Beyond the Patchwork:
Modernizing the Network Edge Without Starting Over
Navigate this e-book by selecting a topic from side navigation, scrolling or using the circled arrows. Enjoy!
Simpler Is Smarter
08.
How to Break the Pattern without Breaking What Works
07.
A Smarter Network Edge for What’s Next
06.
What Smart Enterprises Are Doing Differently
05.
Why the Edge Is Under Pressure Now
04.
The Unspoken Cost of a Fragmented Edge
03.
Rethinking the Network Edge without Reinventing It
02.
The Edge Advantage
01.
Introduction
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The edge is where enterprise networks meet the real world, and it has been the front line of digital transformation for some time now.
From head offices, regional centers, branch locations and warehouses, enterprise locations depend on fast, secure and resilient connectivity to function. But what happens at those edge sites is changing. More data is moving across more sites, users need secure access to more applications, and expectations for performance and reliability keep climbing. This is pushing the network edge – the routers, switches, firewalls and connectivity stacks that keep distributed locations online – into the spotlight. This is because employees need to access data and applications quickly to perform their jobs, and more of that data is now being created outside centralized infrastructure. Gartner backs this up, estimating that 75% of enterprise data will be created outside traditional data centers and clouds by 2025.[1] That shift is putting new pressure on legacy network architectures, many of which were never designed to handle the scale, complexity, and real-time demands of modern digital business.
What We Mean by "The Edge" In this eBook, “the edge” refers specifically to the devices and computing infrastructure deployed at distributed enterprise locations – from the network devices such as the routers, firewalls, switches, DDoS appliances, etc. to edge computing, edge servers, and other infrastructure that sit at the boundary between your local environment and the broader network. These devices play a critical role in: ● Connecting users and applications ● Enforcing security policies ● Routing and shaping traffic ● Enabling site-level visibility and performance This ebook will not address: ● IoT devices ● Mobile edge compute or 5G towers The network edge – the on-site stack that’s become more complex, harder to manage, and increasingly critical as demands on your infrastructure grow.
Historically, much of the data generated at the edge went underutilized. With the deeper enterprise adoption of AI and advanced analytics, that data is becoming increasingly valuable. Enterprises are now looking to extract real-time intelligence from edge-generated data, which requires faster processing, tighter integration, and a more capable infrastructure. All leaders are learning to believe the edge is important - does not matter if you are CIO, CFO or CMO - you need access to data at the edge. Once considered nothing more than an access point, the edge now plays a critical role in enterprise operations. With every new remote user, connected device or sensor, digitized process or cloud-delivered app, the case for modernizing the edge becomes stronger and more obvious. This shift isn’t just limited to networking. The adoption of edge computing and site-level servers is also accelerating, further increasing the need for integrated, scalable and secure infrastructure all the way to the edge. But, while the opportunity is growing, most edge environments weren’t built for for this quick moving evolution. Adapting the edge doesn’t require starting over, but it does mean rethinking what’s needed and what’s possible.
Test your knowledge : Knowing your edge
Firewalls
That's right!
Try again
Routers
Core network infrastructure
On premises devices
1. Which of the following is NOT part of the network edge as discussed in this eBook?
False
2. True or False - protecting the the edge is a critical part of the security infrastructure.
True
[1] Forbes, 2025 IT Infrastructure Trends: The Edge Computing, HCI And AI Boom, 2024
Datacentre technology
Onsite technology
3. Fill in the blank: The network edge is the _________ _________ stack that has become more complex, harder to manage, and increasingly critical.
Virtualization layer
Today’s network edge environments are more difficult to manage than ever before, but simplifying doesn’t mean starting over.
