Over two-thirds of retailers plan to increase technology spending over the next few years, and it is clear why. The latest technology helps retailers serve their customers in new ways, prioritizing omnichannel availability, personalization, and customer support. However, fast, secure, and reliable network infrastructure is the key to these new technologies. Networks drive emerging technology vital to retail success, including IoT devices, location marketing, BOPIS, and generative AI deployments. Network speed and reliability are key pain points, especially among smaller retailers.
Selecting, implementing, and managing a highly available network can be challenging for retailers without dedicated IT staff in-store.
Challenges of modern retail connectivity
Retailers struggle with security, network availability, compliance, and burdensome legacy infrastructure. For example, compliance is rapidly evolving to help protect consumer personal data. But staying updated with those rapidly changing rules can take time and effort. PCI DSS alone has over 300 regulations.
Retailers need networks that support innovations like next-generation AI chatbots that interact with staff and customers, digital price tags that update instantaneously, saving hundreds of hours of labor, and IoT device innovations like location-based marketing and real-time analytics.
Also read: Modernizing in-store experience with unified commerce
The promise of cloud networking
Virtualized networking has emerged as a cloud-based architecture that replaces the older and slower hardline infrastructure of MPLS. Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) essentially moved networking architecture to the Cloud. By relying on multiple transport options (sometimes including existing MPLS lines), SD-WAN delivers highly available and reliable network service.
Secure access service edge (SASE, pronounced “sassy”) arose as an architecture that combines SD-WAN with cloud-based security tools. In recent years, SD-WAN and SASE solutions have integrated generative and analytical AI tools to help ensure uptime, enhance performance, and strengthen security.
Learn more: Level up your operations with cloud solutions for retailers
The benefits of SD-WAN and SASE solutions for retailers
According to Forrester, customers migrating from MPLS to SD-WAN saw:
- Ten times increased bandwidth over MPLS.
- 107% ROI.
- 98% less time spent on policy management.
Other benefits include:
- Automated security for sales and supply operations.
- Counter new threats swiftly with AI-enhanced threat detection and hunting.
- Automation for dynamic policy setting and analytic-triggered enforcement.
- Protect environments across multiple clouds.
- Enhance security with next-gen tools and zero-trust network architecture (ZTNA) 2.0.
- Guaranteed 99.999% uptime for minimal business interruption.
- Optimize IT operations with automation and integrations.
- Ensure superior user experiences through Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM).
Palo Alto Networks next generation of networking tools
CBTS is a proud partner of Palo Alto Networks, recognized as a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Single-Vendor SASE. Palo Alto Networks offers a variety of SD-WAN and SASE solutions designed to work optimally within your existing environment, including:
- Prisma SD-WAN: Prisma SD-WAN ensures seamless application availability, guided by real-time performance and service level agreements (SLAs), which, in turn, boosts network performance up to tenfold. This remarkable improvement comes with the added advantage of drastically simplifying network operations, reducing trouble tickets by as much as 99%, and allowing IT teams to focus on more strategic tasks. Prisma SD-WAN strongly emphasizes security, integrating ZTNA 2.0 to lower the risk of breaches by 45%. This combination not only simplifies the transition to a SASE framework but also guarantees a more secure and dependable network setting, meeting the changing requirements of contemporary retailers.
- Prisma SASE: Building on SD-WAN, Prisma SASE represents the next generation of cloud networking. Integrating networking and cloud security functionalities into a cohesive offering paves the way for organizations to modernize their network infrastructure efficiently. This solution is scalable and ensures secure access to applications and data irrespective of the user’s location. Leveraging state-of-the-art network solutions, automation, and cutting-edge AI-driven analytics, Prisma SASE stands out as a comprehensive approach to meeting the dynamic needs of today’s businesses.
- Cortex XDR: Cortex Extended Detection and Response (XDR) enhances enterprise endpoint protection by integrating data from various sources to combat advanced cyber threats. It features stealth attack detection, user and asset behavior analysis, combined local and external threat intelligence, and automatic alert verification to minimize false positives. Additionally, Cortex XDR simplifies threat management with centralized control, supports SOC processes through automation, and enables proactive threat hunting with advanced analytics and machine learning tools. Cortex XDR integrates with Prisma SASE or SD-WAN. Download the Cortex XDR info sheet.
- ADEM: Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM) is a cutting-edge technology that optimizes online experiences. By leveraging automation and advanced analytics, ADEM proactively identifies and resolves network issues before they impact the user, ensuring a seamless and efficient digital experience. For retailers, this means improved website performance, reduced downtime and enhanced customer satisfaction. Additionally, ADEM’s insights into user behavior and network performance can help retailers make informed decisions to enhance the customer experience further, ultimately leading to increased loyalty and sales. ADEM is an add-on for Prisma SASE or SD-WAN.
Why choose CBTS for managed SD-WAN and SASE solutions?
CBTS enables seamless integration into the world’s most comprehensive networking tools. Whether you’re deploying Prisma SASE or Prisma SD-WAN, CBTS is your ideal technology partner, guiding you every step of the way.
Experience the difference with our 24×7 support, which minimizes network downtime, accelerates incident response, and swiftly contains potential damage from network security breaches. This proactive approach significantly reduces vulnerability periods and incident resolution times, allowing retailers to mitigate risks effectively.
Our deep expertise in networking, security, and cloud solutions for retailers, combined with our commitment to building long-term relationships, makes CBTS a trusted partner for hundreds of satisfied retail brands. We understand the unique challenges retailers face and offer streamlined onboarding, a comprehensive security strategy, and flexible service options tailored to your specific needs.
CBTS engineers are here to lead or support your team at every implementation phase, from the initial consultation to ongoing maintenance, ensuring your retail operations are robustly secured and supported.
Contact one of our experts to learn more and discover how we can help transform your retail operations.
