As a company experiences exponential growth there are many challenges that arise along the way that are crucial for maintaining a high level of performance. For modern companies focused upon growth, the most critical of all is their digital infrastructure.

Even within a modern world, a high proportion of today's networks have been in place for many years. The implementation of cloud and virtual platforms have created new demands that old networks simply cannot comply with.

A virtual, cloud way of working has greatly reduced the effectiveness of traditional MPLS networks, causing a huge surge in data traffic and congestion. The agility of a modern network is by far more accommodating to the demands of company growth, with easy deployment and the potential for a significantly better TCO.

In comparison, end-user experience across MPLS networks is slower due to the need to get application traffic to the Internet as quickly as possible. As the volume of data grows, the traditional network becomes strained beyond its capabilities.

Cloud and Transformation

A glance at modern successful companies highlights why network growth paralleled with company growth is so important. Most successful companies ensure their peak growth is matched by a transformation of their network. It is appreciated that to continue to drive growth the network must have the ability to match these added demands.

Networking infrastructure is now almost always a critical feature across any successful business plan. This is the case as it ultimately impacts areas vital to output and performance. This can range from services and data to marketing and customer experience.

There is now an acceptance that simply buying cloud products is not sufficient and won't sustain long term growth. Instead, the core infrastructure of the business needs addressing to really gain the advantage of a cloud-based network. By adopting a cloud-based network, a company can create new services quickly to add true value to the customer, along with adding an unapparelled sense of flexibility.

Digital businesses use this as an advantage, building platforms in public/private cloud or hybrid. What is crucial is that cloud should not be seen as a purchase product, but a critical part of the digital infrastructure that provides adaptability and agility perfectly suited to the end-user demands of company growth.

Software

Any technological infrastructure can be divided up into hardware and software. The introduction of virtual networking was created to ease burden and management costs, as well as making the network more flexible. The trend of a virtual network was sparked by the desire to copy business leaders in enterprise space whose network was cost effective and agile, allowing them to develop an infrastructure that could overcome modern challenges.

Network virtualisation is important to keep up with modern demands. New IP architecture differentiates from traditional IP network as it is based on security, software centric and automation with data analytics that provides intelligence on how to improve the network.

Software automation provides an agile base for a company and allows for a cost-effective implementation of new features. The growth in software adoption, as opposed to hardware, is down to the fact that software can be the digital foundation of a business all-in-one solution.

The importance of data

As businesses grow, they are faced with a rapid increase in data that the network needs to support. This information is crucial to how a business will choose to adapt in the future. Data has completely revolutionised the business landscape. The infrastructure around the processing of data is now as important as the physical infrastructure. The infrastructure should be based on data development.

Without a sufficient infrastructure in place to handle the data, IT departments quickly become strained. As mentioned earlier, there has been a shift from focusing on short term solutions to understanding the importance of a future-proof long-term solution. Planned, consistent analysis of data workflows will allow companies to uncover information that can help their networking infrastructure adjust and grow as the company expands.

Pottential to expand

The infrastructure a company adopts should be designed to facilitate the prospect of expansion and form a part of the growth business life cycle. Throughout this stage, a business should be considering how their network can support a potential increase in revenue and applications and whether it is capable of this. Many companies see the growth business cycle as a point where they may need an improved infrastructure that parallels to their growth. IT needs with continue to grow along with technology complexity as an organisation evolves. With a virtual, cloud-based network a company can focus on this expansion rather than be forced to deal with technological difficulties that arise. A secure cloud-based solution is self-solving and allows the business to focus on other areas. In addition, a flexible cloud solution provides a platform to mobilise partners that understand the organisation’s complexity and the day-to-day challenges of technology infrastructure. These partners enable fast growth and reliable infrastructure that accounts for business demands and transformation.

Summary

Ultimately, without a network that can match growth, the business cycle falls down. The increased pressure and volume of applications that accompany business growth must be matched to maintain performance and user experience. A network infrastructure incapable of meeting the demands of significant growth can be hugely damaging, not only diminishing the level of experience but also the possibility of security issues.