Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions contributes network automation that enables policy-based decisions to arrange which network traffic goes where, while Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software focuses on the services, and ensures the network's capabilities align with the virtualized environments they are supporting.

Top Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software vendors 2020

• IBM Corporation
• Juniper Networks Inc.
• HPE
• Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
• NEC Corporation
• PICA8
• Ericson Inc.
• Cisco Systems Inc.
• Avaya Inc.
• Affirmed Networks Inc.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions is a ground-breaking networking architecture, which is poised to entirely revolutionize the existing networking and data center infrastructure. Along with the innovative idea of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software, the control plane is decoupled from the data plane, with the provision for a separate controlling software layer and an application platform with the capabilities of policymaking and providing network intelligence.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) market will grow from USD 8.8 billion in 2018 to USD 28.9 billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 26.8% during the forecast period.

Top 25 companies offering Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software features were analyzed, shortlisted and categorized on a quadrant under Visionary Leaders, Innovators, Dynamic Differentiators, and Emerging Companies to identified best SDN and NFV software providers.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) vendors who fall into this category generally receive high scores for most of the evaluation criteria. They have a robust and established product portfolio and a very strong market presence. Moreover, these vendors also have strong business strategies. This category includes top SDN & NFV software vendors such as IBM Corporation, Juniper Networks Inc., HPE, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., NEC Corporation, PICA8, Ericson Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Avaya Inc., Affirmed Networks Inc., Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Nokia Corporation and Netgear Inc.

The dynamic differentiator's category includes established vendors with very strong business strategies. However, they are low in the product portfolio. This category includes vendors such as AT&T Inc.

Innovators are vendors who have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. They have a focused product portfolio. However, they do not have very strong growth strategies for their overall business. This category includes the best Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software vendors such as Big Switch Networks, Mellanox Technologies, Intel Corporation, Verizon Communications Inc., Ciena, Accedian Networks, Metaswitch, and Extreme Networks.

Emerging companies’ category comprises vendors with niche product offerings, who are starting to gain their position in the market. They do not have very strong business strategies as compared to other established vendors. They might be new entrants in the market and require some more time before getting significant traction. This category includes vendors such as Nuage Networks, Pluribus Networks and Zetta Network.

Benefits of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software

• Increase business agility: Flexibility of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) makes it easier and faster to roll out innovative services, like real-time HD video conferencing and cloud applications, along with consistently high-quality end-user experience.
• Improve network visibility, performance, and management control: SDN brings the benefits of network-wide visibility, analytics, and control through a simple dashboard. 
• Enhance security: The centralized SDN controller in the core network has visibility over end-to-end traffic flows and threats. It can push global security policies updates out centrally to every site, while a virtualized switch can filter packets at the network edge and redirect suspicious traffic to higher layer security controls. 
• Eliminate vendor lock-in: Open platforms are key in eliminating vendor lock-in and driving growth in SDN. 
• Reduce costs: SDN pools multiple compute, storage and processing functions onto low cost commodity servers to reduce capital expenditure. 
• Holistic Enterprise Management: Software Defined Networking (SDN) allows management of physical and virtual network devices from a central controller.
• Integration with Public Cloud:Network provisioning can be done today from a cloud portal without getting into manual device centric configuration mode as earlier.

How Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions work?

In Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions, the software is decoupled from the hardware. SDN separates the two network device planes, moving the control plane that determines where to send traffic to software, and leaving the data plane that actually forwards the traffic in the hardware. This allows network administrators who use software-defined networking to program and control the entire network via a single pane of glass.

Physical or virtual networking devices actually move the data through the network. In some cases, virtual switches, which may be embedded in either the software or the hardware, take over the responsibilities of physical switches and consolidate their functions into a single, intelligent switch. The switch checks the integrity of both the data packets and their virtual machine destinations and moves the packets along.

Rules for Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Integration

• Plotting a course based on need rather than technology
• Discovering application connectivity and Improving the network
• Aligning the infrastructure with the right SDN platform
• Looking beyond automation
• Preparing the organization
• Lab testing the platform
• Develop an SDN security strategy
• Managing the migration process
• Post-integration management
• Find an Integration Partner

Future of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Solutions

• Companies are moving to the cloud.
• Virtualization of networking infrastructure.
• SD-WAN is on the rise as the network here used covers a wide area.
• SD-WAN is on the rise as the network here used covers a wide area.
• SDN will become a technology that will be more responsive, fully automated, and highly secure.