How to Navigate the Future of Networking: Insights from Gartner’s 2023 Market Guide for Network Automation Platforms 

Quick Learnings:

• Traditional automation tools are no longer enough to meet the demands of modern networks. Organizations need to adopt comprehensive network automation platforms that can manage end-to-end workflows across hybrid environments like data centers, cloud, and SD-WAN. 
• Automation platforms don’t just automate isolated tasks; they orchestrate entire processes across different domains, improving efficiency and scalability while reducing manual errors. 
• Having a centralized, accurate NSOT allows for consistent and scalable automation, providing the necessary visibility and control to keep network operations running smoothly. 

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses must embrace network automation to keep up with growing demands for agility and speed. The 2023 Gartner Market Guide for Network Automation Platforms highlights a crucial shift from relying on individual tools to adopting comprehensive platforms that orchestrate workflows across various network domains.  

Let’s dive into the key takeaways from Gartner’s report and explore why this transition to automation platforms is essential for enterprises. 

Moving from Automation Tools to Platforms 

For years, network engineers have leaned on specific automation tools like Python scripts or Ansible to perform individual tasks, such as monitoring or configuring networks. While these tools handle routine activities, they often create silos in large, multi-vendor environments. As networks grow more complex with the inclusion of cloud services, data centers, and SD-WAN, the limits of task-based tools become more obvious. 

Instead of using fragmented tools, Gartner recommends a platform-based approach to automation. Platforms don’t just automate isolated tasks but orchestrate workflows end-to-end. Here’s how they differ: 

• Automation Tools handle single tasks or domain-specific functions, offering limited scalability. These include DIY tools and software that cater to specific needs like SD-WAN. 
• Automation Platforms, on the other hand, manage entire processes across different technologies, ensuring consistency and reliability. They allow businesses to connect multiple automation technologies, scale network operations, and streamline management. 

Shifting from tools to platforms gives enterprises the ability to meet growing network demands. Automation platforms deliver broader capabilities that prevent the fragmentation typically caused by isolated tools. 

Why Orchestration Matters 

This transition from tools to platforms brings more than just a technological upgrade. Orchestration elevates automation by ensuring that all individual automations work cohesively. Instead of merely automating routine tasks, orchestration enables businesses to integrate and automate entire workflows.  

With orchestration, companies can provide self-service network capabilities, improve agility, and offer product-centric services for their network. These platforms consolidate efforts into a unified process, allowing teams to manage tasks across hybrid environments like multi-cloud networks, data centers, and remote offices. 

Key features of an orchestration platform include: 

• Low-code interfaces that allow users to build automation workflows with minimal programming knowledge. 
• Event-driven automation, which triggers specific actions based on predefined events, such as service tickets or security alerts. 
• Third-party integrations with tools like ServiceNow, Slack, or Kubernetes that streamline workflows across the enterprise. 

By adopting orchestration, businesses can eliminate the inefficiencies caused by isolated automation. It allows enterprises to speed up service delivery, reduce manual errors, and improve overall operational efficiency. 

Building a Network Source of Truth (NSOT) 

Gartner also emphasizes the importance of a Network Source of Truth (NSOT), which serves as a critical component for successful automation. A NSOT acts as a central repository of all network components, configurations, and dependencies. Without it, automation initiatives can fall apart due to poor visibility into the network’s architecture. 

Gartner points out that many organizations still lack a reliable NSOT, which limits their ability to automate at scale. By developing a robust NSOT, companies can ensure that every automated process has accurate, up-to-date information on the network’s current state. This helps avoid errors, maintain compliance, and ensure that all components function as intended. 

What to Look for in a Network Automation Platform 

To help organizations move from fragmented automation to a streamlined, scalable solution, Gartner outlines several must-have features for network automation platforms. These include: 

• Support for existing tools: Platforms should integrate with tools already in use, such as Ansible or Python, so businesses can leverage their prior investments. 
• Multi-vendor support: Enterprises need flexibility to work across various networking technologies and vendors without compromising functionality. 
• Open APIs: Platforms should offer open APIs to allow for easy integration with other IT systems, exposing the platform’s full range of capabilities. 
• Customizable workflows: A robust platform enables users to build workflows tailored to their unique requirements, rather than relying on rigid, out-of-the-box solutions. 
• Cloud-native capabilities: With the rise of hybrid and multi-cloud environments, platforms should prioritize seamless automation of cloud networking alongside on-premises infrastructure. 

By focusing on these capabilities, businesses can ensure that their chosen platform provides the scalability and flexibility needed for modern network environments. 

The Road Ahead 

Looking ahead, Gartner projects that by 2026, over 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network activities. In mid-2023, fewer than 10% of organizations had achieved this level of automation. This forecast underscores the need for companies to adopt platform-based automation, not just to stay competitive but to future-proof their infrastructure against evolving demands. 

Network automation platforms allow enterprises to go beyond basic task automation. They enable businesses to orchestrate end-to-end processes across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, reduce manual workloads, and improve the speed and accuracy of service delivery. Those that embrace this shift today will position themselves for success as the demand for network agility continues to grow. 

IPXO Marketplace

IPXO Marketplace is the world’s first fully automated IP lease & monetization marketplace. Here are some vital capabilities that enhance the overall customer experience: 

Platform 

• RIR availability: The IPXO Marketplace ensures subnet availability from all five Regional Internet Registries – AFRINIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC and RIPE NCC – to enable companies to choose the most suitable resources 
• IPXO Statistics: The statistics page offers a transparent view of the IPXO Marketplace, the IP market overall and IP price trends, which also enables companies to make informed decisions about growth possibilities 

Management 

• My Waiting List: This feature empowers IPXO clients to request IPv4 subnets not yet available on the platform; a demand that is quickly fulfilled due to the fast-growing number of IP holders 
• Reservation ID: IP holders can hide their assets from the Marketplace and use a unique Reservation ID to enable specified IP lessees to find and lease those assets  
• rDNS Delegation Automation: This feature was introduced to give clients more control over the leased resources by making it easy to handle IP addresses and assign them to any infrastructure 

Security 

• BGP Parking: BGP – the Border Gateway Protocol – ensures a higher level of security against subnet hijacking, and BGP parking enables us to announce IPs under our ASN (autonomous system number) and make them less vulnerable to hijacking 
• RPKI Management: Self-service for RPKI Management enables IP holders to check their subnets’ RPKI status and initiate RPKI delegation to IPXO 

Conclusion  

By transitioning from task-oriented tools to orchestration platforms, organizations can unlock the full potential of network automation, improving efficiency and driving greater value from their network infrastructure. As Gartner’s 2023 report highlights, the future of network management lies in platforms that not only automate but also orchestrate complex processes, helping businesses thrive in an increasingly connected world. 

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