In the age of digitization and data-driven IT, traditional IT architectures – which are closely tied to hardware – are increasingly reaching their limits in many companies. The upcoming, necessary paradigm shift was already heralded years ago with Netscape inventor Marc Andreessen's striking saying "Software is eating the world". In terms of IT infrastructure, this change took concrete shape in the form of virtualization of x86 servers. The virtualization of further infrastructure components like storage, network, security, etc. is a problem. Leads to the promising Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) approach. Currently, the diagnosis "Software has eaten the world" characterizes the state of affairs quite accurately – and not only in IT. It is therefore the ideal time to take a closer look at the concept of Software Defined Everything (SDx).
Software Defined Everything and what's behind it. It's not as if the hardware has been able to get by without any software at all so far. But in traditional IT architectures, the manufacturer-specific, often very specialized properties of the hardware components determine to a large extent and within quite narrow limits what is feasible within this architecture. Changes in (business) requirements therefore often lead to considerable resource- and time-intensive redesigns.
Figure 1: Software Defined Everything – the most important fields of action. (Source: Controlware)
In the Software Defined approach, hardware is usually off-the-shelf and powerful, but comparatively poor in terms of proprietary special functions. The intelligence of the overall system is largely determined by the software. By abstracting functions from the hardware, flexibility and automation options meet the highest demands.
After positive experiences with subsystems (server, storage, network, etc.).) and orchestration of the entire virtualized data center in the SDDC approach, it becomes clear that the entire IT infrastructure (incl. Security, WAN, perimeter etc.) must be included. This minimizes media discontinuities and significantly increases the efficiency of management and automation measures. In addition, the scalability of the systems reaches new dimensions. Software Defined Everything (SDx) thus also includes Software Defined Infrastructure. Every physical system and all functions that are executed as software or automated by software are part of this new type of infrastructure. Applications on traditional end devices, apps on smartphones, intelligent cameras, sensors, actuators, vehicles and also users are networked with each other.
Key development steps. Digitalization and an unprecedented importance of software (incl. Apps) – not only for companies, but for society as a whole with all its institutions – place fundamentally new demands on IT. In particular, aspects such as
- efficient scaling and elasticity,
- High number of networked systems or endpoints, volatility and complexity of connections,
- Increasing and evolving security requirements,
- New paradigms in software development and delivery (DevOps, Agile, CI/CD, Containers.)
- and flexible forms of IT service provision (on-premises, hybrid cloud, multi-cloud)
are pushing traditional IT architectures to their limits – in terms of capacity, flexibility, agility and resilience. From a corporate perspective, it is now no longer a specific technology that is causing disruption, but rather the increasing importance of software, which is enabling, and in some cases even forcing, new business models. The trend term "App Economy" describes this complex relationship in a comprehensible way and at the same time clarifies the origin for a large part of the changed demands on corporate IT (in addition to digitization).
Figure 2: Proven process model for modernization in the IT environment. (Source: Controlware)
In addition, users expect access to the information they need at any time, from any place and on any device. Global competition adds weight to this expectation. This is another reason why the on-premises infrastructure is increasingly being supplemented or, in some cases, replaced by public cloud services. The software-centric approach of the cloud thus has an impact on IT in companies and permanently changes the prevailing thought models, methods and processes there. For the integration of this "extended workbench" into the (IT) processes of companies, convincing solutions are now available that follow the Software Defined approach.
Technologies such as software-defined storage and software-defined networks are already part of the SDDC. This also includes Hyper Converged Systems and Hyper Converged Infrastructure, which are now gaining significantly in importance. These systems have been inspired by the experience of large web scale data centers and have built "data center building blocks" using standard x86 hardware. In addition to the necessary resources such as compute, storage, etc., these Building Blocks contain. Also a hypervisor, cluster logic, a specially distributed file system and efficient optimization and acceleration functions (such as de-duplication and compression). In line with the software-defined approach, an intelligent software layer ensures smooth and uncomplicated processes during provisioning, expansion and operation. IT specialists no longer have to deal with the details and the smooth interaction of the individual components. Their focus is increasingly on the concrete business benefits of IT for the company.
This development is therefore based on current and foreseeable IT requirements. Important components for software-defined architectures are already available, so that companies can already benefit from this trend and modernize their data centers step by step.
A sensible approach with a concept. The shift to a fully software-driven data center (SDDC) or even to software-defined everything is an organic process that will take a long time and will affect not only the enterprise itself, but also customers and business partners. The interrelationships and interactions are technically and economically quite complex. Companies are therefore well advised to set the course early and in a structured manner in the direction of software-defined technologies. For this purpose, it is advisable to follow a proven process model for modernization in the IT environment (see Figure 2). Comprehensive consulting – aligned with the company's IT strategy – across the boundaries of the individual IT disciplines is essential. On the way to an appropriate development strategy, blinkers and operational blindness have to be taken off in order to avoid technological and economic dead ends.
As a system integrator and IT service provider Controlware supports here optimally – with competence and experience as well as partners from all SDDC relevant areas like Data Center& Cloud, Network Solutions, Information Security and IT Management.