What is Cloud Networking?

Cloud networking is the deployment of a corporate network using cloud-based services to connect an organization’s employees, resources, and applications. Previously, organizations relied on their own private network hardware to create a secure wide area network (WAN) for communication and application deployment, which was costly and complex to manage. Cloud networking simplifies this by allowing organizations to use virtual network components instead. A third-party cloud service provider manages and maintains the networking hardware and infrastructure, allowing your organization’s network administrators to focus on optimizing efficiency and configurations.

What are benefits of cloud networking?

Cloud networking offers the potential to enhance efficiency, scalability, and security within your organization.

Efficient network management

Traditional custom networking solutions with third-party telecommunications providers often entail substantial costs and resource overheads. This includes acquiring new networking equipment and coordinating with the third party for network adjustments, updates, or the integration of new satellite business sites.

However, with cloud networking, your organization’s administrators can operate within cloud platforms, utilizing software to define or modify network solutions. This approach streamlines network management processes and reduces costs.

Increased scalability

Scalability is crucial for enabling your organization to adapt to various future scenarios efficiently. Traditionally, expanding to new business sites required meticulous network configuration and investment in physical infrastructure, resulting in expensive and slow scaling processes.

Conversely, with a cloud network, setting up a new site with a tailored network configuration can be accomplished within hours rather than days or weeks. Direct, secure connections to organizational resources and sites can be established swiftly. Similarly, deactivating sites and decommissioning networks can be done quickly and easily.

Easier security

Virtual cloud network solutions are designed for organizations to construct secure networks using software. Cloud providers leverage economies of scale to deploy cutting-edge infrastructure and highly secure physical network components. Additionally, you can enhance security further by utilizing cloud networking security tools and adhering to best practices in network configurations.

Improved monitoring and maintenance:

While many physical networking solutions necessitate management and maintenance by telecommunications companies or in-house teams, cloud-based networking eliminates the need for physical upkeep entirely. It grants your organization complete visibility into traffic data across networks, accessible through a variety of network management software tools.

How does cloud networking work?

Traditionally, businesses would lease servers located in nearby data centers and establish direct network connections from office sites through local telecommunications providers. In contrast, modern cloud networking configurations utilize cloud-based virtual servers within the region and connect to office sites using a cloud-based virtual private network and gateway.

Cloud networking involves leveraging virtual network components, topologies, and configurations that operate on a cloud provider’s physical networking infrastructure. Networks are defined and managed as software, allowing organizations to create custom virtual local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) using cloud resources.

The basis of cloud networking services is virtualization, which enables the definition of network components such as virtual routers, firewalls, load balancers, and complete network layouts through software logic. The potential of cloud networking is limited only by the capacity and capabilities of the underlying physical infrastructure.

For instance, a cloud service provider can multiplex a high-capacity network cable to support multiple virtual private network links and dynamically allocate capacity based on demand, offering various capacities in different service packages.

Combining other cloud resources with a cloud network forms a virtual private cloud (VPC), where a virtual private cloud network hosts cloud network resources. This setup allows internet-based remote access through a virtual private network and a software-defined gateway, providing logical isolation from the public cloud—a virtual data center within the cloud environment.

Hybrid cloud networking enables connectivity to on-premises data centers and branch sites using a combination of traditional networking infrastructure and the public internet, demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability of cloud networking architectures.

What’s the difference between cloud networking and cloud computing?

Cloud networking is just one component of cloud infrastructure available as a service from a cloud computing provider.

Traditionally, cloud computing provides users with access to a range of rented, virtualized IT infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking. A cloud provider owns and operates the underlying physical resources, offering them as services to customers through software-based network management. The physical infrastructure is distributed globally through virtualization, enabling multiple customers to operate logically isolated private infrastructure on the same underlying hardware.

Cloud computing has evolved beyond hardware-based infrastructure services to encompass additional offerings such as tools, platforms, and serverless computing.

Conclusion

Cloud networking is a critical solution for modern organizations, offering streamlined management, cost reduction, and enhanced security. Its scalability enables swift adaptation to changing business needs, while its advanced security features provide peace of mind. As an integral part of cloud computing, cloud networking ensures flexibility and resilience in today’s dynamic digital environment.