Software-defined Networking Development Model

Frequently Asked Questions

‘ Software-defined networks (SDNs) are an innovative and new architectural approach to networking, where some of the functionality available in networking hardware is moved into software, creating a software control layer.’

What are software-defined networks?

Software-defined networks (SDNs) are an innovative and new architectural approach to networking, where some of the functionality available in networking hardware is moved into software, creating a software control layer. This software control layer can be programmed, enabling the network to interface to external systems. This creates more dynamic and flexible networks.

What are the benefits of software-defined networking (SDN)?

Having a more flexible network infrastructure enables the network to respond more quickly to the dynamic nature of modern applications and business requirements. Additionally, it creates opportunities for cost savings through more efficient operations and the more effective delivery of network services.

What is Dimension Data’s Software-defined Networking Development Model (SDNDM)?

Significant hype and confusion surrounds software-defined networking, with many start-ups and existing vendors taking SDN offerings to market, each claiming a unique approach. In addition, SDN promises to change how networks are architected and operated, with the impact on clients being significant and not just isolated to their network teams. There are many choices to be made, including the changing vendor landscape, the type of SDN adopted, speed of adoption, network automation processes, and identifying the best possible starting point.

FAQ | Software-defined Networking Development Model

What are the benefits of the Software-defined Networking Development Model?

SDN education

The offering includes a significant educational element that eliminates the confusion and hype surrounding SDN and establish a comprehensive understanding of what SDN is. In addition, it provides detail of the different approaches to SDN, industry bodies and standards, the benefits of SDN, and projected adoption rates.

SDN vision

It assists clients in determining their vision for SDN, which helps to establish the focus and priorities that will enable that vision to become a reality.

Impact of SDN

The workshop discussion and report provide valuable context for the client to understand the broad impact of SDN on their organisation, and covers four areas of impact, namely:

• Infrastructure readiness – network, virtualisation, and security

• Operational readiness – change management and network management

• sourcing, and culture

• Organisational change – skills, training, communications, governance, and process

• Business alignment – strategy, budget,

SDN readiness state

The engagement sets out to determine the client’s current SDN ‘as-is’ state and the desired ‘to-be’ state in relation to the four dimensions.

Recommendations

We provide a set of recommendations that will assist the client to improve its SDN readiness state.

Dimension Data has developed a well-defined consulting engagement that provides a compelling starting point for clients who are interested in learning more about SDN, the impact that SDN will have on their ICT operations, and where to start with SDN. A Software-defined Networking Development Model engagement includes a significant educational component to help clients fully understand software-defined networking. It also explores how SDN will impact the client by examining the four key dimensions of infrastructure readiness, operational readiness, organisational change, and business alignment. The engagement includes the identification of the client’s ‘as-is’ SDN state and the desired ‘to-be’ SDN state. This allows a roadmap of SDN-related activities to be identified, which are put forward as recommendations. These recommendations, when acted on, provide a concrete plan for SDN adoption across the organisation.

What is Dimension Data’s software-defined networking strategy?

Dimension Data has a 30-year history of excellence in designing, architecting, deploying, and maintaining and supporting network solutions and infrastructure. Software-defined networking offers our clients an additional choice when architecting their networks, and Dimension Data has invested in its ability to assist clients in making these decisions and successfully managing the transition. Our approach starts with a business discussion with the client to identify a real need for SDN. We have SDN consulting offerings, relationships with the leading vendors, and are investing heavily in software skills within our networking businesses. Further details regarding our networking strategy and offerings can be found on our website at www.dimensiondata.com.

FAQ | Software-defined Networking Development Model

CS / DDMS-1581 / 04/14 © Copyright Dimension Data 2014 For internal use only

How long will the engagement take to deliver?

The delivery period will depend on the specific client engagement and the goals that have been set, but typically the engagement will take three to four weeks, end-to-end. This includes the pre-workshop planning, the workshop itself (which is a six-hour process), the analysis and feedback report, and presentation creation. The last step is a feedback session where the presentation is delivered and the results are discussed in depth.

How is it delivered?

The core of the engagement is a workshop that includes key people from the client’s ICT organisation, and is facilitated by a Dimension Data consultant. The consultant will start with an education session on SDN to ensure the client has a good understanding of SDN, and that any terminology used in the workshop is defined. The workshop then uses a structured questionnaire to examine the four key dimensions of SDN.

The structured workshop allows senior ICT executives to attend only the initial session if desired, while the remainder of the workshop examines technical details regarding infrastructure and operations.

Who delivers it?

A Dimension Data networking consultant who has a detailed understanding of networking, protocols, and network architectures will deliver the engagement. A Dimension Data project manager will usually be allocated to manage the delivery of the engagement.

What are the outputs from the Software-defined Networking Development Model?

The client will receive two deliverables from the engagement:

• A report that provides a complete breakdown of the findings along with the established ‘as-is’ SDN state and the desired ‘to-be’ SDN state. The report also includes Dimension Data’s recommendations that create a roadmap of activities to enable progression to the desired SDN state.

• A feedback presentation where the key findings are presented to the client. This is followed by a Q&A session, which allows the findings to be discussed in detail and ensures the client fully understands the recommendations made.

Is this a one-time service or an ongoing service?

This offering has generally been designed to be delivered as a one-time consulting engagement. The service is useful as a one-time service to assist in defining a vision for SDN, starting the SDN journey, or justifying an SDN project. It could be equally useful in measuring ongoing progress of an SDN strategy by being delivered periodically.

Why should I consider this consulting offering?

The network has increased in importance in modern ICT infrastructures and is the platform for modern business, communications, and facilitiates the move to enterprise mobility and cloud computing. SDN is going to fundamentally change networking architectures and how the network delivers efficient services to the business. It’s likely this transition will significantly impact our clients’ infrastructures and operations. Having a good understanding of SDN, a vision for SDN, and a strategy for the planned adoption of SDN that won’t impact the organisation, is critical.

Where can I get more information?More detail on Dimension Data’s Software-defined Networking Development Model can be found on the Dimension Data website at www.dimensiondata.com or from your local sales specialist.

Middle East & Africa

Algeria · Angola Botswana · Congo · Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo Gabon · Ghana · Kenya

Malawi · Mauritius · Morocco Mozambique · Namibia · Nigeria Oman · Rwanda · Saudi Arabia

South Africa Tanzania · Uganda

United Arab Emirates · Zambia

Asia

China · Hong Kong India · Indonesia · Japan

Korea · Malaysia New Zealand · Philippines

Singapore · Taiwan Thailand · Vietnam

Australia

Australian Capital Territory New South Wales · Queensland

South Australia · Victoria Western Australia

Europe

Austria · Belgium Czech Republic France ·

Germany · HungaryItaly Ireland ·

· Luxembourg Netherlands Poland · Portugal

Slovakia · ·SpainTurkey · United Kingdom

Switzerland

Americas

Brazil · Canada · Chile Mexico · United States

For contact details in your region please visit www.dimensiondata.com/globalpresence