Edge networking

Improving performance with edge networking

The edge is playing an increasingly important role in enterprise IT. From Internet of Things technologies to distributed networks and work-from-home employees, many of the largest trends in computing are shifting the focus of IT investment to the network’s edge. As a result, implementing edge networking technology has become a #1 priority as IT teams seek to connect users, devices and locations at the edge while minimizing latency, increasing bandwidth and ensuring security.

While edge networking offers many benefits, it creates some hurdles as well. Securing users and data at the edge is a more complex task than in traditional enterprise security where IT teams had a clear perimeter to defend. Management of edge networking is more complicated as well, placing additional demands on overstretched IT teams. Ensuring high-performance connectivity for remote users and bandwidth-hungry applications requires new network edge solutions that deliver greater visibility and easier management.

Spectrum Enterprise can help. Our Enterprise Network Edge solution delivers the performance, secure networking and control your IT teams needs to meet the demands of a hybrid network architecture built around advanced SD-WAN technologies. With Spectrum Enterprise, your IT teams get a flexible, managed solution that helps accomplish more with fewer resources and less complexity.

The benefits of edge networking

Optimal connectivity

Edge networking solves many of the connectivity challenges related to hybrid cloud deployments by eliminating the need to backhaul traffic to a centralized data center for security inspection. With more options for connectivity, organizations can choose the type of connection (MPLS, broadband, wireless or VPN) that’s best suited to the bandwidth needs and criticality of each application.

Easier management

A modern edge networking platform designed to cover cloud environments as well can minimize time to deployment, centralize and automate management, and reduce the total cost of connectivity.

Stronger security

While the many entry points of edge networks present some risk, edge networking allows traffic to travel shorter distances, exposing data to less risk. Additionally, the decentralized nature of edge networking can help limit the damage of a breach.

Faster performance

By enabling data processing closer to users, devices and applications, edge networking reduces latency and ensures the high levels of performance and bandwidth required by modern applications and cloud solutions.

Greater reliability

By making it possible to process and store data locally, edge networking increases the redundancy and resiliency of networks to improve reliability.

Edge networking with Spectrum Enterprise

Enterprise Network Edge from Spectrum Enterprise provides a managed networking platform with tools to meet demanding network requirements and support hybrid networks and multi-cloud strategies. This all-inclusive platform includes security and networking tools that can simplify IT operations and create a more secure, reliable and efficient network, helping to deliver an elevated digital experience at any scale.

To simplify the management of edge networking and SD-WAN, Enterprise Network Edge offers comprehensive features, capabilities and edge fiber solutions.

• Broad connectivity. Multiple connectivity options and a service-level agreement ensure that IT teams can deliver a network that meets the needs of the organization.
• An intuitive portal. Enterprise Network Edge delivers visibility into performance, routing, SD-WAN configuration, firewall settings and other components from a single pane of glass.
• Scalable performance. IT teams can count on a solution that can scale to thousands of locations, thanks to an SD-WAN solution with low latency and intelligent routing for critical applications.
• Cloud-ready technology. Enterprise Network Edge is designed for the cloud, allowing organizations to connect to multiple cloud service providers simultaneously to deliver a seamless and secure experience for users.
• Strong security. Firewalls and unified threat management (UTM) enable integrated cloud-to-edge security.
• Support for a remote workforce. Allow up to 50,000 workers to securely connect to the network with no additional licenses to buy.
• Flexible management options. IT teams can choose the level of management they desire, controlling the aspects they want and leaving the rest Spectrum Enterprise.
• Cost savings. With no infrastructure to purchase and no hardware to maintain, Spectrum Enterprise makes it easy to manage a secure, cost-effective edge network solution for one monthly cost.

Benefits of Enterprise Network Edge

When managing edge networking with Enterprise Network Edge, your organization and IT teams can:

• Ensure employees have consistent, high-performing access to the cloud applications they need to stay productive.
• Keep the network and organization secure through automated updates.
• Deliver the speed and capacity that users and bandwidth-intensive applications require, with throughput speeds up to 100 Gbps.
• Support the remote workforce by extending network resources to any location to facilitate collaboration and communication.
• Simplify management with a co-managed or fully managed solution.
• Gain instant visibility into network usage and performance for faster and better decision-making.
• Transition to edge networking at your own pace while continuing to meet the needs of your organization.

Why Spectrum Enterprise?

Spectrum Enterprise is a national provider of scalable, fiber technology solutions and high-capacity network services. When working with Spectrum Enterprise, organizations can count on:

• Responsive support. Our technologies are supported by 24/7/365 client care and offers a 100% guarantee uptime SLA.¹
• Exceptional uptime. Our nationwide fiber network offers the speed and efficiency that enterprises need to compete.
• Strong security. From WAN edge security to cloud-based endpoint security, Spectrum Enterprise provides a broad range of protections that enable a multi-layered approach to security.
• A consultative approach. Our teams work with our clients to plan, develop, deploy and support the connectivity solutions to meet their goals.
• Scalable solutions. Spectrum Enterprise solutions can scale and evolve to support digital transformation and IT modernization – without costly changes to infrastructure.

FAQs

What is the edge?

In IT, “the edge” refers to the edge of a computer network – the place where devices like servers, desktop computers, virtual machines, tablets, smartphones and Internet of Things devices connect to the internet. The edge is playing a greater role in IT today as organizations move computing resources like data processing and data storage to edge locations to be closer to the users, devices and applications that rely on them. The result is better performance, lower latency and increased security.

What is edge networking?

Edge networking is the technology that enables connectivity between the users, devices and applications at the edge of the network with the data centers and cloud environments at the core of the network. The goal of edge networking is to move data rapidly, efficiently, securely and cost-effectively between edge WAN locations while ensuring that applications and workloads have the right amount of bandwidth for optimal performance.

¹100% uptime SLA guarantee applies only to Dedicated Fiber Internet, Secure Dedicated Fiber Internet, Ethernet Services, Cloud Connect and Enterprise Trunking.