No one ever set out to build an edge environment that’s this complicated. But over many years – one site expansion, vendor contract, or compliance requirement at a time – the edge gradually turned into a patchwork of routers, firewalls, switches, DDoS appliances, and management headaches. Most of it still “works,” which is why most enterprises keep it around. You’ve probably got your own version of this. It might be five or six separate boxes running at each location. Or a mix of hardware that varies by region, vendor, or use case. Maybe you’re juggling different support models, patch schedules, or billing relationships. And maybe it’s all… “fine”. But “fine” isn’t a strategy. It drains time, increases risk, creates confusion, slows down innovation and leaves you flat-footed while your competitors move quickly to consolidate, automate and modernize their edge operations. As advanced enterprises have learned, it’s hard to achieve digital transformation without first standardizing, modernizing and automating the underlying infrastructure. Indeed, according to IDC, global spending on edge infrastructure and services, including network modernization, is expected to reach $378 billion by 2028.[1] Enterprises are investing not just to keep up, but to gain advantage: faster connections, smarter traffic routing, stronger security enforcement and easier management of distributed locations means a strategic advantage – although it’s important to note that modernization doesn’t have to mean massive spending as working with the right partner can actually help rationalize costs and maximize value. [1] Forbes, 2025 IT Infrastructure Trends: The Edge Computing, HCI And AI Boom, 2024
[1] IDC, Worldwide Spending on Edge Computing Forecast to Reach $378 Billion in 2028, September 2024
Most enterprises don’t hang onto fragmented edge environments because they’re ideal. They keep them because replacing them feels disruptive, expensive or risky. But what’s less obvious is how costly that choice already is.
Each department experiences it differently. Procurement teams are stuck managing overlapping vendor contracts, support agreements and license renewals. The SOC is forced to work around outdated edge infrastructure and inconsistent patch schedules, exposing gaps in policy enforcement and slowing incident response. The NOC deals with underutilized or mismatched hardware across sites causing bottlenecks that drain performance. Support teams chase down root causes across multiple systems, with unclear escalation paths and no unified visibility to guide resolution. These challenges add up fast and they don’t stay in their lane. It ripples across security, performance, visibility and team capacity:
Here’s the real impact of all that complexity: Security & Compliance: Each isolated device becomes a potential blind spot that’s harder to patch, harder to monitor and easier to exploit. Inconsistent updates and fragmented controls increase vulnerability and make regulatory compliance harder to prove. Data Sovereignty: Without unified policy enforcement or clear data flow visibility, it’s difficult to know where sensitive data resides or how it’s being handled – a growing risk in an era of tightening regional regulations. Performance: Disconnected infrastructure leads to routing inefficiencies, inconsistent application delivery, and bandwidth constraints. Even minor configuration mismatches can result in noticeable latency or degraded user experience. Visibility & Interoperability: Multiple vendors, multiple dashboards, and incompatible protocols mean IT teams spend more time troubleshooting and less time optimizing. Fragmentation makes diagnostics slower and decision-making harder. People & Expertise: Highly skilled teams are forced to spend time on reactive support, patching, and vendor coordination instead of driving strategic initiatives. The more fragmented the edge, the more institutional knowledge it takes just to keep it running. Lack of Agility and Innovation: Without the ability to update or upgrade remotely, agility and digital innovation are also the ones to suffer under the “tyranny of the boxes”. Good luck spinning up new services quickly. Beyond the strategic risks, there’s the reality of the day-to-day grind, and it adds up fast.
What should be simple tasks, like pushing an update, can take hours when you're navigating multiple platforms and vendors. Without unified visibility, diagnosing an issue takes longer, often involving finger-pointing between vendors. And you’re likely paying for overlapping features, unused licenses, and service contracts that no longer serve you.
Disconnected infrastructure leads to routing inefficiencies, inconsistent application delivery and bandwidth constraints. Even minor configuration mismatches can result in noticeable latency or degraded user experience.
Without unified policy enforcement or clear data flow visibility, it’s difficult to know where sensitive data resides or how it’s being handled – a growing risk in an era of tightening regional regulations, particularly in regions responding to evolving U.S. policies.
Each isolated device becomes a potential blind spot that’s harder to patch, harder to monitor and easier to exploit. Inconsistent updates and fragmented controls increase edge security vulnerabilities and make regulatory compliance harder to prove.
Highly skilled teams are forced to spend time on reactive support, patching and vendor coordination instead of driving strategic initiatives. The more fragmented the edge, the more institutional knowledge it takes just to keep it running.
Multiple vendors, siloed dashboards, and incompatible protocols force IT teams to toggle between portals and manually stitch together data. When edge infrastructure isn’t integrated with your ITSM, diagnostics take longer, decision-making suffers and proactive management becomes nearly impossible.
