That sentiment isn't completely gone but the performance of your MPLS network and/or Internet connection matters now more than it ever has before (and that trend is only going to continue). Here are the top 3 reasons why:
1. Virtualization is Everywhere. Enterprises are building their own private cloud, small to mid-size companies are leveraging the "as a service" model and what does that all mean? Your network is a critical link that will mean the difference between the success or failure of a cloud strategy. So to sum this up: just about everything you need to function properly in the workplace requires a performing network connection.
2. The Internet of Everything. Cisco coined the term but it isn't just your properietary software or data that your users need to work properly. They need access to the world wide web of information and while the Internet may not be a new phenemonenon, what was once an important productivity tool is now a critical need for most companies. Put simply, how well would you function if you had no access to the Internet?
3. Video, Voice, Critical Applications - So you're an IT professional and you have to manage the convergence of data, voice, video etc. I bet you thought that was a question didn't you? It's not, it's a fact. It would be nice if you had a network that could properly prioritize those functions and make sure "everything works" the way your management and critical busines units need it to. How well your network performs and your next employment review are inextricably tied together. So yes, it would be nice if that network functioned the way you need it to. It is important to remember that the amount of bandwidth you have, while important, is not a measure of network performance. Latency, jitter, packet loss and of course the tools needed to manage your network and dynmically make changes are of equal importance.
