IT teams today are trying to overcome the challenges of managing enterprise networks that are bloated, complex, and prone to disruption. In an effort to automate tasks, many companies have tried to implement in-house, custom scripting, only to find that these projects are often complex and fail to deliver the desired results. To achieve the goals of network automation – agility, scalability, efficiency, and resilience – enterprises need to recognize that the solution is as much about the process as it is about the technology.
One of the major challenges in managing networks is the time and effort required for manual tasks such as configuration changes and OS updates. Automating these processes through one-off scripting or DIY automation programs can introduce additional cost and risk, and can lead to inconsistencies in the code across the network. This can result in expensive outages and downtime that can range from thousands to millions of dollars per hour. The costs, time, and risks associated with manual network management and in-house automation programs are unsustainable and inhibit an enterprise’s ability to respond to new business needs.
The article draws parallels between the emergence of intelligent network automation and the evolution of enterprise storage management technology. In the early 1990s, enterprises faced similar challenges in storage management – complex, manual, and piecemeal approaches, scalability issues, and lack of stable and resilient solutions. It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that Veritas Technologies pioneered a new storage management approach that significantly reshaped the landscape. Similarly, enterprises can now buy software for network automation instead of building it themselves, and platforms that offer core automation capabilities out of the box can unlock easier adoption, faster ROI, and lower risk.
Studies show that adopting effective network automation can reduce maintenance times by 79% and improve operational efficiency by over 30%. However, many enterprises find themselves overburdened with technical debt and legacy processes that stall progress. Traditional network automation approaches have left many companies disillusioned, but the evolution of storage management provides a roadmap for success. Platforms that offer core automation capabilities can enable companies to achieve greater operational agility, efficiency, scalability, and resilience. The tipping point for network automation is now, and the time to decide which approach to adopt is here.