Page 20 - FCW, May/June 2018

ADAPTIVE NETWORKS THE FOUNDATION OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
uses that information
to plan how to best allocate bandwidth and capacity. The devices attached to the network, and the network
itself, are constantly communicating with each other to ensure smooth and fast data transfer.
Ciena, CenturyLink create a five-layer approach over fiber for adaptive networking
Network managers
also can set alerts and
thresholds at this layer to
direct how the network
will allocate resources,
allowing for greater
flexibility. For example,
they can program an
adaptive network to
allow a certain amount
of throughput for a
planned event, along
with directions to reconfigure the bandwidth to other places once the event has ended.
The analytics layer, which works in tandem with the programmable infrastructure, adds intelligence to the network. This layer analyzes performance data such as network health, vulnerabilities and capacity usage to more accurately predict network problems and
These adaptive networks embed Ciena equipment in CenturyLink networks that meet at the level of SONET/DWDM Connectivity. Continuous Diagnostic Monitoring and cybersecurity run through each level, as do various platform services.
Adaptive Networks Drive Digital Transformation
Government agencies across the board are being asked to move aggressively toward digitization. During the current and previous administrations, leaders have been urging agencies to adopt digital processes, ubiquitous mobility, citizen-oriented apps and technologies such as data analytics, internet
of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence. Through digital transformation, government leaders can now enable citizens and government employees to access digital information and services on demand, boost productivity and save money.
Digital transformation requires that networks are agile and scalable, and that capacity is available when needed. Adaptive networks drive digital transformation by adding visibility, eliminating the time and effort spent manually configuring, managing and upgrading networks, and ensuring that reliability, scalability and capacity will not slow down network operations.
The digital future requires consistent and reliable service delivery—whenever, wherever and however users demand it. An adaptive network is a major step toward making that happen.
anticipate trends. If network health data shows that part of the network is becoming weak, the system can perform predictive analysis to determine when that part of the network might fail, allowing for response before the network drops traffic. If the data shows that a certain issue causes capacity spikes, analytics can predict when and where to add more capacity. With this information, agencies can develop smarter, more
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