What is Cloud Networking

Cloud networking is a sort of IT infrastructure. A company's network resources and capabilities are placed in a cloud platform, whether public or private, managed either by a service provider or in-house and made available on demand.

Companies can establish a private cloud network using on-premises cloud networking resources, use public cloud computing network services, or a hybrid combination. Virtual routers, bandwidth, network management solutions, and firewalls are examples of network resources, with additional tools and functionalities accessible as needed. For understanding more about what is networking in cloud computing and cloud networking basics, go through this article.

Cloud Networking Types

Here are the two basic types of services that the cloud enables connections across networking:

• Cloud-enabled networking: It is a technique in which the customer's network architecture is on-premises, but some or all of the other network resources utilised for administration are in the cloud. Core network infrastructure, like routing and packet forwarding, would, for example, remain on-premises while managing network, monitoring, and maintenance of security services maintenance may be hosted in the cloud.
• Cloud-based networking: Another technique is cloud-based networking, wherein the entire network is hosted in the cloud. This procedure is used to establish connectivity between cloud resources and applications.

The impact of the cloud on traditional networking

Users throughout the world require consistent, safe access to the information and apps they use daily. However, IT faces new issues as apps and services are distributed across clouds and data centres. In a multi and hybrid-cloud world, traditional ADCs (Application Delivery Controllers) and load balancing aren't any longer suitable for delivering apps. SD-WAN may aggregate various network types to provide a uniform UX, whether people are at home, in a branch office, or on any other network.

Organisations are also increasingly exposed to internet-based attacks when network as a service software migrates to the cloud. Firms are moving aside from the 'connect first, then authenticate' paradigm to address this problem. Alternatively, a secure digital perimeter includes ADCs, firewalls, or secure online gateway elements used for authenticating users before giving access, depending on where they are, who they are, and what platform they're using.

Finally, deploying distinct solutions for addressing each application might be challenging to protect and administer in a multi or hybrid or cloud environment. The end-to-end visibility and analytics of programmes, users, and devices throughout the network are vital.

What is the process of cloud networking?

Cloud networking architectures should provide for centralised management, visibility, and control. Cloud network technology is developed utilising cloud-based services and is configured differently based on the cloud service type used. Architects, for instance, have more choice when it concerns the entire design with a private cloud. That's because the cloud provider is responsible for all underlying infrastructure and software.

Customers could only control and manage networking in the deployment of IaaS (infrastructure as a service). The customer does not control network functions with SaaS (Software as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service), as the service supplier controls them. IaaS is the ideal alternative for enterprises that need to configure their network components in the public cloud.

Instead, a firm might use a hybrid cloud architecture. Some apps, data, and services will remain on-premises, while others will be migrated to an IaaS provider. The ideal solution for enterprises using this technology is to replicate the network IP (Internet Protocol) space, regulations, and procedures in their own data centres.

Some firms may even take it further by implementing a multi-cloud architecture that combines numerous network services in computer network. From an operational or cloud management standpoint, symmetry across the clouds is critical in this strategy. Regardless of which cloud an organisation is in, it should be capable of managing routing, load balancing, access lists, and other network tasks. To develop a software overlay across public and private clouds covering underlying differences in multi-cloud management, configuration management tools must be purpose-built. The multi-cloud solution is significantly more complicated than the others.

Benefits of Cloud Networking

The following are some of the advantages of networking in cloud enabled connections across platforms:

• Lower prices: This is in contrast to organisations purchasing their network hardware and software. Pay-per-use approaches are also used in networking in cloud enabled connections.
• Productivity: The cloud networking solution will not require IT workers to push hardware and software upgrades and setup and maintenance updates. This should allow IT workers, to focus on other network responsibilities at a company.
• Reliability: Server load balancing decreases the need to shut down the system for updates and minimises downtime. Cloud services are also known for their high availability (HA).
• Quick deployments: Users have access to new apps without installing or configuring networking software.
• Scalability: Cloud networking services can add more than just an organisation's data rather than adding more hardware on-premises.
• Flexibility: Customers can select public, private, or hybrid cloud deployment options.
• Security: Security features like encryption, firewalls, authentication, and virus protection are available from cloud networking providers.

Challenges of Cloud Networking

However, networking in cloud connectivity methods is not without its difficulties. The following are some examples of challenges:

• Lockdown of vendors: Being locked onto a single cloud provider may prohibit any necessary pivots or migrations across cloud services. A multi-cloud solution can be used to mitigate this, but it is more complicated to implement.
• Uptime and connectivity: Even though cloud companies promote extremely accessible services, customers have little control over what happens if something goes wrong.
• Security: Because security is an issue with any technology, organisations should first ensure that the vendor they choose provides an adequate quantity of network security services.

Cloud Computing vs Cloud Networking

When the word 'cloud' is removed from networking and cloud computing, the two phrases take on entirely new meanings. Here is also the answer to what is a benefit of using cloud computing in networking.

• When capabilities and resources of network connectivity in cloud computing are housed in the private, public, or hybrid cloud, it is called cloud networking. Among them are virtual routers, load balancers, switches, bandwidth, firewalls, network administration, and other resources. They can be administered in-house or by a third party and are provided on demand. When setting network gear in the cloud across virtual public clouds, the CLI (Command Line Interface) on Cisco router interfaces is distinct from the VPCs of Juniper. Cloud networking refers to the cloud architecture that powers resource connectivity and is based on cloud computing.
• Cloud computing is a generic phrase for centralised computing resources shared by many users. It refers to all cloud services required to keep apps functioning, such as computing, storage, and networking. It's more of an all-encompassing term for cloud networking.

