Cloud vs. On-Premise
Cloud-managed networking vs. an on-premise network management is the difference between proactive vs. reactive when it comes to ensuring the availability of a hosted cloud solution. Taking systems management from an on-premise console to a web-based browser gives several advantages to companies that want to ensure availability of their cloud applications while allowing their cloud providers to troubleshoot and measure availability of their applications. The web-based browser is as important as ever as enterprises move in-house solutions to the cloud; giving networking capability and viability an even higher priority.
As far back as ten years ago, “convergence” was about data and voice combining together on the same network and today we’ve seen that transition become a reality. Now we are seeing the convergence of data applications that carry with them embedded voice, storage, social, and mobile features and functionality. Without a cloud-managed network – proactively monitoring, measuring and prioritizing a hosted application – you are setting yourself up for failure.
Customer Experience
On a recent customer installation, we saw the value of a Meraki cloud-managed network. The client was deployed with a cable broadband solution with a contracted download speed of 80.00 Mbps and an upload speed of 36.00 Mbps. Reading through most standard broadband contracts, you are not guaranteed the delivery of those speeds are they are often dependent on several factors: quality of coax to-and-from the demarcation point(s), networking equipment and structured cabling. Cable provider service have other contributing factors as it is a shared service (varying number of users on a local loop), the geographical area and the time of day.
Utilizing Meraki’s reporting capabilities, we were able to see the peaks and valleys of the client’s broadband with speeds of 30.00 Mbps down and 12.00 Mbps up. These Meraki reports, with graphs and associated data, allowed us to analyze the cloud-managed network (facts are difficult to argue) and provide this information to the broadband carrier’s support desk. Upon dispatching an on-site technician, it led to the discovery of a faulty trap. (The result of an older, non-scrambled system in which the cable provider installed these trap(s) to remove signals the client was not paying for. As a result of this trap, the broadband signal between the CO and demarcation point was significantly truncated by this out-of-date trap and, once removed, the speeds more than doubled.
One issue solved but there will be more in the future as Meraki will continue to alert Soteria and the client to future trends, should the quality of service degrade over time. Moreover, Soteria will also be provisioning a redundant broadband connection to ensure dual paths for business continuity and proactive management to the network.
Capabilities
Soteria LLC. (a Meraki Business Partner) builds wireless and wired cloud-managed networks as well as providing network acceleration and security capabilities. We deploy solutions that allows remote management through web portal control to centrally manage an enterprise network with immediate and full control over applications, devices, policies and all users. The alternative: dispatching an on-site technician or a high hourly-rate technical resources with specific certifications in router, layer 3 switching, firewall and general security. As well, upgrades, patching or firmware efforts are moved to the cloud and receive 24/7 managed update and scheduled control; meaning, customers no longer have controller hardware or management software to install and maintain.
So what does this really mean for our customers? In our opinion, the power of cloud-managed networking is the ability to leave maintenance, secure system access and device integration to the cloud, while allowing enterprise IT professionals to focus on the areas which optimize their organization’s access to cloud hosted solutions. With the additional time, administrators can ensure that content shaping, protocol priority, firewall rules and content management is fully optimized and continuously managed and measured to ensure the most optimal environment. Call Soteria, LLC. as we are ready to help.
Good Luck!