What is Network as a Service (NaaS)?

Network as a Service, in general terms, is a network solution that enables an organization to purchase their network as a consumption-based subscription service. It is typically highly flexible and scalable, allowing organizations to easily modify their network capabilities based on demand or business requirements.

So why is there so much confusion surrounding NaaS? As you dig into the specifics, there are both small and large differences in what a Network as a Service solution includes and how it works depending on the use case in question. So, in order to provide clarity behind our detailed definition, the remainder of this article will focus on NaaS for the enterprise LAN (wired and wireless).

What Is Network as a Service for the Enterprise LAN?

Network as a Service for the Enterprise LAN includes all the networking hardware and software, with the software delivered as a cloud-based platform, plus security and ongoing operations for the network itself. For some solutions, “ongoing operations” includes things like troubleshooting, break/fix services, and software upgrades/maintenance. (The universal inclusion of hardware in NaaS for Enterprise LANs is one of the key differences from other types of NaaS, where functionality can be enabled by virtualization and doesn’t require that physical networking devices are deployed.)

In many cases, the service also includes the upfront design, optimization and deployment of the network. Like any pay-as-you-go SaaS platform, customers gain access to state-of-the-art network technology and services without the upfront—often significant—capital expenditures for equipment, or the need to purchase software licenses and maintenance contracts on an on-going basis, or face other upkeep costs.

NaaS for the LAN offerings may vary in scope, with some including WAN connectivity, cloud-based security functionality like SASE, or other integration features, often delivered via partner integrations.. Regardless of the model, by outsourcing the labor-intensive and often error-prone tasks of network lifecycle management and automating ongoing network performance optimizations, organizations discover that NaaS provides a streamlined network solution. 

What Differentiates NaaS From a Technical Perspective?

A true Network-as-a-Service offering fundamentally involves some level of abstraction of networking capabilities from the underlying physical infrastructure. This virtualized construct allows for the daily operation and management of the network via a cloud platform without the requirement for physical proximity.

Typically a NaaS offering is designed as a fully integrated tech stack, where all the various hardware components and the software platform are designed to work together seamlessly. There are two approaches to achieving this integration: 

• Development of a fully integrated, closed system that works together logically and typically provides a limited set of configurations; or 
• Development of a robust, open protocol software platform that communicates natively with an array of networking hardware, advanced security solutions, and other network-connected devices.

How Does NaaS Work?

When a customer decides to adopt a NaaS solution, the first step is to develop the architecture and design of the new network, a task typically done by the NaaS provider in collaboration with the customer. Then the NaaS provider, sometimes working with a partner, deploys the physical hardware at the customer’s location. Once the hardware is installed, the NaaS provider brings up the network for the customer. 

Once the network is operational, the NaaS provider is continuously monitoring the operation and performance of the network via their cloud platform. In some cases, the cloud platform includes an AI component to provide proactive monitoring of network conditions and to diagnose issues at the root-cause level in a fraction of the time that it would normally require for staff to determine why a problem occurred. When an issue is identified, the problem can be addressed via the network operations team remotely, or in some circumstances with some solutions, the provider may notify the customer to take action onsite, like reboot a device.

When software updates are made to either the cloud platform or to the firmware on the physical devices, the NaaS provider takes care of implementing these updates and upgrades for the customer automatically, during a maintenance window, behind the scenes.

The NaaS company also provides support for both customer IT teams and network end users.

NaaS vs. Traditional Networking

NaaS differs from traditional network management by providing a consumption-based delivery model. Unlike traditional approaches, where companies invest heavily in their own hardware and software, NaaS allows businesses to scale network resources flexibly based on demand, while outsourcing management tasks such as configuration, monitoring, security, and upgrades to a cloud-managed platform. This model reduces the burden on internal IT teams, enhances cost predictability, and ensures access to the latest technologies, allowing companies to focus on their core activities.

NaaS vs. a Managed Service Provider (MSP)

While NaaS does deliver the network management as a part of the service, like an MSP might, there are key differences between a NaaS provider and an MSP. When an MSP manages the network for a customer, they are using the customer’s networking hardware and leveraging the software licenses also purchased by the customer. They may not have specialized networking staff. So the MSP is really just replacing the internal staff of the customer, handling the same network management tasks that the customer would be if they weren’t working with an MSP.

