Cloud-based networking solutions are beginning to come to market that promise to deliver the same cost, efficiency

Efficiency

Efficiency in general describes the extent to which time or effort is well used for the intended task or purpose. It is often used with the specific purpose of relaying the capability of a specific application of effort to produce a specific outcome effectively with a minimum amount or quantity of...

, and scalability

Scalability

In electronics scalability is the ability of a system, network, or process, to handle growing amount of work in a graceful manner or its ability to be enlarged to accommodate that growth...

 benefits to the networking

Computer network

A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....

 sphere as software as a service

Software as a Service

Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...

 (SaaS) has to enterprise applications. Multi-tenant architecture based SaaS applications like Salesforce

Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com is an enterprise cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco that distributes business software on a subscription basis. Salesforce.com hosts the applications off-site...

^TM changed the status quo in the CRM

Customer relationship management

Customer relationship management is a widely implemented strategy for managing a company’s interactions with customers, clients and sales prospects. It involves using technology to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes—principally sales activities, but also those for marketing,...

 space. Cloud-based networking promises to bring about the same revolution in the networking space.

Definition

Cloud-based networking is a new way to roll out distributed enterprise networks that delivers enterprise-class network capabilities around the globe, via a highly resilient, multi-tenant application that requires no capital investment in networking equipment. Unlike traditional hardware

Hardware

Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....

-based legacy solutions

Legacy system

A legacy system is an old method, technology, computer system, or application program that continues to be used, typically because it still functions for the users' needs, even though newer technology or more efficient methods of performing a task are now available...

, cloud-based networking is extremely simple, enabling enterprises to deploy remote locations in minutes and operate their distributed networks via a cloud-based application, while providing unprecedented levels of centralized control and network visibility. These services are also subscription based.

Benefits

It offers all the benefits that cloud computing

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....

 promises to offer. Cloud-based networking products tend to offer all the standard networking features that one would expect from any networking product but delivered in a multi-tenant cloud based model that is simple to use for the customer

Customer

A customer is usually used to refer to a current or potential buyer or user of the products of an individual or organization, called the supplier, seller, or vendor. This is typically through purchasing or renting goods or services...

s and IT administrators, offers them granular control

Granular computing

Granular computing is an emerging computing paradigm of information processing. It concerns the processing of complex information entities called information granules, which arise in the process of data abstraction and derivation of knowledge from information...

 and visibility not possible with legacy networking solutions at no capital investment.

Players

The marketplace for cloud-based networking promises to get crowded pretty soon. Networking heavyweights like Cisco

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...

 and Juniper

Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks is an information technology and computer networking products multinational company, founded in 1996. It is head quartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. The company designs and sells high-performance Internet Protocol network products and services...

 are still coming to terms with the benefits cloud computing brings about to the networking world. Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...

 based startups Pareto and Meraki

Meraki

Meraki is a cloud networking company that provides hardware and software for building large scale wired and wireless networks. These networks are used by businesses, schools, and other organizations that need wireless access points, multi-site wired networks, or both. It uses a centralized...

 have pioneered cloud-based networking solutions for their customers.

A number of networking vendors such as Cisco Systems, Juniper and Arista Networks

Arista Networks

Arista Networks is a computer networking company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The company designs and sells network switches for datacenter, high-performance computing and high-frequency trading environments...

 position their Ethernet switching products for deployment in Cloud computing

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....

data center environments. These devices are not managed with cloud-based services.

News articles on cloud-based networking

1. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pareto-networks-sets-new-standard-for-cloud-based-enterprise-networking-97382414.html

2. http://meraki.com/press-releases/2010/05/26/meraki-expands-international-presence-by-partnering-with-uk-based-cloud-distribution/

3. http://www.aristanetworks.com/en/blogs/?p=311