Overcome lack of funding with a considered approach

Recent research identified Software-Defined Networking (SDN) as the top networking and storage investment priority for Australian infrastructure leaders¹.   Delivering unparalleled network control and performance gains, SDN is a compelling choice for those looking to modernise and simplify their network.

Despite SDN’s allure, lack of funding is a crucial barrier to execution that demands engaging the C-suite and key decision-makers on what SDN offers business-wide.

Making a compelling case for network investment

Securing investment relies on communicating the value of a project in a compelling and considered way, outlining business needs and communicating the benefits of pursuing a significant investment.

Understanding the personal motivations of the people you’re trying to sway is key. In the case of C-suite and other decision-makers who are driven by ROI, numbers talk. Flesh out your business case with meaningful statistics and data across results, Opex / Capex allocations and technical debt reduction (more on that later). 

In addition to costs, a business case targeting the C-suite should cover two other critical business needs: security and future-proofing. 

The cost-cutting power of SDN is bound to appeal to the C-suite

SDN’s flexible consumption model enables businesses to reduce costs by consolidating multiple-point products via a flexible consumption model. This means you can prioritise the services and support level you procure in line with your unique needs – without the bell and whistles you don’t.

SDN empowers businesses to allocate costs at a granular team level, making everyone accountable for reducing costs. With visibility of the expenses at a granular level, teams can gain insights into expenditure and make informed decisions about resourcing, budgeting and profitability.

SDN migration can also help identify and manage technical debt accrued across systems over time. With outdated technologies, flaky patches and modifications, and incomplete documentation, legacy systems can accrue technical debt in the form of security risks, business inefficiencies, hindered innovation and high maintenance costs.

Homing in on the hidden costs of legacy systems and highlighting how SDN offers valuable opportunities to simplify, optimise and reduce costs is sure to sway cost-conscious decision-makers.

Security is everyone’s responsibility, from the top down

In a hybrid, Gen-AI world, application connectivity has shifted away from dedicated MPLS to the cloud, increasing exposure to cyber threats for all business units. Designing a network that provides broad connectivity without compromising security is a strategic business imperative.

When it comes to your business case, it’s important to understand your organisational risk profile and appetite, drawing out the potential cost of a breach in both dollars and reputation. With the risk documented, you can outline the powerful capability of SDN to shore up your cyber security defence and response.

Mainly based on the use of IP security (IPsec), VPN tunnels, next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), and the micro-segmentation of application traffic, SDN becomes a core component of modernising secure application delivery by:

• centralising remote management
• limiting the lateral movement of threats with network segmentation
• providing consistent security and connectivity posture
• balancing your budget with your priorities, and
• future-proofing your cyber security as you scale.

New threats and opportunities must be managed by SDN and network virtualisation

Preparing for scalability is crucial by designing your network with future growth in mind, ensuring it remains modern, capable and cost-effective as technology advances. This is where the value of modernising with SDN comes into its own – not just in the compelling value it delivers today, but in its inherent ability to future-proof your organisation by evolving and scaling securely to meet future demands.

SDN’s integration and interoperability functionality enables you to leverage your existing network for adaptable integration and information exchange. Moving forward, its unique modular design allows you to add capacity with new network structures like SASE or intent-based networking without disrupting existing operations.

Selling the benefits of secure networks and SDN

Simplify and modernise with NEC’s Software-Defined Network solution

Leave behind your IT complexity – and the manual configuration, lack of visibility and scalability that comes with traditional network solutions. NEC’s SDN solutions help organisations manage intricate environments and adapt to changing expectations.

NEC is a Cisco Multinational Gold Partner with a Secure Campus Access designation and proud to be only the second Australian partner to have received Cisco’s Secure Access Designation for its SDN solution.

Future-proof your network investment with​​​​​ Secure Networks.

^[1] Categorised investment priorities for Infrastructure leaders – ADAPT Research 2024