Four Principles for Modern Network Design

This white paper outlines four core principles for modern network design aimed at helping organizations adapt their networking strategies to meet the demands of a rapidly changing environment. It begins by discussing the secular forces driving change, such as cloud adoption, data expansion, and the shift to hybrid work, which necessitate a reevaluation of existing network architectures. The document details the three eras of enterprise network design: physical networks, virtualized networking, and cloud-delivered network and security services. It emphasizes the importance of simplifying network architecture, going direct to the internet, replacing cloud interconnects, and removing implicit trust to enhance security and performance. The guide serves as a roadmap for networking teams to build a more flexible, secure, and resilient network that aligns with contemporary business needs and technological advancements.