The wide area network (WAN) plays a critical role in the quality of experience a cloud service will provide to an end user. However, there has been little focus on the WAN by the cloud community since the WAN is assumed to be the Internet. Furthermore, enterprises have been reluctant to embrace mission-critical private cloud applications delivered over the Internet because of its security vulnerabilities, unpredictable performance, and compliance challenges regarding data governance.

Carrier Ethernet has become the wide area networking technology of choice for delivery of business - class services to the Enterprise with deployment in more than 100 countries.In 2011, the MEF(Metro Ethernet Forum) created a new project focusing the role of Carrier Ethernet networks and services in the delivery of & nbsp;private cloud services to enterprises.This paper is the first outcome of that project.

Download MEF whitepaper that discusses discusses the reasons why this is an important and beneficial development for Cloud Service Providers, Cloud Consumers and communications service providers delivering Ethernet services.