaS and SASE are analogous models, integrating software-defined networking with network security functions through a single service provider, reflecting the evolving operational approaches of enterprises.

Conclusion

In reshaping enterprise networking, Network as a Service (NaaS) stands out as a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solution, alleviating the challenges posed by traditional models. Born from the need for streamlined, cloud-based alternatives, NaaS marks a significant evolution in how businesses approach network management. As a testament to the ongoing digital transformation, NaaS reflects a pivotal shift towards agile, cloud-centric solutions, embodying the future of efficient and adaptable connectivity for enterprises.