Traditionally, networks had a simple and a more straightforward function: transferring the predominantly text-based data between various destinations (both internal and external). However, as ordinary users and enterprises alike use more voice and video networks today face the challenge of accommodating newer and diverse applications. 

 “The nature of networks are changing quite rapidly today,” said Orcun Tezel, technical director, 3Com (South Asia), one of the players in networking solutions. “Adding to text data is voice and video, which are used widely by professionals and ordinary people alike, because it changes the quality of their work. So, the challenge for those working in network architecture realm is to look at ways of incorporating different applications into a single IP network.”

Tezel says ‘converge communication’ has started to become a reality, thanks largely to SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) which has become the standard for networks using voice-videos in recent years. This replaced H.323 standard, which, according to Tezel, was not equipped to handle integration and the intra-operability issues.

“If you ask me, the next ‘big wave’ in network realm is collaboration of IP-based voice and video with SAP and ERP platforms,” Tezel says. “We have already started seeing integration of IP telephony into CRM application in call centres and BPO’s and secured/specialised IM (Instant Messaging) applications tailor-made to the enterprise users, who use IM’s for a different purpose.”

The focus of the industry is also on HD (High Definition) videos. Despite the growth of HDTV’s in the major markets (Europe, US and the Far East), Tezel feels bandwidth remains the greatest hurdle. Broadbands of today are not designed to handle HD video, while other network technologies like DSL also have limitations. Tezel is of the view that HD 

With cyber crimes on the rise secured networks are therefore becoming the norm and is at the heart of converge communication. Tezel admits that enterprise networks are as vulnerable as the public networks and says the threat is only increasing with the inclusion of more devices in an expanding network.

“Security has to be from the end-point,” Tezel said. “We try pushing network access control and see if a device that is entering the network carries with it malicious programmes and has the potential to infect and disrupt the network. This is necessary as we see the possibility of more devices hooking upto the network.”

Tezel said the effort is also to make networks intelligent to detect threats and vulnerabilities. “Just think of a single box that can be everything – switch, router, optimisation device, security device etc—that is what we are working towards.”

Security of vital enterprise data becomes an issue more so when a large number of employees use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to access them.