An important problem for many firms is that data center networks are old and cannot handle the demands of modern traffic processing and applications.
As this problem is quite common, the question that arises is how companies can enhance security and increase performance by eliminating this bottleneck.
The solution, however, is as simple as upgrading the data center switching infrastructure. This entails upgrading the current network hardware, through which data flows from the servers to the connected devices more easily.
Well, you must be wondering what makes these new switches any different.
Well, to help you with that, let’s discuss seven benefits to understand why it is crucial to opt for innovative data center switching to enhance the outcome.
1. Improved Network Performance
Firstly, increased network functionality is perhaps one of the most appealing benefits of upgrading data center switching architecture. The traditional switches are not architecturally designed to handle the current traffic levels; they suffer from congestion, delay, and, more significantly, packet drop.
On the other hand, advanced data center switches offer higher data transmission rates, faster response time, and higher bandwidth to enable the increasing data traffic demands and support new and complex applications for companies.
In addition, newer generations of these switches offer a higher Ethernet capability compared to the prior technology, which is from around 1G to 10G. This increased speed enhances a number of workloads, such as big data, virtualization, and cloud computing, with reference to response and performance.
2. Increased Network Scalability
As your business evolves, so do the requirements for your data center. When expanding the size of your network, including new devices, users and applications, this becomes crucial and outdated switching equipment may hinder your efforts.
However, the advanced switches are more scalable devices that provide larger port counts, diverse form factors or potential SDN readiness.
They also offer features such as virtualization and multi-tenancy that enable a company to easily expand or contract due to changes in demand of the network without having to switch to another system.
3. Enhanced Security Features
The protection of data is crucial to any firm, and it is imperative that organizations take data security more seriously since the world is experiencing a string of cyber threats. An old switch can cause your data center to be susceptible to attacks, breaches and leakage of important information.
Implementing the latest switching solutions can support additional security measures to safeguard data and meet legal requirements. Modem switches also feature security characteristics such as integrated firewalls, ACLs, network segmentation, and encryption.
These features enable fine-tuning of the traffic to avoid any unauthorized access by undesired individuals or programs into key assets.
4. Simplified Network Management with Automation
One of the major problems companies face is that as the networks grow in size and density, they become more and more difficult to manage without the aid of special software.
Modern switching infrastructure makes operations easier through automation and centralized control, hence minimizing time wastage and chances of human error. Also, a prominent feature of modern switches is the application of software-defined networking (SDN), where it is quite easy to set up, monitor, or troubleshoot a network.
SDN provides managers with more centralized control of network resources where functions of control and forwarding are separated. This means that you are able to provision new services, make changes in the network, and oversee performance from a single point of view, making it easier to use.
5. Support for Virtualization and Cloud Integration
Virtualization and cloud computing have become a significant trend in shaping the landscape of organizational IT. However, such switching infrastructures do not effectively support virtualized platforms and may cause performance issues and rigidity.
Upgrading your data center switching infrastructure will improve your support for virtualization and cloud initiatives as well as improve your IT environment. Common features highlighted in current switches embrace VLANs, VXLANs, and NFV that are friendly to virtualized operations.
Such technologies allow the construction of isolated, secure special virtual networks that can be extended or reconstructed with minimum effort.
6. Energy Efficiency and Reduced Operational Costs
The possibility of increased energy efficiency is another significant benefit of modernizing your data center switching architecture. Vintage switches often use more energy and produce more heat, which raises energy costs and necessitates the installation of additional cooling equipment, which raises operating costs even more.
Modern switches are made to use less energy, producing less heat and consuming less power. This lessens the strain on the cooling systems in your data center, which lowers power costs and your carbon impact.
Additionally, some modern switches include smart power management features that dynamically modify power use in response to network traffic, therefore lowering total energy consumption.
7. Better Reliability and Reduced Downtime
Business operations can be severely impacted by downtime, which can result in lost sales, decreased productivity, and eroded client confidence.
By lowering the chance of unscheduled outages and guaranteeing constant service availability, upgrading your data center switching architecture may increase dependability.
High availability and redundancy features like link aggregation, automated failover, and hot-swappable components are integrated into modern switches. These capabilities lessen the impact on your company by enabling your network to function even in the case of hardware failure.
Bottom line
Modernizing your data center switching architecture is essential for companies hoping to remain competitive in the digital era.
Upgrading your switching infrastructure is critical in attaining the dependable, scalable, and effective data center your company depends on for its future.
So, are you ready to achieve unmatched performance and future-proof your data center?
Investigate the advantages of modernizing your switching infrastructure as a first step to enable your company to meet the present needs and future innovations.
