Network-Embedded Social Network Protocols

Social network protocols and media are transforming the IT landscape. New IT professionals are integrating social media channels such as instant messaging and microblogging into their professional lives. A natural evolution arises starting with people using social networking to connect to each other, then embedding the same capabilities so that they can connect to devices. Once social networking is embedded into the devices, new solutions to network management challenges such as scale, security, and reliability can be found. Additionally, just like with people, devices can form peer groups with other, similar devices to automatically workaround problems, optimize operations, and improve network performance. In this chapter, we will explore these benefits of network-embedded social media technologies.