SDN controller manages services instead of services being managed by hardware
SDN controller integrates all network's virtual and physical devices into one cohesive system
Protocols handle the process of making decisions
Control plane
Physical devices make actual contact with data transmissions as they traverse the network
Data plane
Advantage to separating the control plane from the data plane is to provide network technicians with more centralized control of network settings/management
SDN creates potential to implement more sophisticated network functions with cheaper devices
SDN architecture has been expanding to include management of network resources hosted in places other than an organization's own network
