Is the Internet the New WAN?
By Masha Zager
After close to two decades -- a lifetime in information technology -- the traditional corporate wide-area network (WAN) may be headed for the endangered-species list. The usurper: Internet-based virtual private networks (VPNs). Instead of depending on dedicated leased or owned lines, VPNs use a variety of technologies to carry data traffic over public networks in a secure and private manner. And as they are becoming increasingly competitive in terms of cost, flexibility and capacity, organizations of all sizes are taking notice.
However, migrating from leased lines to broadband isn't a slam dunk. IT managers must select VPN vendors with the appropriate levels of support and technology, and make sure the system meets the enterprise's needs for security and performance on an ongoing basis.
Expert Advice on Call
IT departments can choose between the do-it-yourself approach -- installing their own software and building their own VPNs in-house using a standard business broadband connection -- and purchasing VPN services from a carrier.
In general, the availability of in-house expertise is one of the most significant issues an IT department faces in implementing a VPN. IT managers should assess their department's skill sets and decide whether the in-house expertise exists to plan, design, implement and monitor a VPN. If such expertise is lacking, it makes more sense and may be more cost-effective to use a carrier-provided VPN.
In a recent survey by In-Stat, an industry analyst based in Scottsdale, Ariz., the key reasons enterprises gave for using carrier-provided VPNs were higher cost-benefit ratios and the desire to converge voice and data services on the same transport facilities. Converging voice with data offers opportunities to save overhead costs, but it can be technically challenging, since changes in data traffic can easily affect the quality of voice service and vice versa. "When carriers provide the IP VPNs, they bring their expertise to the table," explains In-Stat senior analyst Steve Hansen. (article continues)
Next Page >>
