Verizon chosen by SAP to manage, streamline the company’s global network

Verizon is expanding its role in SAP’s global network, with a new agreement to consolidate, streamline and manage the company’s worldwide network infrastructure.

SAP has historically relied on an in-house team to handle its global IT networks, with support from various technology companies. However, citing the “exponential growth of its cloud business,” SAP is opting to consolidate management of its network and turn to new technologies such as software-defined networking for reliability and scalability, so its own employees can focus on customer-facing activities.

Verizon said that it currently works with SAP in two key areas: developing a new global network to link SAP offices around the globe, including data and voice services; and providing the Internet connectivity to connect SAP’s customer-facing data centers, which enables the company’s cloud business.