Network simplification a common theme

If you find yourself with some extra money in the IT budget and want to make a network upgrade, you may have so many options that research efforts leave your head spinning and mind cluttered with too much data. Simplicity is possible, however, many organizations are beginning to reduce complexity by investing in network solutions that achieve a specific purpose.

ADC market rising
A recent Infonetics Research study found that the application delivery controller market has begun gaining momentum as companies look to make strategic network upgrades. During the second quarter of 2013, revenues in the ADC sector increased by 4 percent quarter-over-quarter and 7 percent year-over-year. The sector's rise come as companies turn to ADCs to solve specific network challenges in critical areas.

Cliff Grossner,directing analyst for data center and cloud for Infonetics Research, explained that a broad increase in IT budgets is helping push the rise in ADC spending.

"Things are looking more positive for the application delivery controller market," said Grossner. "Previously delayed tier 1 projects are back on track, and enterprise spending in North America is picking up."

A Network World report analyzing the Infonetics Research study explained that simplicity is a contributor to the ADC market's rise, as an ADC investment achieves an extremely specific purpose, making it easier for IT managers to identify the best time and method for investment.

Jim Frey, research vice president for Enterprise Management Associates, explained that ADCs are gaining an edge over WAN optimization and similar solutions because of how organizations use the technology.

"ADCs are much more closely aligned with specific application projects and budgets, and thus when there are new applications being rolled out (and there always are) there are new needs for ADCs," Frey told the news source.

Achieving meaningful network simplicity
Specific network solutions that alleviate complexity can pay dividends, but innovation can still be stifled if the underlying infrastructure is so complex that it limits how an organizations can make strategic upgrades. Fiber to Ethernet media converters can ease some of this infrastructure-level complexity. Many companies run into complexity problems when they face major bandwidth challenges, but try to get by using multiple copper links to alleviate performance problems. Turning to fiber can simplify this architecture, and media converters let you easily establish an interoperable network layout that combines fiber and copper seamlessly.