What is Intent-based Networking

Intent-based networking describes a network that has the intelligence and automation necessary to set and modify its configurations to meet the organization’s business needs. An intent-based network can continuously align itself to required service levels, security, and IT compliance policies.

Overview

Key Findings
Intent-based networking systems (IBNS) provide a new way to build and operate networks that improve network availability and agility, compared to traditional approaches.

IBNS provides lifecycle management for network infrastructure, including design, implementation, operation, and assurance.

Intent-based networking systems provide mathematical validation that business intent and network configurations are in sync, and can dynamically take real-time action if they are out of sync, which leads to closer alignment between networking infrastructure and business initiatives.

IBNS is a very early-stage technology with few real-world implementations showing quantitative results. It will not be mainstream prior to 2020, but solutions are emerging that can provide value in the enterprise today.

What intent-based networking can do for you

Simplified operations

Centralize network policy control, automate management, and integrate IT workflows.

Security throughout the network

Detect and contain threats everywhere, in real time. Let network intelligence take the load off security operations.

Proactive management

Use network monitoring and analytics to pinpoint, report, and remedy issues before they become problems.

Investment for innovation

Deliver IT and business innovation now and in the future, built on an open, intent-based networking platform.

Why is intent-based networking important?

Organizations need to move faster and with confidence. Many networks cannot keep up with the scale, complexity, and threats of today’s business environment. The business benefits of intent-based networking are clear in three main areas:

Speed and agility. The network is able to rapidly respond to an organization’s needs with little manual intervention.

Business value. The reduced time and effort required to maintain the network translates into more time for IT innovations that provide real value to the business.

Reduced risk. Improved network visibility, analytics and automation result in faster threat detection and containment, continuous compliance, and reduced downtime.

How does intent-based networking work?

Intent-based networking captures and translates business intent so that it can be applied across the network. The network continuously monitors and adjusts to ensure alignment. That’s achieved through a closed-loop system that includes:

  •  Translation: Business intent capture and translation.
  •  Activation: Automated policy activation, networkwide.
  •  Assurance: Continuous monitoring and verification.

For intent-based networking to achieve its full potential, all these functions build on a programmable network infrastructure.

How can you get started?
Start by understanding the fundamental business case and technology requirements of an intent-based network.

    • Identify a domain (such as data center, campus, or WAN) that would most benefit from the transition.
    • Assess which elements of the existing network infrastructure support an intent-based architecture and which need upgrading.
    • Choose a technology partner that can help you create and implement your intent-based network roadmap.

Conclusion

The Intent-based Networking (IBN) concept represents a new approach to networking, where special software helps to plan, design and automatically implement on the fly changes to the network, improving its availability and agility. It is not a product or a market. Instead, it is a piece of networking software that helps to plan, design and implement/operate networks that can improve network availability and agility.

BAYINFOTECH delivers an end-to-end, intent-based networking strategy. It abstracts network complexity and improves automation by eliminating manual configurations. It allows a user or administrator to send a simple request — using natural language — to the physical network.
To know more about us please visit: http://www.bay-infotech.com/