Software-defined networking (SDN) is becoming the nucleus of the modern data center because the technology simply has too many benefits to ignore. But moving to SDN takes careful planning. Here's how to get started.

Every business needs IT and data protection, and with today's sophisticated malware crawling the web on an automated basis, that protection needs to be thorough and layered. We've compiled nine universal steps to help you get started.

Looking for robust communications functionality without breaking the bank? Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions provide needed features such as faxing, collaborating, and video conferencing at an affordable cost. Check out our roundup below for more insights.

Bottom Line: Oracle NetSuite OneWorld is written for the cloud, focusing on ease of use and modularity. It is a solid financials platform that can be easily expanded to meet other business needs simply by buying additional functionality through the cloud.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a spartan marketing tool that won't break your budget, then Zoho Campaigns is a solid choice. Keep in mind, however, that it's far from the most modern service on the market.

Bottom Line: Vonage Business Cloud boasts an impressive set of features as well as a much-needed refresh to its management and reporting functions. With that in mind, it can become costly when you account for add-ons.

Bottom Line: RingCentral Office (for Business) is a great mix of voice over IP tech, unified communications software, and mobile functionality. It's one of the best all-around Private Branch Exchange solutions for small to midsize businesses on the market.

Bottom Line: Although it's more of a one-trick pony focusing solely on restoring data after your network's had an extra bad day, that's one trick that Carbonite does very well which makes it a good data safety solution for smaller organizations.

Bottom Line: CrashPlan Pro is a solid solution for companies that aren't too large and are looking for a no-frills backup solution. Just be sure to evaluate it thoroughly to be sure it has all the connectors you'll need for your software portfolio.

Bottom Line: IDrive (Small Business) is a solid choice for smaller organizations due mainly to a nice price tag coupled with some pleasant surprises in the features area, including excellent encryption and a good looking interface.

Bottom Line: Acronis Backup 12.5 is an excellent choice for even larger businesses with a solid array of business-grade features, including anti-ransomware and rapid restore. However some slight flaws will affect enough users to keep it slightly behind our Editors' Choice winners in this space.

The cloud has revolutionized business-grade backup, restore, and disaster recovery. We test and compare ten of the best players in the market to help you decide.