Question

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing SDN services within an organization enterprise network. Why would an organization consider using SDN?

Answer 1

Definition: SDN refers to Software Defined Networking.
This is a Network Architecture Approach that uses open protocols like OpenFlow which enables the network to be intelligently and centrally controlled using software applications.

Advantages:

• Increased Visibility of the Network: As the data plane and control plane are separated this provides the IT department an aerial-like view of the entire network. This helps them to make changes easily and also proper management.
• Increased Scalability: By having central provision, change to the network infrastructure can be made quickly and in an optimized manner.
• Higher Security: An SDN controller provides a common location for the network administrator to control the entire security of the network.

Disadvantages:

• Enhanced Security of the controller: Since the IT department will use controller to manage the network instead of the routers and switches, hence the controller must be completely secure. Multiple software can be used to track the users making changes to controllers.
• Distributed denial-of-service attacks: A large number of undeclared routes if introduced into the network at the same time will lead to higher number of requests. This can make it difficult for the network to respond to actual requests.
• Complex Network Management: Even though traditional networks may have their disadvantages but these have a standardized consensus in place to handle the security threats and procedures. For SDN as of now no such consensus exists.

SDN can make huge difference to the organization as mentioned below:

• Easy Network programmability: With the help of SDN, network administrators can control the network behaviour using a software which provides physical connectivity. Hence IT Team can modify the networks with ease to support new services and other custom requirements.
• Centralized intelligence and control: Traditional network control methods are built using distributed mechanisms whereas SVN uses logically centralized network topologies that provide intelligent control and management of the resources.
• Open API Support: The Open APIs support a wide range of applications which includes Software-as-a-Service, cloud orchestration, and some business-critical networked apps. It allows IT Team engineers to write programs that utilize SDN Open APIs and give applications the desired control over network behaviour.
  
• Network Abstraction: Applications will interact to network using APIs instead of the interfaces.