Futuristic Network Landscape: Exploration of AI, Zero Trust, Operation Technology, Wi-Fi 7, and 5G Networks

The Controlware Network Day, held at the end of June 2023 in Garching near Munich, brought together industry experts to discuss the evolving landscape of network security and integration. Among the topics on the agenda was the NIS 2 directive of the EU, a hotly debated topic that is set to require cybersecurity measures for "critical" companies.

Bernd Schwefing, the CEO of Controlware, emphasised the importance of "Zero Trust Networks" as the framework for all future networks. However, the discussion questioned whether 'Zero Trust Networks' is the right term, with some experts suggesting alternative phrases that better convey the concept.

Network segmentation was identified as essential to prevent the entire production from being shut down after successful attacks. Wi-Fi is established in corporate networks, and the upcoming Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 standards, set to be implemented by 2024, are expected to make network management, including reporting and monitoring, significantly simpler.

IT service providers are responsible for informing their customers about NIS 2, and the importance of acting as a 'translator' for the customer was highlighted. Not everything can be automated, and the discussion explored the role of AI technologies in relieving network administrators of routine tasks, potentially leading to significant personnel savings in network administration.

Three experts from Arista Networks, Cisco Meraki, and Extreme Networks participated in the discussion, with Christoph Krell from Meraki Channel at Cisco Germany quantifying the cost savings through automation to be up to 50 percent.

Companies like Juniper Networks have integrated AI-driven SD-WAN solutions into modern network architectures, specifically through integration with Microsoft's SASE platform for seamless branch and office connectivity. Another example is Trend Micro, which integrates AI-based security solutions with NVIDIA's Enterprise AI Factory for cloud and on-premises infrastructures.

However, the enforcement of NIS 2 may exacerbate the problem of controlling the quality of the measures taken by critical companies. Many networks still in use today are outdated and unsuitable for today's requirements. The large discrepancy between the investment willingness of large companies in the field of networks and cybersecurity compared to small and medium-sized enterprises was also noted.

In the future, we will no longer speak of IT and OT, but of integrated networks, according to Bernd Schwefing. The topic of integrated networks was discussed, but no specific timeline was given. Zero Trust Networks should be explained in a way that makes them appealing to customers, and the need for AI technologies to relieve network administrators of routine tasks was emphasised.

The head of marketing at Controlware was primarily responsible for organising the 1st Network Day, with the aim of making the discussions accessible to a general audience. Despite the challenges ahead, the event was a step towards shaping the future of network security and integration.

Futuristic Network Landscape: Exploration of AI, Zero Trust, Operation Technology, Wi-Fi 7, and 5G Networks