Page 30 - FCW, August 2021

Maximizing the Benefits of Multi-Cloud
Optimizing cloud investments with
a digital twin
Scot Wilson
Technical Solutions Architect, Forward Networks
compliance, reduce outages and prevent incidents. Similarly, multi-cloud environments incorporate a wide variety of services and products, and it is essential to have a unified view that links what’s
in the cloud (or clouds) and what’s on premises.
A digital twin can supply that
single source of truth and ensure that applications are readable across clouds and on-premises systems and that the network’s security posture is not being invalidated. And just as robust GPS apps will find the most efficient path, a digital twin knows all the possibilities and can answer agencies’ questions about the most
efficient, secure and cost-effective way to route cloud activities.
Forward Networks’ Forward Enterprise platform provides a mathematically accurate network digital twin that enables agencies to visualize complex networks, verify policy implementations and predict the network’s behavior before they make changes.
Agencies often want to
move fast when they’re deploying cloud technology, but sometimes this results in unintended consequences beyond the visibility of a single team (e.g., NOC or SOC) or individual. These can range from unintended connectivity to expensive and unnecessary routing between clouds. A digital twin can help agencies answer questions at scale
The technology transforms the efficiency and security of hybrid and multi-cloud systems
ANETWORK DIGITAL TWIN offers insights into operations, engineering and security by creating a mathematical model of Layers 2 - 4 of a network. It is a valuable tool for modernizing mission-critical networks via the cloud and reducing cybersecurity risk.
Think of those early handheld GPS devices that let drivers map a journey from Point A to Point B but didn’t adapt to changing conditions. Compare them to an app like Waze that incorporates a wealth of information to help drivers get where they want to go in the most efficient way possible. That’s the difference between a
model and a digital twin.
By collecting current information on
the state and configuration of network devices, a digital twin can broaden and deepen administrators’ understanding of their networks so they can make better decisions about improving and managing complex IT systems.
Providing a single source
of truth
In most agencies, it’s impossible for any person to get an understanding of all traffic flows and behavior. Agencies need access to normalized data presented
in easy-to-consume visuals to ensure
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