What is Network as a Service (NaaS) and How It’s Changing Networking

In the age of digital acceleration and on-demand applications, organizations are looking for ways to simplify their IT infrastructure, reduce costs and scale globally. Networking, which was once seen as a complex and costly part of the equation, has evolved with the rise of Network as a Service (NaaS).

In this article, we’ll define what Network as a Service is and how NaaS differs from other “as a Service” cloud services like SaaS. We’ll look at how it works, and its advantages and disadvantages. We’ll also explore the impact of NaaS in cloud computing and discuss related technologies like SASE, SD-WAN, and NFV.

What is Network as a Service?

What is NaaS? Network as a Service (NaaS) is a cloud-based model that allows organizations to lease networking services from a provider rather than build and maintain their own. Seems straightforward enough, right?

With NaaS, organizations and IT departments can offload time consuming tasks like managing routers, switches, firewalls, and other network infrastructure. How? It’s done through a user-friendly interface or application programming interface (API), giving organizations more flexibility without the hassle of managing the physical hardware.

How Does NaaS Work?

How does it work exactly? NaaS works by virtualizing network services and delivering them over the internet. Network providers manage the entire network infrastructure, including hardware, software, and security. Organizations can select services such as virtual routers, firewalls, and multi-cloud connectivity based on their needs, and only pay for what they use. This pay-as-you-go model eliminates the need for upfront capital investment.

Here’s how it typically works:

1. Choose a Provider: The organization selects a NaaS provider based on their specific needs. NaaS providers offer services like virtual networking, Software Defined Networks (SDN), private cloud connectivity, and more. MegaPort, Aryaka and Cloudflare specialize in NaaS solutions.
2. Select Services: Organizations pick the networking services they need, such as routing, firewalling, or cloud connections. They can adjust the scale and features based on their requirements.
3. Connect Globally: NaaS providers offer global connectivity, allowing organizations to connect to their offices, data centers, and cloud providers regardless of geography.

With NaaS, organizations don’t need to worry about configuring hardware or maintaining network devices. The provider handles everything including network virtualization, ensuring seamless, on-demand network services.

What is the Difference Between NaaS and SaaS?

A common question is, what is the difference between NaaS and SaaS? Both NaaS (Network as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service) are cloud-based models, but they serve different functions. SaaS delivers software applications over the cloud—think of tools like Slack, Gmail, or Office 365. Users don’t manage the underlying infrastructure; they just use the software.

NaaS, on the other hand, focuses specifically on providing network services via the cloud. It handles the network infrastructure, allowing organizations to run their operations without having to invest in physical networking hardware. While SaaS is software-focused, NaaS is infrastructure-focused, enabling network connectivity and management in cloud environments.

Benefits of Network as a Service

The growing adoption of NaaS is driven by several factors including increased cost savings, scalability, simplified management, and global connectivity. Here’s a look at key benefits of NaaS in more detail:

1. Cost Savings: Traditional networks require significant upfront investment in hardware. NaaS offers a more cost-efficient alternative with subscription pricing, letting organizations pay only for what they use.
2. Scalability: NaaS allows enterprises to scale their network resources on demand. Need more bandwidth? You can easily upgrade. This flexibility is especially useful in industries where network demands fluctuate frequently.
3. Simplified Management: By outsourcing network management to a provider, organizations can focus on their core operations without worrying about maintaining routers, switches, or firewalls.
4. Global Connectivity: NaaS providers offer global services, enabling organizations to connect offices, cloud environments, and data centers worldwide.

Network as a Service in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing fundamentally changed the way organizations operate, and NaaS plays a critical role in cloud deployments. With NaaS in cloud computing, organizations can seamlessly connect to public and private clouds, creating hybrid or multi-cloud environments. NaaS ensures that organizations have the right-sized connectivity for their cloud infrastructure, optimizing performance and reducing complexity.

For example, organizations using multi-cloud environments—where they operate in multiple public clouds, like AWS and Azure—often face challenges in managing different network architectures. NaaS simplifies this by providing unified, secure connectivity, ensuring that network performance is optimized regardless of the cloud provider.