Without the ability to update or upgrade remotely, agility and digital innovation are also the ones to suffer under the “tyranny of the boxes”. Good luck spinning up new services quickly.
Performance
Data Sovereignty
People & Expertise
Visibility & Interoperability
Lack of Agility & Innovation
Security & Compliance
Gary Sidhu Senior Vice President of Product Engineering, GTT
These aren’t theoretical problems. They’re real-world slowdowns, hidden costs, and persistent sources of stress. And they’re getting worse.
And then there’s the financial cost. Every duplicate device, every redundant license, every extra hour spent troubleshooting adds to a higher total cost of ownership. You pay more for support, more for downtime, more for complexity. You lose money and reduce profitability as redundant vendors and overlapping tools inflate your IT spend. And you also absorb hidden costs tied to regulatory risk from audit prep to potential fines. As GTT's Gary Sidhu stated:
Breakfast
Fruit
Honey
For a long time, the fragmented edge was manageable. Not ideal, not efficient, but manageable. That’s no longer the case, nor is it acceptable.
What’s changed is what your network is being asked to support. From real-time analytics and global collaboration to AI-driven operations and rising regulatory scrutiny, the bar for edge performance has moved, and fast. Click the factors below to find out more about them.
Threat detection must be real time, even across remote sites. Legacy stacks increase the number of vulnerable endpoints and make it harder to maintain a consistent security posture, especially when patching schedules vary by vendor or site. In this landscape, a Zero Trust model is no longer a future consideration but a present-day necessity.
Edge networks are now expected to meet standards they weren’t designed for
Data workloads continue to surge
AI, video and telemetry are driving up bandwidth consumption and straining processing capacity. Many edge devices simply weren’t built for this scale. Without elastic bandwidth and compute capacity, bottlenecks form quickly, degrading user experience and delaying decision-making. And many of the legacy devices simply can’t process bandwidth fluctuations on demand.
Latency matters more than ever
AI-powered tools and analytics demand real-time responses, especially in sectors like financial services, retail and manufacturing. Data can’t afford to wait in traffic or bounce between layers of hardware. The more local your control and routing, the faster you can act.
Sites need to change faster
Whether it’s launching a new service, deploying a firewall policy or spinning up a secure connection for a new location, enterprises can’t absorb delays. Waiting on hardware shipments or coordinating vendor install windows just can’t keep up with the pace today’s environmental demand.
Visibility can’t lag behind
Disconnected systems, interfaces and protocols make it hard to understand what’s happening where. Diagnosing problems or optimizing performance turns into a slow, manual process – one that multiplies with every new site.
Meanwhile, internal teams are stretched thin
The edge has grown in complexity faster than most organizations can hire or train for. Managing legacy tools across dozens or hundreds of sites creates inefficiencies that multiply with every new location.
Put simply...
The edge was built to connect users. But now, it has to enable intelligent decisions, protect data, scale globally, and do it all instantly. The rise of edge computing is accelerating these demands, pushing more processing to local infrastructure and exposing the limitations of legacy device stacks. And duct-taping your way forward isn’t going to get easier.
Instead of ripping out the old, they’re making space for what’s next.
Enterprises aren’t modernizing their edge infrastructure because they love big transformation projects. They’re doing it because maintaining the status quo finally became more painful than changing it, and because change itself has become more manageable. And much easier. It’s no longer a big transformation project, especially if you pick the right partner.
They’re eliminating noise, and reclaiming resources - One Partner One enterprise cut more than 100 monthly invoices down to one. Another reduced device-related service calls by 70%. In both cases, simplifying not only saved them money, it gave teams back the time and focus to work on higher-value initiatives. They’re treating data like it matters, because it does - One Source of Truth Fragmented edge stacks make it hard to track where data is stored or how it flows, a growing problem in regions with strict sovereignty laws. Smart organizations are adopting platforms that tag and route data by geography, support geo-fencing at the device level, and offer audit-ready controls to stay ahead of shifting regulations. They’re building on what they already have - One Step at a Time These aren’t forklift upgrades. Most enterprises start by simplifying one region or location type, phasing in unified edge management as contracts expire or needs evolve. It’s a pragmatic path, and one that scales.