Is cloud networking secure?

When it comes to third-party cloud services hosted by networking resources, there are a lot of security concerns. Cloud security is a major worry for nearly two-thirds of corporations and organisations, dampening enthusiasm for further cloud usage.

The Cloud Security Alliance's 2019 Top Threats to Cloud Computing: Egregious Eleven study has received feedback from cybersecurity specialists. The report's top three issues are data breaches, misconfiguration, insufficient change control, and a lack of architecture and strategy in cloud security.

While the figures may shock the cloud networking community, user error is the leading factor in cloud security breaches. According to Gartner, 99% of failures in cloud security would be the client's fault by 2025. This statistic puts network teams on notice, and those who want to prevent being another statistic can use a variety of security breach mitigation measures, such as:

• Having procedures in place that identify cloud ownership.
• A blueprint that follows the complete cloud governance lifecycle.
• Creating a cloud management solution that allows cloud-based apps with on-premises infrastructure for improved visibility, tracking, and problem management
• Encryption of data implementation
• Adding the second element of authentication
• Performing data backups
• Conducting background checks on cloud service providers

Who all are involved in Cloud Networking?

Cloud networks are becoming increasingly popular. According to Gartner, cloud computing adoption and revenue are expected to hit $330 billion by 2022 December. As a result, cloud networking has spread to almost every industry, including the ones listed below:

• Banking and finance: Banks use cloud networks to process a large volume of transactions and online loan applications. Traders have moved their trading systems to the cloud so that clients may execute trades quickly and with the most up-to-date, accurate pricing.
• Healthcare: As regulations change and the volume of patient data grows, cloud networking can automatically update back-office claims management and data security. End-to-end patient care necessitates tracking data from the doctor's office, diagnostic data, hospitalisations, therapy, and follow-up—a massive amount of data that necessitates using a cloud network.
• Manufacturing: Factory personnel frequently perform repetitive manual operations that can be mechanised and managed by a cloud network system.
• Retail: Retailers can consolidate systems to manage high-volume networking support for cloud computing and speedy order delivery using a cloud network. Some businesses have even implemented AI-powered virtual assistants to respond to customers' most common inquiries.
• Transportation: Tracking cars, loads, operators, timetables, deliveries, and customers is a complex operation that necessitates a large amount of data, making it ideal for a cloud network where different users may access the data from anywhere.
• Government: Cities frequently use city-wide surveillance cameras to monitor traffic flow and events. Municipalities also use high-volume software hosted on a cloud network to maintain infrastructure based on analytics of millions of usage data points each day.

Leaping to the cloud

Cloud migration is a difficult undertaking that might result in total success or dismal turmoil. You can easily integrate a cloud network into your existing technological requirements with strategic planning in place. Consider the following:

• Make the following checks: Network teams used to have access to a wide range of data to monitor network performance and execute the necessary troubleshooting to avoid bottlenecks back when a company managed networks. With third-party cloud services, this is no longer the case. Instead, network data is scarce, and troubleshooting may necessitate utilising data acquired from synthetic and end-user monitoring to identify crucial network performance indicators. Network teams can reduce the likelihood of mistakes and identify restrictions that will affect latency and user experience by performing the appropriate checks ahead of time.
• Make a migration strategy: Will the network run on the cloud or be cloud-enabled? Do you want to go with SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, or NaaS? Application dependencies, licencing needs, business operations, user experience concerns, bandwidth requirements, and if the application design is suitable in a cloud environment are all unique requirements. You'll need a well-thought-out migration strategy that checks all the boxes and identifies any potential roadblocks to bringing these elements together. A migration strategy also invites diverse team members on board to share crucial knowledge areas about network infrastructure and how the current system varies from the proposed cloud transfer.
• Make your security strategy clear: It's important to note that while a cloud service provider may provide security, it's up to you to use the advice given previously to fill in the gaps. In other words, your cloud network's security is a shared duty.

Making improvements to an existing cloud network

If you're already using the cloud for some or all of your apps, the question is if your network performance is optimal, and if not, what can be done to improve performance metrics. The answer is contingent on whether you have a cloud-enabled or cloud-based network and whether public, private, hybrid, or multi-cloud options should be considered. The following are the most important cloud network performance metrics to consider:

• Latency in the network slows operations and slows progress. These delays might be one-way or involve many communication channels. The three components of network latency are round trip time (RTT), server processing delay, and server throughput. Network teams may assure faster network speeds and less congestion by optimising latency.
• Bandwidth management: Controlling network traffic is an important aspect of cloud network optimisation. This entails bandwidth management, which comprises minimising router queuing, controlling non-essential applications, and prioritising traffic and applications to ensure that the appropriate bandwidth is available to the proper users.

Network traffic management: The bandwidth, traffic patterns, and proactive network diagnostics are all important factors in the performance and cloud networking and security of existing networks. You can use network management tools to determine which programs are hogging bandwidth, track traffic trends, and manage rate restriction sets.