What is the primary objective of Software-Defined Networking (SDN)?

The primary objective of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is to provide a control plane for managing network traffic. This is significant because SDN enables centralized control of the network, allowing administrators to manage resources dynamically through software applications. By decoupling the control plane from the data plane, SDN facilitates more flexible and efficient network configurations, improving the capability to adapt to changing network conditions and policy requirements. This architecture allows for automation and programmability, leading to a more responsive and manageable network environment.

The emphasis on managing network traffic means that SDN can optimize routing and resource allocation, facilitating better network performance and utilization. While reducing network traffic costs, enhancing data transfer speeds, and enforcing security are important considerations in networking, they are not the primary aim of SDN itself. Instead, these considerations can be seen as potential benefits derived from effectively managing the network through SDN techniques.