FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
more flexibility in how they implement security policies such as zero trust , content filtering and threat prevention across locations and home offices .
Replacing virtual private networks , SASE platforms are also highly scalable . This means organisations do not need to invest in bigger and bigger firewalls as their network grows . As SASE solutions are cloud managed with easy provisioning and deployment , they allow MSPs to simplify network access for their clients and deliver improved security and connectivity at scale .
And while the small and mid-sized market is currently only in the early stages of adoption , demand will grow as businesses gain a better understanding of the benefits of SASE . Those MSPs who are offering the technology early will have the competitive edge .
Performance
Most MSPs will have encouraged their clients to upgrade to the Wi-Fi 6 standard by now , designed to work better in mesh networks where multiple devices are
connected . Wi-Fi 7 will be next , with the first enabled devices hitting the market this year .
The seventh-generation Wi-Fi standard promises to deliver higher speeds with greater efficiency , lower latency and a throughput of up to 46 Gbps . There might be some pressure on MSPs to adopt this new standard , but it may be better to wait for a while as the technology will be expensive to start with , and not well supported . For those whose clients are still on older standards though , now is the time to upgrade them to Wi-Fi 6 .
SASE solutions can also play a part in improving network performance through clever routing features , for example by prioritising traffic such as voice calls or critical business apps . This prevents important data from being stuck behind large file transfers .
Manageability
MSPs manage networks for many clients , so automation and easy administration are essential . Network management should be as simple as possible . Cloud-based tools with
For those whose clients are still on older standards though , now is the time to upgrade them to Wi-Fi 6 .
easy-to-use interfaces have made this task much more efficient .
Plug-and-play mesh networks have drastically shortened deployment times : MSPs can configure devices ahead of time through the cloud and then plug them in on-site . The ability to clone configurations means they can deploy multiple access points much faster .
With cloud-based Wi-Fi management , firmware updates can be scheduled from the cloud , while setting up guest Wi-Fi for small and medium businesses or deploying SASE is done in a matter of minutes .
True efficiencies and cost savings are gained though when the network management tools are also integrated with the MSP ’ s Professional Services Automation , PSA and RMM tools . RMM and PSA integrations save IT professionals switching between multiple consoles and tools . Network managers can perform network health checks and see status updates through the same interface , while synching to the PSA system makes it easier to automate the billing process .
Like everything else in technology , the world of networking is evolving fast . Most end users see the network as a utility : they take connectivity for granted until something goes wrong . This means the MSP must do all the hard work behind the scenes . Keeping up with the latest technology developments and staying on top of broader trends will help MSPs anticipate the needs of their clients – and meet them with the right solutions . •
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