As organisations strive for agility, resiliency and flexibility, traditional networking models have started to give way to innovative cloud-centric solutions. One key development in recent years is the arrival of Network as a Service (NaaS)– a connectivity game-changer.

NaaS applies a cloud computing model to traditional networking to deliver on-demand connectivity services. NaaS solutions provide various network functionalities, such as port activation, service deployment (for example, internet or IP VPN) and connectivity to hyperscalers.

These platforms also allow users to centralise control and automate processes on digital interfaces and can be accessed on a pay-as-you-use basis.

NaaS is like having a virtual toolbox which allows you to adapt your network to suit your needs.  It enables you to modernise traditional networks into highly scalable, cloud-centric solutions that adapt quickly to hybrid and multi-cloud needs.

NaaS platforms also enable businesses to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency. IT teams can dramatically cut time spent chasing up and fulfilling orders with Service Providers and instead spend more time on value-added activities.

Put simply, a NaaS platform simplifies ordering and management processes, allowing you to capitalise on cloudlike, consumption-based pricing, allowing for reduced resource wastage and reduced business costs.

Modern NaaS networks support cost optimisation by replacing expensive traditional setups that require dedicated hardware – such as port, access, and Customer Premise Equipment for each network service – with a shared, easily scalable infrastructure.

This infrastructure enhances efficiency and reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) by supporting automated provisioning and near real-time in-life management of services. It also allows multiple services on the same shared hardware, providing the flexibility to optimise total bandwidth allocation on demand. 

In this era of network transformation amid economic uncertainty, optimising cloud operational expenses for increased revenue is vital. Three key factors will play a role as organisations drive efficiencies:

1. Further cloud adoption: 86% of organisations are planning to move most or all of their IT infrastructure and applications to the cloud within the next five years. 
2. Changes in legislation: The upcoming EU Data Act will enable smoother workload migration between hyperscalers without exit fees.
3. Cloud cost visibility: Finance and Procurement teams will need greater visibility to manage cloud proliferation and control costs.
    

Our new NaaS platform, Global Fabric, revolutionises connectivity as organisations adapt to modern network demands. It is available in over 200+ countries, with direct, high-bandwidth connectivity to over 700 data centres worldwide. It has 630 cloud products pre-integrated, such as SaaS, SASE and Office 365 plus.

Plus, is it built at the doorstep of the cloud, with direct cloud coverage to 74% of hyperscaler points of presence (PoP) locations providing direct hyperscalers connectivity in minutes not days.

With Global Fabric, you can enhance productivity by eliminating application downtime, removing network friction, and maintaining resilient connectivity as your network evolves.

Global Fabric also provides a clear path to optimising your cloud and network costs, reducing your cyber security risks and enhancing sustainability across your infrastructure.

Other main players on the market aren’t investing in a global NaaS at the same scale as BT. By deploying the latest hardware and NaaS software together, we’ve created a range of connectivity products that enhance user experiences and boost productivity. Allowing you to future-proof and activate your cloud-first strategies, from site to cloud and cloud to cloud.

Unlike providers who are offering NaaS solutions built on traditional siloed network architectures– which make it difficult for organisations to properly access, secure, and leverage cloud networks – Global Fabric provides unique end-to-end control across network, cloud, and security.

Global Fabric’s PoPs have been built on a global scale in Carrier Neutral Facilities (CNFs), which provide the best, low latency cloud on-ramps to hybrid cloud, hyperscalers, SaaS, and SSE providers.

• Transparent cost management: Global Fabric has been built to be pre-connected to the multi-cloud, avoiding single cloud vendor and associated connectivity lock-in, while providing the tools to manage TCO and egress costs.
• Faster connections, in almost real-time: Global Fabric is essentially a super-highway for the cloud, providing centralised automation that allows you to build connections faster rather than continuing the cycle of tired, ineffective processes that exist today.
• Full end-to-end support: With our experts on-hand with 24-7 support, you’ll never be left alone to figure out the best way forward. We provide a range of value-added services, from SD-WAN to virtual firewalls and enhanced DDoS protection.

With Global Fabric, you’ll get access to optimised cloud on-ramp locations, new, improved hardware and software, and a new customer experience that puts you back in control.

Ultimately, Global Fabric gives you the choice and flexibility to place your distributed workloads exactly where you need them, so you can operate your business more effectively in the long run.