In the fast-changing world of network computing, where technology is constantly evolving, the most important words of the year are indicators of major trends. Just like language reflects changes in society, the vocabulary of the network industry has seen significant additions and redefined meanings in the past 12 months. Let's explore the 2023 Network Computing Words of the Year and understand their importance and impact.

1. GenAI and AI: The Leaders of Change

Tied for first place are the powerful terms - GenAI and AI. In the past year, ChatGPT has emerged as a game-changer, bringing AI into the mainstream across industries and companies of all sizes. This widespread adoption has had two main consequences.

GenAI-assisted Network Management

Firstly, IT product vendors and infrastructure providers have integrated GenAI and artificial technology into their network management solutions. This involves using AI to analyze application traffic flows and telemetry data, instantly alerting administrators to potential performance issues or security threats. Notable implementations include:

▪ Cisco AI Assistant for Security: Transforming firewall management by using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to provide quick and accurate responses to security queries.

▪ Fortinet Advisor: Offering incident analysis, remediation guidance, and playbook templates, enhancing the capabilities of NetOps and SecOps teams through natural language prompts.

The Infrastructure Evolution for AI

The second consequence involves a shift in enterprise infrastructures to meet the demands of AI workloads. Unlike traditional applications, AI requires specialized computing resources like GPUs, Infrastructure Processing Units (IPUs), and Data Processing Units (DPUs). This shift has led to notable advancements:

▪ Ultra Ethernet Consortium: A collaborative effort by industry leaders like AMD, Arista, Cisco, and Microsoft to build a complete Ethernet-based communication stack architecture for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.

▪ Cisco and Broadcom's AI-focused Chips: Introductions like Cisco's Silicon One G200 and G202 ASICs and NVIDIA's SuperNIC aimed at optimizing Ethernet-based networks for AI workloads.

As organizations increasingly prioritize data security, efficient networking and interconnection technologies become crucial when keeping AI efforts on-premises.

2. Wi-Fi 7: Redefining Connectivity Standards

Runner-up for Word of the Year

Globally, Wi-Fi networks handle more than half of all Internet traffic, and the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 is a significant milestone. Building on the advancements of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, Wi-Fi 7 introduces automated frequency coordination, multi-link operations, and 4K Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (4K QAM). These improvements result in:

▪ Enhanced Performance: Wi-Fi 7 access points and routers offer significantly improved performance for enterprise users, supporting more users in crowded environments.

▪ Low Latency and High Throughput: Wi-Fi 7 enables extremely high speeds, low latency, and minimal delay, providing a strong foundation for media-rich, immersive experiences.

While Wi-Fi 7 products started appearing in 2023, widespread availability is expected in late 2024, ushering in a new era of connectivity standards.

3. NaaS (Network-as-a-Service): The Networking Subscription Model

Second Runner-up for Word of the Year

Network-as-a-service (NaaS) is the latest addition to the "as-a-service" family, offering a subscription model for connectivity. Instead of traditional installations, enterprises can provision networks through a cloud portal, relying on service providers to deliver the underlying networking infrastructure. Key highlights include:

▪ Simplified Provisioning: Enterprises can easily provision networks through a simple cloud portal, streamlining the process similar to compute and storage services.

▪ Global NaaS Event (GNE): The industry's attention towards NaaS peaked with the inaugural Global NaaS Event (GNE) in October, accelerating the availability of NaaS offerings.

▪ MEF's NaaS Industry Blueprint: Introduced to speed up the deployment of NaaS, it defines primary building blocks and presents initial use cases in on-demand transport, SD-WAN, and SASE.

As NaaS gains momentum, it promises to reshape how enterprises approach networking, offering flexibility and scalability.

Conclusion: The Common Language of Network Evolution

In the ever-changing world of networking, GenAI, Wi-Fi 7, and NaaS have become the common language, shaping conversations and strategies. As we enter 2024, these terms will continue to drive innovation and resilience in the industry.

Explore the transformative power of these networking trends at Hi-Network.com. Elevate your network infrastructure with cutting-edge solutions designed for the future. If you have more questions about network equipments, please contact us www.hi-network.com  (Email: [email protected])