Unified edge platforms reduce the burden on IT and security teams. Fewer devices, fewer interfaces, and fewer support dependencies streamline operations. Internal resources shift away from reactive troubleshooting and toward proactive initiatives.
We’re seeing a clear pattern in how forward-looking organizations are approaching the edge, and in how they’re proactively solving the risks that legacy environments expose: They're consolidating devices and closing security gaps - One Device Instead of a firewall here, a router there, and a separate DDoS appliance per site, enterprises are consolidating into a single, software-enabled device that does all three – with built-in support for Zero Trust, centralized access controls, and automated patching. The result? Fewer blind spots, faster mitigation, stronger compliance posture, and the added flexibility to add new capabilities over time. They’re moving to remote control, not remote chaos - One Platform Rather than shipping hardware or coordinating vendors every time something changes, IT teams are pushing updates, deploying services, and resolving issues remotely, all from a centralized platform. This improves response time, reduces downtime, and eliminates the guesswork of multi-vendor diagnostics.
Teams gain time, visibility, and flexibility. Simplified infrastructure reduces the need for specialized skills, which helps enterprises adapt faster to new technologies without increasing headcount. This approach also improves resilience, particularly as skilled talent gets stretched across regions and functions.
The goal isn’t a futuristic overhaul. (And it may cost you less than what you’re currently paying.) Rather, it’s a practical simplification: clearing out the clutter that slows you down, drives up cost, and complicates control, all without disrupting operations.
We didn’t set out to overhaul our edge. We just needed to fix the parts that were slowing us down. Once we saw how much easier it was to manage everything from a single platform, it was obvious we had to keep going.” LEADING ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER
Fewer boxes, fewer vendors, and more control – with a clear path to the future
More and more IT leaders are admitting the same thing: If they were building their edge from scratch today, they’d never build what they have now. So what would they build instead? They’d want a single device that delivers secure connectivity, local routing, and edge-to-cloud integration without stacking five boxes and a spaghetti dish of wires in a wiring closet. They’d want the ability to spin up new services instantly, from anywhere, without waiting on hardware or scheduling install windows. They’d also want full visibility across every location, with one interface instead of five dashboards and a spreadsheet. And they’d want one partner who can manage it all – from last-mile access to policy enforcement – globally. That’s the model more enterprises are moving toward: a software-defined, remotely managed edge that unifies networking, security, and observability. With this approach, enterprises can reduce complexity while unlocking the agility needed to support everything that comes next. Because the edge is no longer just a connectivity layer. It’s where your infrastructure enforces Zero Trust. It’s where data sovereignty must be upheld. And increasingly, it’s where AI workloads will run with the speed, locality, and privacy they require. It’s where business happens.
A fragmented edge environment makes this hard. You can’t push updates quickly. You can’t ensure consistent policy enforcement. You can’t easily support real-time data processing at remote sites. And every new AI initiative becomes a question of: can the edge handle it? But with a unified, software-defined edge, that changes. Need to deploy AI-assisted video analytics to 50 sites? Push it from a central platform. Expanding compliance reporting for new data laws? You already have visibility and control. Rolling out a new service model across regions? No truck rolls. No delays.
A Smarter Network Edge for What’s NexT
As GTT’s Gary Sidhu puts it: “Latency, data volume costs and data sovereignty concerns are the three factors that ultimately decide where an enterprise runs its AI and analytics workloads.
Centralized control eliminates confusion and reduces errors. Real-time visibility becomes the norm. No patchwork. No lag between intent and execution. This is the operational clarity that distributed enterprises need. And you don’t have to throw out your infrastructure to get there. Most organizations start by simplifying just a few sites. From there, the case tends to make itself. Once you’re in control of the edge, you can start using it to drive what’s next.
A practical path forward, built on what you already have.
