What Is NaaS?

A simple explanation of Network as a Service, how it works, and core components. For benefits, pricing models, providers, and use cases, see the full NaaS guide →

Network as a Service (NaaS) is a way to consume your office network as a subscription instead of buying and running it. A provider supplies the switches and Wi-Fi, installs and configures everything, monitors and supports it around the clock, and refreshes the gear over time, all for one monthly fee.

The cloud-software analogy is the easiest way in: just as you subscribe to Microsoft 365 or Salesforce instead of running your own servers, NaaS lets you subscribe to networking instead of owning and operating it. You stop making large hardware purchases every few years and start paying a predictable monthly rate, while the provider keeps the network current.

This is the short version. For benefits, pricing models, the provider landscape, and use cases, see the complete Network as a Service guide →

How it works

From subscription to running network.

At a high level: the provider designs coverage for your sites, runs hardware it owns rather than gear you buy, and handles monitoring, updates, and support through a cloud dashboard, refreshing and scaling capacity inside the same subscription as you grow.

For the detailed, step-by-step breakdown, see how NaaS works in the full guide →

What's in it

The core components of NaaS.

The hardware

Enterprise switches, wireless access points, and controllers, owned and maintained by the provider, refreshed over the contract.

The software

A cloud management platform for configuration, visibility, and analytics, kept current with automatic updates.

The service

Design, installation, 24/7 monitoring, and ongoing support, the people and processes that keep the network healthy.

Some providers extend the bundle to internet connectivity, advanced security, and SD-WAN; others keep those as add-ons. See what's generally included vs. optional →

How it's different

NaaS vs. buying and managing it yourself.

In one line: NaaS swaps owning and operating the network for subscribing to it. That turns big periodic hardware purchases and in-house operations into a predictable monthly fee with one accountable provider.

For the full side-by-side, including refreshes, scaling, and billing, see the NaaS vs. legacy comparison → or the NaaS vs. DIY cost breakdown →. Whether it fits depends on your team and footprint; the full guide covers who NaaS fits, and who should reconsider →.

Common questions

NaaS, answered

Not quite. An MSP typically manages hardware you still own and bought. With NaaS, the provider owns the hardware and delivers the whole network, gear, software, and operations, as a single subscription, including refresh. The line is blurring, but ownership and the all-in subscription model are what distinguish true NaaS.
No, they sit at different layers and often coexist. NaaS delivers and manages your in-building LAN and Wi-Fi as a subscription. SD-WAN intelligently routes traffic across the WAN links that connect your sites. SASE bundles WAN networking with cloud-delivered security. See NaaS vs. SD-WAN → and NaaS vs. SASE →.
Sometimes. NaaS covers the network inside your buildings (switching and Wi-Fi). Some providers also manage your internet circuits and ISP relationships; others leave that to you. It's one of the biggest things to confirm provider-by-provider.
Go deeper

Ready for more than the basics?

This page is the short version. When you're ready to evaluate NaaS for real, these go further.

The full guide Network as a Service → Scope What's included → Use case NaaS for multi-site offices → Budget NaaS pricing guide → Shortlist NaaS providers → Compare Head-to-head comparisons → Decide How to choose a provider →

Or get a number now: estimate your NaaS price with the calculator →

Wondering if NaaS is right for you?

Talk to an independent advisor who knows every provider, no vendor pitch, no cost, no obligation.

Talk to an Advisor Estimate your price