Do you think software-defined networking (SDN) can help ease the network strain during the holiday season?

Yes and no. SDN can help organizations increase their available amount of bandwidth to accommodate the loads of data being transferred across their networks. SDN is also more affordable than installing permanent infrastructure, especially since the added capacity may not be needed outside the holiday season, and the ability to centrally manage the additional cloud-based space means administrators are able to adjust the flow of data traffic to respond to whatever their needs are.

At the same time, the technology is still in its relative infancy and is often more susceptible to connection disruptions and other technical issues … during this time of year this is a serious concern.

The addition of SDN to businesses' standard IT infrastructure can also suffer from interoperability issues, and may not always work with the network technologies currently in place. The pros and cons of SDN vary depending on the circumstance, so companies should weigh their options on an individual basis to decide what's best for them.