In the case of NaaS, the provider is bringing their technology to the table along with their management capabilities. Importantly, that technology has been designed to support management of the network remotely and in a more automated manner. And all of the operations staff has one area of expertise and one focus every day—managing the customer’s network.

For more information about the differences between NaaS and traditional networking, visit our blog: "What is the difference between NaaS and managed service providers (MSPs)"

What Are the Use Cases of NaaS?

As enterprise networks become more complex and distributed, many organizations are turning to Network-as-a-Service to solve strategic and operational challenges.

One of the most common use cases is modernizing branch and campus networks. In this era of hybrid work and flexible in-office schedules, many companies are choosing to simplify the architecture of branch and campus locations, and NaaS is an ideal choice to support this architectural approach. 

Operationally, NaaS is ideal for organizations or locations with limited IT resources. Managing a growing network — especially across multiple locations with a mix of on-premises and cloud applications — can overwhelm in-house teams. By adopting NaaS, businesses offload daily network management, maintenance, monitoring, and security tasks to a dedicated provider, often enhanced with AI-driven automation and analytics for even greater efficiency.

Benefits of NaaS

NaaS includes an array of business benefits for the customer:

• Predictable costs - based on an agreed consumption-based pricing model.
• Fast implementation - often new networks can be implemented in a fraction of the time it would take to deploy a traditional network, typically weeks rather than months. 
• SLAs - many NaaS providers include guaranteed uptime commitments in their contracts; they also may guarantee performance via built-in redundancies like multiple WAN connections.
• Built-in security - many NaaS solutions include a Zero Trust architecture, have firewalls, and can integrate with other security solutions. 
• Flexible scalability - flexible, consumption-based pricing also makes it easier to scale network services and capabilities as a business’s needs change.
• Elimination of CapEx - NaaS subscriptions are typically OpEx rather than CapEx.
• Total cost of ownership - many NaaS solutions are also more affordable that purchasing traditional networking equipment, buying annual software and support licenses, and operating the network with internal staff or outsourcing to a service provider.

Security Considerations with NaaS

As Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) reshapes how enterprise networks are designed, deployed, and managed, securing these networks becomes more important than ever. The rise of cloud services, BYOD policies, and distributed workforces has expanded the attack surface, making robust, fully managed security essential. 

You don’t have to give up on your security needs to adopt NaaS. In fact, NaaS provides a way to deploy a uniform network and policies across all network segments or even all branch locations, thereby reducing the risks of network breaches. From Zero Trust frameworks to advanced threat detection, the right security approach ensures that modern networks remain resilient against evolving threats.

For a deeper dive into key security practices for NaaS, check out our blog: "Essential Network Security Guide for Network-as-a-Service (NaaS)."

See NaaS In Action

Wondering how Network-as-a-Service delivers real results? ServiceNow partnered with Join Digital to upgrade their digital workplaces, reducing costs while boosting productivity across their satellite offices. By leveraging Join’s NaaS platform, ServiceNow was able to create agile, tech-forward spaces that support hybrid work and empower collaboration — all while preserving the flexibility to scale with market demands.

Read the full ServiceNow case study to see how NaaS is transforming the future of enterprise networking.

Adopting NaaS for Your Organization

Making the shift to Network-as-a-Service can bring major advantages in flexibility, cost savings, and scalability — but successful adoption starts with the right foundation. Before selecting a NaaS provider, it's essential to assess your current infrastructure and future network needs, including capacity, bandwidth demands, and expected growth.

From there, choosing the right partner becomes key. As you evaluate NaaS providers, look closely at their reliability, security measures, scalability options, pricing models, and ongoing support services. The right NaaS provider should align with both your technical requirements and your business goals.

How Join Digital Can Help with Your NaaS Solution

If your network has become too expensive, too complex, or too much of a drain on your IT team, or you’re opening a new location that will have a limited local IT staff, adopting a NaaS solution may be the right choice for you. Join’s NaaS solution, Join Orion, makes it easy to update your current network or roll-out a new location quickly and cost effectively. To learn more about how Join’s robust NaaS solution can provide you the performance and resilience you need, talk to a Join representative to learn more.

If you’d like to learn more about NaaS for a future network upgrade, you can download our NaaS Guide to understand how the process of designing and deploying a NaaS solution would work in your environment.