What is NVAS Network Value Added Services

Network Value Added Services (NVAS) represent a broad category of services offered by network providers or third-party vendors that enhance the functionality and capabilities of a basic network connection. These services go beyond simple data transmission and provide additional features or functionalities that benefit users or businesses. Here's a breakdown of the technical aspects of NVAS:

Core Concept:

  • Think of NVAS as add-on features for your network connection. They leverage the underlying network infrastructure but provide additional functionalities for specific purposes.

Types of NVAS:

The specific NVAS offered can vary depending on the provider and target audience. Here are some common examples:

  • Security Services:
    • Firewalls: Filter incoming and outgoing traffic based on security policies, protecting networks from unauthorized access and malicious activity.
    • Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and potentially block or alert administrators of attempted intrusions.
    • Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Create secure tunnels within a public network to encrypt communication and ensure data privacy.
  • Performance Optimization:
    • Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritizes network traffic for specific applications like voice or video conferencing, ensuring smooth delivery and avoiding delays.
    • Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Distribute content across geographically dispersed servers to improve access speed and reduce latency for geographically diverse users.
    • WAN Optimization: Optimizes data transfer across Wide Area Networks (WANs) by techniques like data compression or deduplication to improve performance and reduce bandwidth consumption.
  • Management Services:
    • Network Monitoring: Provides tools and services to monitor network performance, identify potential issues, and ensure network health.
    • Managed Security Services (MSS): Outsources network security management to a dedicated security provider for comprehensive protection and expert oversight.
    • Network Access Control (NAC): Controls network access for devices based on pre-defined security policies, ensuring only authorized devices can connect.

Benefits of NVAS:

  • Enhanced Security: NVAS like firewalls and IDS/IPS provide additional layers of security to protect networks from cyberattacks and data breaches.
  • Improved Performance: Services like QoS and CDN optimize network traffic flow for specific applications, leading to faster download speeds and smoother user experience.
  • Increased Efficiency: Managed services like network monitoring and security management free up internal IT resources for other tasks and allow organizations to leverage specialized expertise.
  • Scalability and Flexibility: NVAS can be customized and scaled to meet the specific needs of an organization, providing flexibility to adapt to changing network demands.

Technical Considerations:

  • Deployment and Integration: NVAS can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or through a hybrid approach. The specific deployment model depends on the service and the organization's infrastructure.
  • Interoperability: Ensure compatibility between the NVAS and existing network infrastructure and applications to guarantee seamless integration and functionality.
  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs): When subscribing to NVAS from a provider, ensure clear SLAs are established that define performance guarantees, support options, and service level expectations.

Understanding NVAS:

NVAS play a vital role in today's complex network environments. By offering a wide range of services, NVAS can enhance network security, optimize performance, simplify management, and provide additional functionalities that are not available with basic network connectivity alone. Understanding the types of NVAS available and how they can benefit your specific needs allows you to leverage these services to build a more secure, efficient, and feature-rich network infrastructure.