Digital acceleration, defined by initiatives that include ubiquitous connectivity, migration to the cloud, and investment in next-generation networking technologies, has driven many advancements in the IT industry. Wired and wireless networks are no exceptions. The local-area network (LAN) wired and wireless forms the backbone of IT, enabling next-generation applications and increasing user productivity. The LAN greatly impacts user experience and is the beginning or end of many security events that occur at the enterprise.

As IT administrators look to build next-generation networks, they are focusing on ensuring a secure, seamless user experience. As such, network architects have settled on six key building blocks to achieve the next-generation software-defined LAN.

It’s important to consider total cost of ownership (TCO) as well as the elements listed here. Discover them now.