With 2025 underway, it’s the perfect time to look at how you can positively impact your network in the new year.
#1 Network-as-a-Service (NaaS): Embracing Flexibility and Scalability
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) has grown spectacularly in popularity in the last few years, and that trend looks set to continue. The market is set to grow from $19.2 Billion in 2023 and reach up to $285.9 billion by the end of 2032 (SNS insider research).
The popularity of this networking administration model is due to its greater flexibility and scalability compared to traditional network setups. However, there are several other compelling reasons behind its increasingly widespread adoption, including:
- Access to the Latest Technology: NaaS provides continuous access to cutting-edge networking technologies without requiring significant upfront investments.
- Elasticity for Dynamic Needs: Businesses can quickly scale their network resources up or down based on changing demands or requirements, ensuring optimal performance and cost-efficiency into the bargain.
- Risk Mitigation: NaaS shifts the network maintenance and security responsibility to the service provider, reducing the burden on internal IT teams.
So, let’s discuss networking here. Most of all, remember that you will have to start looking into your network as a service.
Six NaaS best practices
1) Selecting the Right Provider
Selecting the right NaaS requires due diligence. Take the time to understand each provider’s offerings.
Some of the core areas to explore here include:
- What does security look like when all your data goes to the cloud?
- What sort of recovery processes do they provide?
- Does your NaaS provider have your back if and when things go wrong?
Furthermore, don’t rely on a comparative analysis that salespeople have provided. Instead, ask yourself, “What are the problems that I am trying to solve with a solution?” Find out how each NaaS provider works across the metrics that matter to you. For example, is it because you are getting calls at two o’clock in the morning? Is it because this network is going down? Is it because you must expand and can’t afford the hardware? What problem are you trying to solve by adopting NaaS?
2) Optimizing network performance
So, when you are optimizing, how are you optimizing? Will that optimize you, or does this new solution create a problem?
It’s crucial to establish a baseline to understand the current state before making changes to optimize effectively. This leads to the usage of networking tools for data-driven decisions. Such tools will help you validate the ROI of transitions, such as moving from MPLS to SD-WAN or adopting new infrastructure. Without a baseline, it’s challenging to measure improvements or cost savings.
Monitoring tools like Domotz have many performance and security benefits. However, they can also help you understand current performance when switching to other solutions. These tools can be used to baseline current performance and justify potential or actual IT investments in NaaS models.
If I can understand the tools, if I am comfortable with them, and if they’re user-friendly, I will engage more, stay more in them, understand them, and use them to the best of my ability.
This is how we engage with our tools.
Destiny Bertucci, Principal Product Manager, Domotz
3) Continuous monitoring for security threats
Continuous monitoring is essential for security. Finding anomalies requires capturing logs and examining data as it changes. Don’t rely on snapshots or alerts; use real-time monitoring tools to understand what’s happening on your network.
4) Self-heading network design
Self-healing networks are an exciting aspect of NaaS. However, you need to be specific about what that self-healing means to you. Again, use monitoring to establish a baseline and ensure that your NaaS provider can provide automated healing that reflects those issues.
Baselines and continuous monitoring enable informed decisions. They can help you prevent outages and improve reliability, ensuring user experience and operational efficiency.
5) Focus on user experience
If your employees understand the tools, they’ll be more engaged and interested in using them. In short, focus on tools that put the user at the center.
6) Collaboration and training
Finally, collaboration and training are key parts of product adoption. Training in your software tools is so important because if you can extract value from them, you’re defending them. In other words, you’re defending your network and abilities. Investing in training empowers your team to maximize the value of the tools you use, which is vital for whatever you’re using.
Engaged and knowledgeable users lead to better utilization, improved productivity, and stronger defenses. Providing opportunities for collaboration and education enhances organizational success and tool efficiency.
#2 Generative AI and You: Transforming IT Operations
Generative AI has dominated headlines recently, with experts suggesting the technology will have a compound annual growth rate of 37.6% between 2025 and 2030. However, while LLMs and image generators are impressive, the application of the technology for transformation IT operations will have a significant impact in 2025.
