Every great organization needs a reliable and secure network, either by purchasing and maintaining expensive infrastructure using their own resources or outsourcing network management to an MSP.
In either case you own the equipment, which may not be cost-effective even if upfront cost is not a concern. With option one, however, it also means that you are responsible for installing, maintaining, and managing the equipment, which can be time-consuming and require outside help and/or specialized expertise. And there are significant risks associated with equipment that is not regularly upgraded and maintained:
- More likely to be exploited due to limited patching
- Fines for noncompliance
- Downtime from higher failure rates
- Higher maintenance costs
- Hard to buy spares and parts
Outsourcing management to an MSP takes the burden of planning, maintenance, and management off your plate. But you still own the equipment and all of the costs that go with hardware/software upgrades, plus the added expense of the managed IT service provider who is charging for their time and considerable expertise.
A Better Way: Network as a Service
As your organization grows, so does your data, number of users, applications, workloads, clouds, etc. It is crucial to ask yourself if your network and security can keep pace and address the challenges and risks that come with growth. Remember, your organization runs on your network.
With the Network as a Service (NaaS) method, you do not need to purchase any equipment as it is provided and managed by the service provider. Instead, you simply pay a monthly fee for access to the network. This allows you to outsource the management and maintenance of your network, freeing up time and resources to focus on your core competencies.
But the benefits of NaaS don't stop there. One of the main advantages of NaaS is the total cost of ownership (TCO). Because you do not need to purchase any equipment, the upfront cost is significantly lower compared to the other delivery methods. Additionally, the monthly fee for NaaS includes all maintenance and management, so there are no surprise costs for repairs or updates. This allows you to have a clear and predictable budget for your network, which can be especially beneficial for smaller businesses with limited resources.
Another benefit of NaaS is the ability to scale as needed. With the other delivery methods, you need to purchase additional equipment as your network grows, which can be a costly and time-consuming process. However, with NaaS, you can simply increase your monthly fee to access more bandwidth and resources as needed, without the need to purchase any additional equipment. Surplus capacity that goes unused is a wasted expense, NaaS’s ability to work in tandem with business growth is critical.
NaaS is also a flexible option as it can be used for wireless, wired, and WAN technologies. This allows you to easily connect all of your devices and locations, no matter where they are located. And because the service provider handles all of the maintenance and management, businesses can focus on their work instead of worrying about their network.
NaaS results in enhanced security as well, constantly working to make sure the network is intact and lowering operational risk. A fully managed network security solution eliminates intrusions and prevents blockages. Partnering with a service provider with strong security capabilities provides rigorous security testing and precluding vulnerabilities.
In summary, NaaS is the most cost-effective and efficient option for most organizations when it comes to network delivery. The lower upfront cost and predictable monthly fees make it an appealing choice for businesses of all sizes. And with the added benefits of flexibility and scalability, NaaS is a great choice if you are looking to outsource the management and maintenance of your network.
Data Networks offers comprehensive managed IT services that combine standards-based assessment and planning, with ongoing technical and strategic guidance. Click here to learn more about our managed IT services.
Advantages of NaaS for Your Organization:
Cost-effectiveness: NaaS lets you pay only for the networking resources you consume, rather than having to invest in and maintain your own physical infrastructure.
Scalability: NaaS providers can easily add or remove resources as needed to accommodate fluctuations in demand.
Improved security: NaaS providers often have advanced security measures in place to protect your data and network resources.
Simplified management: You won’t need to worry about the maintenance and management of your network infrastructure, as this is handled by the NaaS provider.
Access to expertise: You can benefit from the expertise of the NaaS provider in areas such as network design and configuration.
Increased flexibility: NaaS allows you to easily and quickly change your networking configurations to meet changing business needs.
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