The Application Fluent Network Solves 6 Key IT Challenges

The explosion of real-time communications has been a boon and a bane for business. The ability to communicate anywhere at any time and across a multitude of devices has facilitated collaboration and productivity, but it also has brought challenges for enterprise IT departments. For the first time, it is no longer possible to solve networking needs by simply adding bandwidth.

What is needed instead is a converged, application fluent network that dynamically adjusts for voice, data, and video applications while streamlining the underlying infrastructure and delivering simplified management in the face of the explosion of device and protocols on the network itself.

Business agility, quality of service, cost containment, retention of top personnel, security and maximum return on investment (ROI) are issues the enterprises of all types face, and an application fluent network helps alleviate the challenges of each.

First, an application fluent network helps with business agility. By simplifying and automating the network, an applications fluent network can easily support new business needs as they develop. It brings enhanced mobile connectivity, scalability and flexibility to adjust as business needs evolve.

Second, an application fluent network helps meet quality of service levels necessary for peak employee productivity. An application fluent network brings fine-grained application delivery, rapid recovery capabilities and automatic network tuning controls to ensure that applications and the network perform as needed.

Third, costs are contained with an applications fluent network because the network is converged with a simplified network architecture that reduces the number of layers and the cost of administration and deployment.

Such a network also helps with attracting and retaining IT personnel because it unburdens enterprise It from the laborious, manual tasks that can demoralize and numb IT staff through efficient use of automation, consistency of features, and integrated tools. Further, it helps retains staff by freeing them from the hassles of dropped calls and communications tools that don’t always perform.

A fifth advantage of an applications fluent network is enhanced security. With easy to administer access, authentication and authorization tools, businesses can simplify security without compromising on protection.

Finally, enterprises can improve on IT ROI with an applications fluent network. Because it is a simplified and modern architecture, an applications fluent network both reduces CAPEX and OPEX (News - Alert) through lower energy consumption and an economical growth path. It also minimizes complexity of administration, which cuts down on maintenance.

Helping businesses get there is the developer of the application fluent network, Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert). Its Plan and Design Services offer leading expertise and best practices to create an network architecture that support short- and long-term business objectives. Comprehensive planning and design produces a flexible, resilient, scalable architectural foundation that supports an organization’s business solutions. Given the explosion of real-time communications this is something for enterprise IT departments to consider was they transform the way they deliver services to their end users and other stakeholders.