In addition to hybrid and mutli-cloud environments, there’s hybrid IT strategies where organization connect on-premise systems, cloud, and offsite data centers to create flexibility and scalability while optimizing for cost savings. A hybrid IT approach allows organizations to keep sensitive data in-house while leveraging the scalability of the cloud and the reliability of colocation facilities. Network as a Service (NaaS) plays a pivotal role by providing on-demand connectivity that seamlessly links all components, ensuring efficient data flow and simplified network management across the hybrid setup.

What are the Disadvantages of NaaS?

While NaaS has many advantages, it’s important to be aware of some potential disadvantages of NaaSincluding dependence on the provider, security or compliance concerns, limitations on customization, and potential network performance issues:

1. Dependence on Provider: By outsourcing your network, you’re relying heavily on the NaaS provider’s underlying infrastructure and management. If the provider experiences downtime, it can directly affect your organization’s operations.
2. Security Concerns: While NaaS providers often offer robust security measures, some organizations may be hesitant to entrust their network security to a third-party provider.
3. Customization Limitations: Depending on the provider, customization options may be limited. Organizations with highly specific networking needs might find that a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t meet all their requirements.
4. Network Performance Issues: In rare cases, organizations might experience performance bottlenecks, particularly if the provider’s infrastructure isn’t optimized for high-demand situations.

NaaS Use Cases

NaaS can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the organization’s requirements. Common use cases for the NaaS include:

• Connecting to Multi-Cloud Providers: NaaS simplifies private connections to multiple cloud providers, allowing organizations to create hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
• Virtual Routing: Instead of purchasing and managing physical routers, organizations can deploy virtual routers through their NaaS provider, reducing complexity and hardware costs.
• Disaster Recovery: NaaS can be used to establish backup networks for disaster recovery, ensuring continuous network connectivity in case of an outage.

Related Technologies: SASE, SD-WAN and NFV

The future of NaaS is closely tied to networking technologies like SASE, SD-WAN, and NFV. Here is a brief description of each of these technologies.

• SASE (Secure Access Service Edge): SASE combines network security and wide area networking (WAN) into a unified, cloud-delivered service. By integrating SD-WAN with security services like firewall, secure web gateways, and zero-trust access, SASE delivers secure and efficient access to applications regardless of location. This model is gaining popularity as it allows organizations to manage both security and network performance through a single platform, making it a perfect complement to NaaS for secure, cloud-based networking.
• SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network): SD-WAN is a more established technology than NaaS. It provides organizations with a way to manage and optimize wide area networks using software. It offers a more flexible and cost-effective solution for connecting remote offices, cloud environments, and data centers. By integrating SD-WAN with NaaS, organizations can gain even greater control over their network performance and security.
• Network Function Virtualization (NFV): With NFV, organizations can virtualize key network functions like firewalls and load balancers. Instead of relying on physical devices, they can run these functions on virtual machines or containers. NFV is a natural extension of NaaS, allowing for even greater flexibility and scalability.

The Future of Network as a Service (NaaS)

Looking ahead, there’s no doubt that NaaS is poised for growth. New innovations like machine learning and AI are being used to automate network operations, optimize performance, and manage costs in real-time. The rise of SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), which integrates networking and security, is another key trend to watch.

In the future, we can expect NaaS providers to offer more robust services, with the integration of technologies like SD-WAN and AI-driven network management. The flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency of NaaS make it a compelling solution for organizations looking to modernize their IT infrastructure.

Simplifying Operations and Scaling for Tomorrow

Network as a Service (NaaS) is a game changer for enterprises seeking to simplify their network operations while maintaining flexibility and scalability. Whether you’re looking to connect multiple cloud environments, set up virtual routers, or optimize your global connectivity, NaaS offers a cost-effective and streamlined solution.

About TRG Datacenters

TRG Datacenters is where experience meets reliability for exceptional data centers. Strategically located top-notch facilities, rigorous organizational practices, and exceptional customer service delivers hassle-free operations that are backed by our management team’s 20-year 100% uptime track record.

Our interconnection services deliver unparalleled connectivity with 15+ onsite carriers and network service providers. To foster seamless interconnectivity within the data center, we provide free cross-connects, enabling businesses to establish efficient and cost-effective network connections. Our data centers are engineered with dual entrances for added redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted service and enhanced reliability for all your connectivity needs.