Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is the replacement of network appliance hardware with virtual machines. The virtual machines use a hypervisor to run networking software and processes such as routing and load balancing.

With the help of NFV, it becomes possible to separate communication services from specialized hardware like routers and firewalls. This eliminates the need for buying new hardware and network operations can offer new services on demand. With this, it is possible to deploy network components in a matter of hours as opposed to months as with conventional networking. Furthermore, the virtualized services can run on less expensive generic servers.

Additional reasons to use network functions virtualization include:

• Pay-as-you-go: Pay-as-you-go NFV models can reduce costs because businesses pay only for what they need.
• Fewer appliances: Because NFV runs on virtual machines instead of physical machines, fewer appliances are necessary and operational costs are lower.
• Scalability: Scaling the network architecture with virtual machines is faster and easier, and it does not require purchasing additional hardware.

Risks of network functions virtualization

Physical security controls are not effective: Virtualizing network components increases their vulnerability to new kinds of attacks compared to physical equipment that is locked in a data center.

Malware is difficult to isolate and contain: It is easier for malware to travel among virtual components that are all running off of one virtual machine than between hardware components that can be isolated or physically separated.

Network traffic is less transparent: Traditional traffic monitoring tools have a hard time spotting potentially malicious anomalies within network traffic that is traveling east-west between virtual machines, so NFV requires more fine-grained security solutions.

Complex layers require multiple forms of security: Network functions virtualization environments are inherently complex, with multiple layers that are hard to secure with blanket security policies.

Advantages of network functions virtualization

• Lower expenses as it follows Pay as you go which implies companies only pay for what they require.
• Less equipment as it works on virtual machines rather than actual machines which leads to fewer appliances, which lowers operating expenses as well.
• Scalability of network architecture is quite quick and simple using virtual functions in NFV. As a result, it does not call for the purchase of more hardware.

Benefits of network functions virtualization

• Many service providers believe that advantages outweigh the issues of NFV.  
• Traditional hardware-based networks are time-consuming as these require network administrators to buy specialized hardware units, manually configure them, then join them to form a network. For this skilled or well-equipped worker is required.
• It costs less as it works under the management of a hypervisor, which is significantly less expensive than buying specialized hardware that serves the same purpose.
• Easy to configure and administer the network because of a virtualized network. As a result, network capabilities may be updated or added instantly.