Overcoming the ClickOps Era

The demand for network connectivity is at an all-time high.

With everyone across the enterprise—from business units to individual employees—relying on the network to accomplish their tasks, the Infrastructure & Operations (I&O) team is constantly under pressure to deliver. They need to manage everything from spinning up new network resources to ensuring those resources are optimized for performance and security.

Traditionally, this has led many I&O teams to adopt a "ClickOps" approach, a manual method that involves navigating through various interfaces and clicking through options to provision network resources.

However, as networks grow more complex, the limitations of the ClickOps model are becoming increasingly apparent. Here's a look at how a ClickOps approach may be holding your business back and why it's time to transition to more modern network automation practices.

The 2000s Way: The Era of ClickOps

ClickOps emerged in the 2000s alongside the rise of software-defined networking (SDN). This new approach allowed network administrators to provision resources through web consoles rather than physically handling hardware.

While this was a significant improvement, each resource typically required its own console. Consequently, administrators would need to log into multiple systems, navigating through a maze of screens and options to fulfill even a single request.

This manual process quickly became a bottleneck as network complexity increased. Provisioning network resources across departments could involve accessing dozens of consoles and making hundreds of individual clicks.

Not only is this method inefficient and time-consuming, but it's also prone to human error.

One wrong click can cause significant disruptions, leading to network downtime and service interruptions, which ultimately impact the bottom line.

A natural question arises: why not use a single vendor, consolidating everything into one portal? While a single-vendor approach may seem simpler, it often sacrifices flexibility, innovation, and cost efficiency.

Enterprises typically opt for a multi-vendor strategy to leverage the best tools for each specific task. This approach offers greater resilience and allows for optimized performance across different network tasks. However, this strategy demands network engineers to be well-versed in multiple technologies or requires a large team of specialized experts, which can be costly and impractical.

The 2024 Way: Network Automation

The limitations of ClickOps have made it clear that a new approach is needed. Enter network automation—a solution that streamlines the management of network resources by utilizing APIs and automation platforms to consolidate all technologies and processes into a single, unified interface.

With network automation, I&O teams no longer have to manually log into multiple systems and click through countless options.

Instead, they can log into one platform, issue a few commands, and let the automation platform handle the rest. This approach dramatically reduces the time and effort required to provision and manage network resources, while also minimizing the risk of human error.

Network automation is powered by runbooks—pre-defined workflows that have been rigorously tested and approved by subject matter experts (SMEs). These runbooks ensure that network tasks are executed consistently and correctly every time. SMEs can document their expertise into these runbooks, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than repetitive tasks.

Additionally, network automation platforms are designed to adhere to policy and governance requirements, ensuring compliance with both internal standards and external regulations. Automation makes it easier to maintain consistent, secure, and compliant network operations, which is crucial as organizations face increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.

An Opportunity for I&O/Network Teams

The shift from ClickOps to network automation presents a significant opportunity for I&O teams to enhance their operations, drive efficiency, and reduce operational costs. By embracing automation, organizations can ensure that their networks are not only keeping up with the growing demands but are also optimized for future growth and innovation.

Now is the time for I&O teams to evolve beyond the constraints of ClickOps. Network automation provides the tools and capabilities needed to manage modern network environments effectively.

By making this transition, I&O teams can empower their organizations to operate with greater agility, reliability, and efficiency, paving the way for a future-ready network infrastructure.

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