NTT Com’s Approach to NFV-enablement
With the advent of the profound technology advances that IDC calls the 3rd Platform (enterprise mobility, Big Data and analytics, cloud computing and social business), global CSPs such as NTT Communications (NTT Com) are entering the market for cloud-based products and services aimed at helping enterprises optimize their infrastructure and operations. NTT Com offers a broad selection of NFV/SDN enabled cloud-based network services. These services — ranging from application acceleration to Web gateway and managed services — are designed to optimize performance, improve security and reduce costs.
NTT Com’s Cloud-based Application Acceleration Service optimize node-to-node traffic, which makes applications run up to 25x faster and improve end-user and business productivity.
The application acceleration service takes advantages of technologies such as:
- TCP optimization / ACK Spoofing
- Caching and compression
- Application specific optimization such as CIFS, MS-SQL and MAPI 2003
MAJOR BENEFITS:
- Cost savings. New application acceleration pricing models that enable payment based on per-use per virtual instance with no capex.
- Any-to-any application acceleration. Application is accelerated between any of the locations connected to NTT Com’s MPLS network.
- On-demand service activation. Service that can be turned on in minutes instead of taking months to deliver proprietary hardware.
- Simplicity. Elimination of the complexity and management challenges that accompany the use of devices onsite.
Currently hosted in 50 locations worldwide, NTT Com’s Cloud-based Secure Web Gateway provides a secure Internet breakout from the customer’s VPN.
The service comes with the necessary Web security features including:
- Application based Firewall. Protects against SYN, ICMP, UDP and other IP-based flood attacks.
- Intrusion Prevention (IPS). Detect and block port scans, IP address sweeps, ICMP fragment attacks, viruses, spyware, known Bots, worms and Trojans.
- URL filtering. Fully integrated, customizable Web filtering engine allowing application of granular Web-browsing policies.
- Policy Builder. Create, modify and delete policies applied to each of the provisioned sevices.
- Reporting. Firewall repots, IPS reports and System Health reports.
- RADIUS authentication.
- Active Directory integration.
MAJOR BENEFITS:
- Hardware and labor savings. Elimination of capital expense and facility issues associated with deploying multiple security devices at each branch office.
- Instant service activation. On-demand service activation, reducing time to roll out new services.
- Future proof. Cloud service model that makes it easier to upgrade, support, and take advantage of new service offerings.
- Retain policy control. Self-service for functions such as dynamic updating of policies and IPS profiles is available.
- No need for ISP management.
With this fully-managed capex-light remote access service, end users can securely access corporate resources from remote locations using any devices with any standard browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome and so forth.
This is also an ideal solution to provide temporary access during the natural disaster and civil emergency.
FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Split Tunneling. Allows company traffic to go down the tunnel, while Internet or local traffic takes the public network.
- Host Checker. Anti-virus host checker ensures if end-use’s device has installed the acceptable version of anti-virus software.
- Global Load Balancing. Selects the most optimal gateway (distributed in 11 locations worldwide) based on the end-user’s current location.
MAJOR BENEFITS:
- Cost savings. Elimination of the expense and facility issues with traditional high initial capital outlay models, as well as ongoing management and local support costs.
- Accessibility. Easy access for remote workers to systems enabling business in a variety of locations using a myriad of Internet-enabled devices.
- Reduced risk. Extended access to the network perimeter for appropriate resources only.
NTT Com is taking advantage of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technology to virtualize IPsec VPN gateway and deliver them as a feature from its global network infrastructure – 50 gateways distributed globally.
Enterprises will have secure and quick access to build up a cloud-based network for their locations, or access to third party cloud datacenter, utilizing the existing Internet access and CPE.
The service can be combined with Cloud-based Application Acceleration Service to optimize performance (Accelerated WAN as a Service) or combined with Cloud-based Secure Web Gateway to enable cost effective, carrier grade Internet security without having to contract a network with NTT Com (Secure Internet offload as a Service).
FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Quick, Easy Connectivity. Customers can utilize existing means of Internet connectivity to connect to NTT Com MPLS network, using customer-managed on-premise equipment.
- Interoperability. The service is compatible with many VPN devices from leading vendors, such as Cisco routers and ASA Firewalls, Juniper routers and SRX Firewall, Palo Alto Network Firewall, Checkpoint Firewall, Fortinet Firewall Amazon AWS VPN virtual appliance and so forth.
MAJOR BENEFITS:
- Accessibility. Easy access to third party cloud datacenter and remote locations over Internet VPN.
- Instant service activation. On-demand turn-up of network end of tunnel to allow for real-time configuration and service enablement.
- Simplification and control. Route-based IPsec tunnel for reduction of complexity and ease of configuration.
- Static routing. Support for NAT on customer end of tunnel so dynamic routing is not required.
NTT Com’s Delivery Infrastructure and Services
NTT Com’s managed service includes a standard implementation, monitoring, management and 24x7 operational support.
Furthermore, its portfolio of Cloud-based Network Services comes with a Web-based customer portal with reporting and automation features which enables enterprises to self-provision and manage network functions on the fly.
Challenges
The path from traditional modes of service delivery to a cloud model has been neither easy nor risk-free for CSPs. Continued challenges face them as they evolve their networks and their business models to deliver services in ways that increase agility and security for their enterprise customers. Winners in this changing market will be those who demonstrate a clear customer focus in their choices of architecture, the flexibility of their commercial offerings, their regional footprint and their mix of services. NTT Com must continue to innovate and invest to retain its leadership position in a changing marketplace.