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The Internet of Things (IoT) is a host of physical devices around the world that collect and share data across the internet. The rise of wireless networks and cheap data processors makes it possible to turn anything into part of the IoT. This adds a certain level of digital intelligence to devices that enable them to communicate without human involvement, effectively merging the physical and digital worlds. In doing so, however, we have created a new concern for IoT internet requirements .

The proliferation of new technologies has led to a surge in the demand for bandwidth. For businesses to stay competitive, it's necessary to keep up with this demand. There are a few ways for companies to go about doing this.

One of the biggest new developments in the business landscape of late is real-time communications. This is a technology that's offering up some opportunities for businesses to connect -- both within and without -- and carry on in ways that weren't possible just a few years ago. Even as these new opportunities have emerged, though, so too have new challenges cropped up. 

Is it time to get rid of the wide-area network (WAN)? Some would say it is, but almost as many would say that it's just time for a better WAN. Making a WAN better calls for some fairly serious changes, but those changes can make the system more ready to take on the ever-increasing demands of modern business.

• Increased scalability. With WAN and cloud systems working together, there's a better ability to take advantage of collocations and remote operations. Small and medium-sized business (SMB) users are particularly interested in this phenomenon, and more and more, the larger data center is pretty much a province of large-scale operations.
• New app options. With increasing cloud-based options coming available, that means new apps available on every front. Using WAN to tap into those new apps opens up options ranging from big data analysis to customer relationship management (CRM) tools and more.

• Greater demand for security. With all this data flowing through a system, and more points than ever requiring access, the data prizes are richer and the means of access that much easier. A greater demand for security therefore, naturally follows.
• Capacity management is almost as vital. New data is likely to stretch demand for bandwidth to a fever pitch. Trying to keep capacity straight will be vital to ensure the network can handle all the demands placed on it, making capacity management crucial.