IT Network Infrastructure Drill-Down: Efficiency - Network Efficiency: WAN Optimization

Forrester Research analyst Robert Whiteley noted to Government Computer News that WAN optimization can decrease link utilization—the connections between router, servers, appliances, and other network resources-- “from 80 percent to 40 percent, though the combination of caching and compression.” This can lead to reduced bandwidth costs, better server efficiency, and improved backup capability.

In addition to tools, enterprises should look at the communication channels within the IT department, particularly as they relate to the CIO.

Creating silos within a group, for example, the security guru only thinks about security, not how the types of applications and appliances installed for security are affecting the network— can increase the complexity of an organization, and cause friction when an infrastructure is changed.

Creating greater efficiency will help the bottom line of a budget, but there are also larger benefits, Doggart adds. Improved network performance will allow for expansion and risk minimization, so that enterprises can scale appropriately without doing even more firefighting.