Article Summary:
Coffee shop networking utilizes SASE and Zero Trust security to provide secure, software-defined access to corporate resources from any location without relying on traditional, hardware-heavy legacy infrastructure.
This modern enterprise networking model eliminates performance bottlenecks and slow VPNs by using TLS encryption and identity-based authorization instead of outdated perimeter-based "castle-and-moat" security strategies.
Organizations achieve network modernization and lower costs by leveraging public internet paths to securely connect branch offices, franchise locations, and a distributed remote and hybrid workforce.
What is coffee shop networking?
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.
How did coffee shop networking develop?
Corporate networks were originally designed to serve on-premises workstations and localized data centers. This model has been disrupted, mainly by three developments:
The adoption of cloud-native infrastructure and applications
The use of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies
The transition to hybrid work, which was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic but had been in progress for some time previously
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.
How does coffee shop networking work?
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.
Coffee shop networking security
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.
What are the benefits of coffee shop networking?
Simplified cloud, on-premises, and hybrid connectivity: A "coffee shop" approach to networking prioritizes ensuring that network traffic can flow equally well to public clouds, internal data centers, and SaaS apps.
More secure: A castle-and-moat approach to network security fails because threats are likely inside the network already, and because thanks to cloud usage, the network perimeter is not a good indicator of where company data is hosted. Coffee shop networking incorporates Zero Trust security that can slow or mitigate threats anywhere, compartmentalizing corporate resources and the users that access them.
Easier branch networking: Any LAN will do for coffee shop networking — any on-ramp to the Internet. Because the secure network routes run over publicly available Internet infrastructure, no dedicated connections need to be set up in order to bring a branch location online.
Lower costs: Organizations using this approach do not need to invest in extra hardware, custom network configurations, or private circuits.
What are some of the use cases for coffee shop networking?
Many large businesses have adapted this approach for these and other use cases:
Connecting branch offices and satellite campuses: Corporate locations that are removed from headquarters can spin up network connectivity quickly through a coffee shop networking model.
Connecting franchise locations: Retail stores, restaurants, and other chains can use coffee shop networking to rapidly onboard new locations and efficiently connect existing locations.
Supporting remote and hybrid work: Coffee shop networking makes it easier and faster for employees to get onto the corporate network from anywhere, with little to no setup on the client side.
Coffee shop networking vs. network modernization
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.
How to implement coffee shop networking
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.
FAQs
What is coffee shop networking?
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.
How does coffee shop networking differ from traditional networking models?
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.
What are the core mechanisms behind coffee shop networking?
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.
What is secure access service edge (SASE) and how does it relate to coffee shop networking?
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.
What security measures are inherent in coffee shop networking?
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.
What are the primary advantages of adopting coffee shop networking?
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.
What are some practical applications or use cases for coffee shop networking?
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.
How does coffee shop networking fit into the broader concept of network modernization?
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.
How can businesses implement coffee shop networking?
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.
How does Cloudflare support coffee shop networking?
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.