● Make All Your Systems Speak the Same Language Fragmented environments lead to friction, slow diagnostics, and visibility gaps. Hardware from multiple vendors creates integration headaches and support silos. GTT helps by eliminating hardware incompatibilities and supports seamless service chaining across SD-WAN, DIA, SSE, and managed firewalls – all from a unified physical and software stack. Centralized observability gives IT teams the insights they need to troubleshoot fast and optimize performance proactively with capabilities that include real-time health monitoring, topology-aware traffic analytics, and built-in alerts across all deployed VNFs. ● Shrink the Attack Surface Every extra device is another entry point, and another patch cycle. Fragmented architectures make consistent security enforcement nearly impossible. GTT helps enterprises enforce Zero Trust security with a cloud-native SSE solution, built-in ZTNA, and encrypted data pathways from edge to core. With centralized policy control and automated patching, updates are no longer delayed or missed – they're instant, automated, and globally consistent.
● Treat Data Like It Has a Passport Sovereignty isn’t just a box to check off for legal. It's an operational imperative. Most edge environments weren’t designed to comply with shifting global data regulations. GTT helps enterprises tag, route, and store sensitive data in full alignment with regional laws. It not only supports geo-fencing and on-device enforcement, but also ensures traffic remains compliant in motion. You stay audit-ready and avoid rework, fines, or reputational damage. ● Bring in the Right Help without Adding Headcount The edge is evolving faster than most teams can keep up with, and hiring edge-native architects or retraining across dozens of locations isn’t always realistic. GTT helps with a Professional Services team that fills critical skill gaps, offering advisory support and hands-on expertise throughout the edge lifecycle, from planning to rollout to optimization. The result is faster transitions, less risk, and less reliance on overburdened internal teams.
If your edge environment feels harder than it should, you're not alone. And you're not stuck. Enterprises across every sector are facing the same sprawl of devices, vendors, and support models. The difference is what they do next. Most organizations don’t need a massive rip-and-replace project . They need a way to gradually reduce complexity while expanding what the edge can actually do. That starts with four foundational shifts:
Managing the edge shouldn’t drain your time, budget, or people. A smarter model changes that. Your teams aren’t asking for more tools. They’re asking for fewer barriers. Faster fixes. Clearer visibility. Less time chasing issues, and more time moving the business forward.
GTT’s Secure Networking solutions, including ZTNA and cloud-native SSE, delivered through the full Envision platform, help enterprises protect data from the edge to the cloud. Learn more. GTT’s Professional Services team fills critical skills gaps with advisory support and hands-on expertise across the edge lifecycle – from planning and deployment to optimization. Learn more. Compliance: GTT also ensures enterprises remain compliant with regional and industry-specific data regulations. Its services align with internationally recognized security frameworks and offer geo-fencing, traffic monitoring, and audit-readiness. Learn more. You reduce complexity across every location, streamline vendor management, and unlock the agility to launch new services, adapt to compliance demands, or support AI-driven operations without hardware delays or configuration bottlenecks. GTT’s Secure Networking solutions, including ZTNA and cloud-native SSE, delivered through the full Envision platform, help enterprises protect data from the edge to the cloud. Learn more.
GTT Envision is a unified platform for delivering managed networking, security, and cloud services. Learn more. The platform includes the following components:
Scaling Global Hospitality with Seamless Security To securely connect over 800 hotels, offices, and cloud service points across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Radisson Hotel Group turned to GTT Secure Connect, a fully managed SASE solution delivered through the Envision platform. By integrating managed SD-WAN with distributed edge security components such as Firewall-as-a-Service, Secure Web Gateway, and ZTNA, Radisson now enforces consistent policies across its widely dispersed sites. Each location benefits from local enforcement, high availability, and improved application performance without the need for extensive on-site infrastructure or capital investment.
Real-World Results
Allows for the deployment, observation, and automation of various virtualized functions directly at the premises. It simplifies site infrastructure by combining managed networking, secure service edge (SSE), local compute, and routing into one device. Learn more.
The central hub for orchestrating virtualized network functions across global locations. It provides scalable connectivity and security infrastructure integrated into GTT’s Tier 1 IP backbone. Learn more.
A digital gateway that offers visibility, management, and on-demand customization of the entire network. It allows businesses to visualize data, customize network services, and manage various aspects of their network from a single interface. Learn more.
Unifying the edge gives you all of that without forcing a reinvention.
GTT Secure Connect improves our network and application performance, offers availability and resiliency, ensures consistent enforcement of our security policy across all locations, and provides a safer experience for our guests and hotel owners.”
Adolfo Sanchez SVP & CIO, Radisson Hotel Group