1) Integration with Generative AI
Companies are already allocating budgets to train teams to use these tools effectively in 2025, and the integration has already started.
There is no doubt that AI is going to be a part of our lives.
The key is to embrace AI not with fear but with curiosity and learn to integrate it into daily operations and workflows. AI isn’t replacing us; instead, it’s enhancing our capabilities.
2) Closing Generative AI Skill Gaps: Targeted Training and Upskilling
Let’s talk about the IT skill gap. Thanks to AI, four out of five employers are actively working to bridge skill gaps in generative AI through targeted training.
Most importantly, we need to empower employees to become subject matter experts (SMEs) in AI. Training individuals to understand AI tools and then sharing that knowledge internally fosters collaboration and innovation. Encouraging open conversations and knowledge-sharing sessions, like casual lunch-and-learns, can create a culture of continuous improvement, even in remote work environments.
3) Watch for Agentic AI
As generative AI evolves, its ability to take proactive, decision-making actions – known as agentic AI – will reshape industries. From automating repetitive tasks to addressing complex problems, businesses must monitor this trend and prepare employees to understand, leverage, and manage these advancements responsibly.
4) AI Trends: Edge Computing and Security Applications
AI’s impact extends into areas like edge computing and cybersecurity. AI-powered systems can optimize workflows, detect threats, and safeguard against malicious AI attacks. Businesses must stay ahead by exploring these trends, investing in education, and embracing AI’s potential to enhance operational efficiency and security.
5) Leveraging AI-Generated Content
AI-generated content offers a powerful way to improve productivity and focus. To clarify, tools that summarize meetings or analyze extensive data can help extract key insights, turning overwhelming information into actionable tasks. By using AI effectively, you can address communication gaps, enhance decision-making, and create more meaningful contributions across teams.
Bottom Line about AI:
- Generative AI has quickly become a part of our working lives. Organizations must embrace it and ensure their employees are trained to use these tools to full effect.
- Close the skills gap by sending someone to train in Generative AI and become a product advocate within your organization.
- Additionally, AI can be used to summarize meetings and documentation, which can further address the skills gap.
- Stay on top of AI trends and look for opportunities within your organization where AI can boost security through automation.
#3 Making Strategic Investments – Where Do I Spend My Dollars?
Everyone operates on a budget, so the focus for 2025 should be on getting the most out of any investments you make.
If you want your investments to make a strategic impact, what are the main areas that can improve your organization’s efficiency, competitiveness, and overall success?
1) Infrastructure monitoring and management
The most sensible, wise, and impactful investment you can make are tools that allow for real-time visibility into your IT infrastructure. The results include optimized performance, better security, and the ability to take a more proactive approach to issue resolution.
2) Generative AI integration
As outlined in the section above, investing in AI tech that helps automate routine tasks, enhance decision-making, and drive innovation is a solid bet on the future.
Adopt and learn now, not later.
3) Cloud management
Cloud management is vital, but you must first investigate the services you want to manage. Use monitoring tools to establish baselines and track the impact of investments and changes. By comparing your existing infrastructure with desired outcomes, you can make smarter investments even when resources are limited.
4) Platform-based solutions
Comprehensive platform-based solutions are key to managing complex environments.
Think about the variety of tools on the market that your organization needs you to understand. Select the tools that actually help you understand the health of your network. Ignore bells and whistles. Instead, go for tools that provide accurate information that supports data-driven decisions.
Bottom Line
2025 promises to be an exciting year in the networking and IT space. However, as sophisticated and cutting-edge tools become more readily available, organizations need to exercise caution and only invest in solutions that will bring the right return.
That process starts with monitoring and management tools like Domotz that give you the visibility you need to understand how your network is performing right now and what material differences investments can bring to your business to help you achieve organizational goals and objectives.
We’ve covered all these topics and more in our networking webinar. Watch the networking webinar now to learn more!
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