In this blog, we’ll explore how self-serviceable application traffic management can help improve efficiency for network operations, security operations, and application teams. We’ll also look at the specific benefits each team can experience when using these solutions to manage the traffic of their application services.
As a NetOps engineer, you are a behind-the-scenes hero tasked with maintaining the smooth and secure operation of application services, especially during peak hours. You are responsible for building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure that supports these services, just like a captain who must navigate rough seas while also constructing and maintaining the vessel as it sails. Managing your team and upholding strict security standards only adds to the numerous tasks on your plate. It’s no wonder that you may feel overwhelmed at times with the heavy workload and responsibilities that come with your job.
To alleviate this workload, self-serviceable application traffic management solutions can help streamline processes and effectively manage traffic routing, allowing you to automate and orchestrate the infrastructure of multi-vendor application services and establish rules. This enables you to conserve time and energy and reduce the risk of errors or misconfigurations that could negatively impact application performance – just like a captain who carefully plans their course and monitors their supplies to ensure a smooth voyage while also making repairs and improvements to the ship as needed.
The benefits of self-serviceable application traffic management extend beyond network operations teams alone. Security operations (SecOps) teams can utilize these solutions to ensure that traffic is routed in a secure and compliant manner, much like a captain following the laws of the sea. And application teams can benefit from enhanced application performance and availability. By working together, these teams can use the solution to navigate the congested roadway of application services like a well-trained crew, reaching their goals faster and more efficiently. In other words, you can work as a cohesive unit to ensure everyone gets where they need to go in record time, all while building and maintaining the vessel along the way.
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5 Ways Self-Serviceable Application Traffic Management Boosts Efficiency for NetOps, SecOps, and App Teams
Self-serviceable application traffic management solutions can be a valuable asset for IT teams seeking to optimize efficiency, security, and performance. These solutions empower teams to take control of their application delivery and respond to changing needs with greater agility by automating and streamlining traffic routing, monitoring, and management processes. Let’s examine some positive outcomes of self-serviceable application traffic management and why it matters.
| Outcomes | Why it Matters | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faster application traffic routing | Automated and intelligent traffic routing can save time and reduce the risk of errors or misconfigurations that could cause downtime or performance issues. It can also optimize resource allocation and improve efficiency by directing traffic to the most appropriate servers or services based on availability and capacity. Improved performance and availability of applications can lead to a better user experience and potentially higher revenue. |
| 2 | Reduced breach points with advanced traffic management | Advanced traffic management features such as rate limiting and traffic shaping can enhance security and prevent attacks. Automating these tasks and giving SecOps teams the ability to quickly and easily apply traffic management policies can reduce the risk of security breaches and improve overall security posture. Maintaining customer trust and protecting the business from potential damage or legal consequences is crucial for reducing the risk and impact of security breaches. |
| 3 | Continuous delivery (CD) and deployment | Self-serviceable application traffic management allow NetOps and App Teams to quickly and easily roll out new applications or updates and test and validate changes before they go live. This speeds up the delivery process and reduces the risk of errors or issues impacting application performance or availability. Faster time to market and a more agile approach to software development can give businesses a competitive advantage. |
| 4 | Real-time A/B testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting | NetOps and App Teams can test different configurations in a controlled environment without affecting production. It allows A/B testing and experimentation to identify issues or areas for improvement and fine-tune performance to ensure the best possible user experience. Real-time monitoring and troubleshooting can help identify and fix issues quickly, improving application performance, availability and access. |
| 5 | Better business outcomes by enabling self-servicing for NetOps, SecOps, and App Teams | NetOps, SecOps, and App Teams gain greater control over their own application delivery. It reduces dependency on a centralized IT team or service desk. It allows these teams to quickly and easily implement changes or apply policies, improving efficiency and enabling faster time to market. Enabling self-servicing for these teams can improve efficiency and speed up the delivery process, leading to better business outcomes such as increased productivity, higher revenue, and improved customer satisfaction. |
The Benefits of Self-Serviceable Application Traffic Management for NetOps, SecOps, and App Owners
Self-serviceable application traffic management solutions can revolutionize how your organization handles traffic routing, monitoring, and policies, providing benefits for NetOps, SecOps, and App owners. Keep reading to learn more about how these solutions can support your organization’s overall goals.
