Interop still moving beyond data networks
Annual networking conference continues to expand horizons toward broader enterprise issues
Follow @infoworldWith networks judged by how well they support business processes, the annual Interop networking conference in Las Vegas continued the trend of recent years, expanding its horizons beyond data networks and toward broader enterprise issues, such as the need for better application monitoring tools, network access control, and the impact of VoIP.
Vendors showed off application-centric network management tools that can monitor performance in real time. Application acceleration was also a hot topic, with news of new appliances from vendors including Radware, Coyote Point Systems, and Stampede Technologies.
Extreme Networks joined arms with Internet Security Systems and other partners to prevent intrusions, encrypt network traffic, and control network access. Cisco Systems continued its integration of security with a new VPN adapter for its aging 7200 Series routers.
As functions like security become embedded in the network, control of network buying has shifted to IT administrators, said Yankee Group analyst Zeus Kerravala.
That shift could open the door to new competitors. For example, as voice becomes a managed service or just a feature of other enterprise applications, Google or Skype parent eBay could come into enterprise telephony in a few years, Kerravala said.
