Unlock Next-Gen Networking: The Fabric Approach to Flexibility and Defense

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A network fabric may sound perplexing at first. After all, what does fabric have to do with networking?  In essence, it is a powerful and innovative concept in modern networking that’s revolutionizing how we think about enterprise networks. Just as a piece of fabric is composed of interwoven threads creating a flexible, resilient material, a network fabric consists of interconnected devices and virtual pathways that form a robust, adaptable infrastructure for data communication. Cisco defines a network fabric as:

“The mesh of connections between network devices such as access points, switches, and routers that transports data to its destination. ‘Fabric’ can mean the physical wirings that make up these connections, but usually it refers to a virtualized, automated lattice of overlay connections on top of the physical topology.”

Think of your traditional network that includes all the infrastructure equipment you’ve always needed such as switches, routers, and cables. Now overlay it with a sophisticated, intelligent layer of software that creates virtual connections and pathways. This combination of physical infrastructure and virtual intelligence is what we call a network fabric.

Benefits of a Network Fabric

While we can define what a network fabric is, how do we define how it can benefit your organization? Here are some key advantages that this technology brings:

• Enhanced performance: Network fabrics are optimized for low latency and high bandwidth, allowing for faster and more efficient data transfers
• Scalability: The overlay of virtualized, automated lattice makes it easy to scale the network as your needs grow without significant disruption to existing operations.
• High availability: With redundant pathways and robust failover mechanisms, network fabrics reduce downtime and ensure continuous accessibility to critical resources.
• Simplified Management: Network administration is streamlined through unified management consoles and software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities, reducing complexity and operational overhead.
• Enhanced security: The architecture enables faster identification and more effective isolation of security breaches, significantly reducing the potential impact of cyber incidents across the network infrastructure.

Layer 2 Benefits in a Layer 3 World

A network fabric seamlessly blends two distinct realms of networking. At its foundation lies the tangible world of hardware switches and routers, providing the essential physical infrastructure. This hardware layer is then augmented by an intelligent, virtualized overlay that infuses the underlying environment with much-needed agility, efficiency, and enhanced security.

In an ideal world, network performance would be optimized if everything operated at Layer 2. This would eliminate the need for IP addresses, subnets, and routing overheads. However, the reality of today’s large modern networks necessitates operation at Layer 3.

While we may be forced to accept Layer 3, we no longer must accept its principal limitations. That’s because with a network fabric, you get a fully routed network, but while retaining layer 2 mobility thanks to the virtualized overlay it creates on top of the physical Layer 3 infrastructure. The fabric uses encapsulation protocols like VXLAN to wrap Layer 2 frames inside Layer 3 packets, allowing Layer 2 traffic to traverse Layer 3 boundaries seamlessly.

Micro Segmentation

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a network fabric, you’re likely acquainted with the cybersecurity principle of zero trust networks. These two concepts, while distinct, share some fundamental principles and can complement each other in modern network architectures. Network fabrics provide the underlying infrastructure and flexibility that can facilitate the implementation of zero trust principles, such as micro segmentation and least-privilege access. Here are some of the ways that a network fabric can aid in micro segmentation:

• The VLANs that the fabric creates can be isolated from each other logically, even while sharing the same physical network. By isolating different parts of the network, fabrics limit the potential attack surface and contain security breaches more effectively.
• You can define and enforce granular policies that determine which devices or users can communicate with each other. This allows administrators the ability to create segments based on business needs rather than physical topology.
• Network fabrics enable adaptive segmentation by dynamically assigning devices to segments based on factors like user identity, device type, and security posture. This surpasses the limitations of traditional static VLANs.
• Extend segmentation policies consistently across different network domains for uniform security and access control.

Will a Network Fabric work for You?

If you find the concept of a network fabric intriguing, you may be contemplating what your need for a fabric is. A better question however is, what problems are you trying to solve? Other pertinent questions should include:

• Infrastructure Compatibility: Will your existing network infrastructure support a fabric architecture?
• Design and Implementation: What is the optimal architectural design for your needs, and how will it be implemented?
• Transition Strategy: How will you manage the cutover to the fabric once it’s ready?
• Automation Requirements: Fabric deployment necessitates automation to reduce human error, facilitate scaling, and support ongoing maintenance. Should you leverage an existing SDN solution or develop custom tools?

These questions, among others, can be addressed by network fabric experts. At Evolving Solutions, we have extensive experience working with network fabrics across multiple industry verticals. Our team can:

• Assess your specific needs
• Ensure your existing network is optimized and supportive of a fabric architecture
• Guide you through the implementation process

By partnering with our experts, you can navigate the complexities of network fabric adoption and maximize its benefits for your organization. Contact us today to find out if a network fabric is right for your organization.