Network Automation Ushers in a New Era of Efficiency and Agility in "Unveiling the Future" - Hridita Chatterjee

It involves a holistic strategy to improve the digital infrastructure to achieve this ambitious goal of bringing out a smarter network. Network automation is the element that would be key in achieving this goal while being part of the fifth generation of networks. Software that automatically configures, provisions, maintains, and tests network equipment is known as network automation. It is used by businesses and service providers for enhancing productivity and reducing human errors, saving operational costs.

Except for operational efficiency, network automation brings new business models and opportunities. Network operators can free up resources to focus on more strategic objectives by automating regular processes. This can lead to higher service quality, shorter time to market for new services, and better digital economy competitiveness. Furthermore, network automation can improve network security by decreasing human mistakes, which are frequently the source of security breaches.

Is network automation now a key player in the commercial industry?

Maintaining alignment with the digital sphere is no longer a question of choice in today's company context; it is a strategic must. This urgency stems not just from a desire to avoid obsolescence, but also from the urgent need to solve existing difficulties, most notably the rising expenses of IT operations and network administration. The rush of gadgets into networks, allegedly to improve accessibility, has overtaken the capacity of IT infrastructure, making human interventions nearly impossible. Currently, every organization is dependent on continuous communication. This connection includes users on physical campuses, distant branches, and home-based work settings, as well as the myriad devices they employ. The seamless connectivity between these entities and corporate software is the lifeblood of company operations.

These applications, which span on-premises data centers, colocation facilities, and public cloud platforms, require a stable and consistent network to allow them to connect. However, the network's responsibility extends beyond simple connectivity to include the optimization of user experiences when dealing with critical business applications. At the same time, the contemporary environment necessitates more network dynamism. Consider the goals of the business units: they are driven by a need for quick deployment in their search for fresh offerings. These business teams' demands for agility have significant ramifications for information technology (IT) departments. These IT teams must be prepared to immediately alter the network architecture. This frequently calls for substantial changes, such as the immediate reconfiguration of a whole Wide Area Network (WAN) in reaction to the launch of a new cloud-based service or to the emergence of new cybersecurity risks. While minimizing the chance of mistakes during deployment is still crucial, these modifications must be implemented quickly. The network's security, dependability, and resilience must be maintained during these changes.

Anticipating the skills imperative for future network engineers, the following proficiencies emerge:

• Mastery of public cloud networking.
• Competency in containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.
• Proficiency in scripting, programmability, and languages like Python.
• Expertise in safeguarding software code integrity and protection.
• Aptitude in Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and overlay network architectures.
• Proficient interaction with APIs, including REST.
• Adeptness in data modeling.
• Familiarity with human-readable data serialization languages such as YAML.
• Command of automation tools like Ansible and Terraform.
• Proficiency with NetDevOps techniques and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) technologies.
• The ability to use software for data gathering, manipulation, and visualization.
• Expertise with all available observability tools.
• Skill in pattern and anomaly identification using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI/ML).
• Before beginning the journey toward automation, businesses must carefully plan a route that meets their unique demands. More proof that network automation is required comes from the fact that network engineers will be leading the way regardless of the trajectory chosen. During the enterprise's automation journey, network engineers are the builders in charge of developing the infrastructure, brick by digital brick.

In conclusion, network automation, a crucial element of smarter technology, offers several benefits that may significantly enhance digital infrastructure. By using this technology, we can increase the networks' efficacy and efficiency, open up new economic prospects and models, and create smarter, more sustainable cities.

-Written by
Hridita Chatterjee

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are his/her personal and do not represent the views of any organization or institution.