Edge Infrastructure Calls for Cloud-Native Agility

Enterprises are increasingly adopting hybrid and multicloud architectures, which require more flexible infrastructure — not only to accommodate greater numbers of connected endpoints, but also to handle fluctuating workloads. Enterprises migrate applications over time — bringing them back on-premises after trying them in the cloud, for example — and applications may require data from disparate sources, some only sporadically. The rise of the edge intensifies the situation by creating even more endpoints and more potential sources of data. 

The effects on networks are already visible. According to recent research data (see figure below), 36% of respondents make changes to their datacenter and cloud networks daily (21%) or hourly (15%). This percentage rises to 56% among companies less than 10 years old — not surprising, considering many of these companies were “born in the cloud” and take full advantage of the agility of virtual infrastructure. Even among companies that identify themselves as digital technology laggards, 31% say they make network changes at least daily.