What is the objective of Software-Defined Networking (SDN)?

The objective of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is to provide a control plane for network management. SDN fundamentally changes the way networks are designed and operated by separating the control layer from the data layer in a network architecture. This separation enables centralized management of network services through software applications that communicate with network devices via open interfaces and protocols.

By having a centralized control plane, network administrators can programmatically manage and adjust the behavior of the network without needing to physically reconfigure the hardware. This leads to enhanced flexibility and agility in managing network resources, optimizing traffic flow, and implementing security policies more efficiently. The approach supports innovation in network configurations, facilitating rapid deployment of new applications and services on demand.

In contrast, while monitoring user activity, analyzing security threats, and increasing bandwidth availability are important aspects of network operations, they are not the primary focus of SDN. Instead, these tasks can be achieved more effectively as part of the broader capabilities enabled by the centralized control and programmability that SDN offers.