Ethernet has been around for 40 years, and in that time has become the dominant networking technology for organizations around the world. Ethernet reliably and securely links computers, servers, storage, and other devices while minimizing the latency that doesn’t just slow down data, but can slow down business, as well.

Because it is so widely used and based on a relatively simple protocol, Ethernet is easily managed and operated, and less costly to implement than other types of networking. Little wonder, then, that it is estimated to be used by more than 95 percent of all local area networks, or LANs.

Its design elements also make it uniquely suited for linking computers and other devices over long distances. Ethernet can connect buildings on a campus, or link corporate offices to a cloud provider, backup facility, or off-site data center. And it does so with its trademark low latency, making far-flung resources appear and perform as if they were on a local network. That capability is becoming increasingly important for businesses that are seeing their geographic footprint expand, and their employees become more mobile.

Using a private, Ethernet-based network for mission-critical applications and data, businesses can bypass the public Internet. This brings some important advantages. For example, with a single service provider managing the connection end to end, time-sensitive traffic can be prioritized and network performance closely monitored. Users can also benefit from service-level agreements (SLAs), which detail specific performance guarantees from the provider. For businesses, this means no unpleasant surprises — and an avenue for growth.

Today, such business-class networking is readily available in the form of Carrier Ethernet. While Carrier Ethernet looks and acts like standard Ethernet — and integrates seamlessly with Ethernet LANs and networking gear — it adds carrier-level reliability and performance. Special monitoring and management tools help maintain service-level guarantees, with problems automatically detected and routed around in as little as 50 milliseconds. Carrier Ethernet is designed to meet not only the networking demands a company has today, but those it will have tomorrow.

By enabling businesses to grow their footprint, and their business, Ethernet lets them create a bigger, better future — for themselves and their customers.