Coffee shop networking is a flexible approach to enterprise networking and security that enables secure connections from anywhere, even coffee shops.
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Coffee shop networking is one of several terms used to describe the modern business approach to connecting users, devices, and applications across wide-ranging locations. It contrasts with older networking models that made assumptions about where users and applications were located — most often on premises managed directly by the business.
Most users today are familiar with the concept of walking into a coffee shop, opening a laptop, connecting to the WiFi network, and working. Coffee shop networking aims to replicate the ease and simplicity of that experience, while maintaining high levels of security.
Actual coffee shop WiFi networks can vary in their security measures and are not managed by the organizations to which remote workers belong, but coffee shop networking builds in advanced security and lets internal teams fully manage device access.
Coffee shop networking helps organizations meet their needs for branch networking. It can connect main campuses to branch offices, franchise locations, workspaces, home WiFi networks — even coffee shops. This allows employees and contractors to work securely from anywhere, while keeping internal data and intellectual property safe.
Corporate networks were originally designed to serve on-premises workstations and localized data centers. This model has been disrupted, mainly by three developments:
Coffee shop networking is an approach that is more well-suited to the way businesses work today following these developments. It also aims to eliminate some of the challenges associated with awkward adaptations of legacy networks to these developments: challenges that include network bottlenecks, latency caused by backhauling traffic, slow VPN connections, and security holes introduced by attempting to integrate incompatible platforms.
Coffee shop networking relies on a combination of flexible networking techniques and Zero Trust security policies. Network paths are dynamic and defined by software, instead of being static, relying on MPLS or leased lines. As a result, network traffic does not have to be backhauled to a centralized location. The corporate network can be reached over the Internet, enabling users to reach it from anywhere. Identity, device security posture, and access control policies dictate authorization, rather than network access.
Such a deployment is known as "SASE" — secure access service edge — a model that combines cloud-friendly, flexible networking and natively integrated security in order to simplify modern network architectures.
Perhaps most crucially, in coffee shop networking (and in SASE), security is integrated directly into network connectivity. This ensures that network connections are secure, no matter which devices or users are connecting. Encryption in transit is employed as a matter of course using Transport Layer Security (TLS), rather than sometimes-clunky VPN connections.
Many large businesses have adapted this approach for these and other use cases:
Network modernization is the process of updating networks, most often by moving hardware functions into software or into the cloud. Coffee shop networking is one possible output of a network modernization process.
Most businesses aiming to follow this model adopt a SASE solution, rather than constructing a rearchitected network themselves. This enables them to lower their TCO and maintain flexibility as they grow.
Cloudflare enables businesses to activate any-to-any connectivity, with Zero Trust networking automatically applied. Learn how Cloudflare supports coffee shop networking with the connectivity cloud.
Coffee shop networking is a modern approach to enterprise networking and security that allows for secure connections from diverse locations, including coffee shops. This model contrasts with older models that assumed users were working from corporate offices and applications were primarily run in on-premises data centers.
Traditional corporate networks were built for on-site workstations and local data centers. Coffee shop networking, however, is designed for current business practices, including the use of cloud-native applications, personal devices (supported by bring-your-own-device [BYOD] policies), and hybrid work environments. It avoids the issues of older networks like bottlenecks, slow virtual private networks (VPNs), and security gaps.
This networking model relies on flexible networking techniques and a zero trust security framework. Network paths are dynamic and software-defined, eliminating the need to send all traffic back to a central location. Access is determined by identity, device security, and access control policies, rather than physical network location.
SASE is a model that integrates flexible, cloud-friendly networking with built-in security. Coffee shop networking is essentially a deployment of the SASE model, simplifying modern network architectures by combining these functions.
A key aspect of coffee shop networking, and SASE, is the direct integration of security into network connectivity. This integration ensures secure connections regardless of the device or user. It uses encryption in transit, such as transport layer security (TLS), as a standard practice, moving beyond less efficient VPN connections.
Benefits include: simplified connectivity for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments; enhanced security through a zero trust model; easier branch office networking by leveraging public Internet infrastructure; and reduced costs due to less reliance on extra hardware, custom configurations, or private lines.
Many large organizations use this approach to quickly establish network connectivity for branch offices and satellite campuses. It enables efficient onboarding and connection of franchise locations (such as retail stores and restaurants), and it facilitates secure and easy remote and hybrid work for employees with minimal client-side setup.
Network modernization involves updating networks by transitioning hardware functions to software or the cloud. Coffee shop networking represents a successful outcome of such a modernization process.
Most businesses aiming to adopt this model typically implement a SASE solution rather than building or rearchitecting a network themselves. This approach helps reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) and provides greater flexibility for growth.
Cloudflare assists businesses in implementing any-to-any connectivity with automatic zero trust networking. Cloudflare's connectivity cloud is designed to support the coffee shop networking model.