| Function | Description | Benefits for | ||
| NetOps | SecOps | App owners | ||
| Traffic routing | The process of directing traffic to the appropriate server or service. This can be done using a load balancer or a traffic manager. | Allows NetOps to dynamically manage traffic in a more granular and efficient manner. | Enhances security by allowing traffic to be routed to specific servers or services based on security policies. | Enables App owners to route traffic based on a specific application and user requirements and use cases. |
| Traffic monitoring | The process of collecting data on traffic patterns and performance. This can include metrics such as request rate, response time, and error rates. | Helps NetOps identify and resolve issues more quickly by providing visibility into traffic patterns and performance. | Enhances security by providing data on traffic patterns that can be used to identify potential threats. | Allows App owners to monitor the performance of their applications and identify any issues impacting availability for their users. |
| Traffic management policies | Rules or policies that determine how traffic should be routed and managed. These can be based on factors such as server availability, response time, and resource utilization. | Allows NetOps to set up rules for routing traffic based on specific criteria to ensure application availability | Enhances security by allowing SecOps to set up rules for routing traffic based on security policies. | Enables App owners to set up rules for routing traffic based on their specific requirements and use cases. |
| Self-service portal | A user interface allows cross-functional teams to manage traffic routing and policies without requiring intervention from IT staff. | Reduces the workload on NetOps by allowing the cross-functional teams to manage traffic routing and policies. | Enhances security by allowing SecOps to set up and manage security policies through the self-service portal. | Enables App owners more control over their applications and enables them to manage traffic routing and policies without relying on IT staff. |
| API | An application programming interface (API) that allows developers to manage traffic routing and policies programmatically. | Allows NetOps to automate traffic management tasks and integrate with other systems and solutions. | Enhances security by allowing SecOps to set up and manage security policies through the API. | Provides App owners more control over their applications and enables them to manage traffic routing and policies programmatically. |
| Integration with deployment pipeline | Integration with the process for deploying new code and updates to the application allows traffic management to be automated and tied to code/software releases. | Allows NetOps to automate traffic management tasks and ensure that traffic is routed to the appropriate servers or services after code releases. | Enhances security by allowing SecOps to automate the application of security policies in conjunction with code releases. | Allows App owners to integrate their applications with other tools and systems to create a more cohesive and automated environment. |
| Rollback and failure recovery | The ability to quickly roll back changes or recover from failures in the event of an issue. This can include features such as traffic shadowing or blue/green deployments. | Allows NetOps to recover from failures and minimize downtime quickly. | Enhances security by allowing SecOps to roll back changes that may have introduced security vulnerabilities. | Gives App owners the ability to roll back changes or recover from failures quickly, minimizing the impact on their users. |
How can you tell if your application traffic management platform is doing its job? You can start by looking for these five signs:
- Your application traffic management solution is easy to deploy and configure.
- You can quickly and easily add new rules to your application traffic management solution and change existing ones.
- Your application traffic management solution is easy to deploy and configure, so you can start using it immediately.
- You can quickly and easily add new rules and change existing ones.
- You have the ability to monitor, measure, and report on application traffic management data so that you can see what changes need to be made for better performance.
Finding the right solution
Self-serviceable application traffic management can be a powerful solution for NetOps, SecOps, and App Teams looking to boost efficiency and improve security and performance. With features like automated traffic routing, advanced traffic management, and self-service capabilities, these solutions can help teams control their application delivery and be more responsive and agile in their work.
AppViewX ADC+ is a solution that can help you get started with self-serviceable application traffic management and take your NetOps, SecOps, and App teams’ efficiency to the next level. By combining dynamic roles and rules-based access control with a customizable dashboard, out-of-box workflow automation, and orchestration capabilities, AppViewX ADC+ allows you to monitor and control the performance, availability, access, and security of your applications. This helps you secure critical data while automating processes that otherwise require IT support.
AppViewX ADC+ is much more than just a traffic management solution – it’s a comprehensive application services orchestration platform that can help increase your organization’s productivity and efficiency, helping you build a unique position in your market. Please read through this solution brief to take advantage of all that AppViewX ADC+ has to offer.
Want to learn more? Let’s set up a live demo to show you how AppViewX ADC+ can help your organization deliver better application visibility, control, and automation.
About the Author
Tarshant Jain
Explorer & Hustler: ADC+
Helping network engineers and app teams simplify their application delivery with the power of automation, logic, and global wisdom.
