SD-WAN uses WAN optimization techniques to automatically shift traffic across multiple network paths, increasing application performance and eliminating latency. It reduces the dependency on expensive leased MPLS circuits and optimizes bandwidth utilization.
SD-WAN enables organizations to transform their networks for improved application performance and security. Here are the key benefits of this technology: WAN simplification, lower costs, bandwidth efficiency, and seamless onramp to cloud applications with consistent Zero Trust security.
Streamlined Network Management
Previously, rolling out a change like enabling cloud connectivity or applying security rules in a large Wide Area Network took time and effort. SD-WAN automates this process by creating a virtual overlay across the WAN and other networks, allowing for centralized management and change implementation almost at the press of a button.
Using advanced technologies to create an internet-connected WAN, SD-WAN solutions transform private links into a business-driven network. It utilizes continuous self-learning to steer traffic based on policies and to respond in real-time to changes in the network. As a result, application performance is improved, and the WAN experience is seamless.
Most SD-WAN products are managed through a central controller that acts as the network brain, eliminating the need for local IT at each location to manage individual devices. This central controller will determine the best route to send each application based on pre-defined policies while prioritizing traffic based on the importance of the business applications.
As a result, businesses can save on costs by decreasing the amount of traffic sent over costly MPLS links. It is complemented by the ability to use cheaper broadband or even 4G LTE as a backup, further decreasing networking costs and providing greater agility. It can be conducive to organizations undergoing growth and expansion.
Reduced Costs
Some SD-WAN solutions providers claim to offer a lower-cost option than MPLS. It is often based on using Internet connectivity. While using the public Internet saves money, it is essential to be mindful of the provider SLA, reach, latency, and jitter performance. Using the Internet for business traffic is an alternative to MPLS or an extension of your MPLS network.
Another way to reduce costs is by using a managed SD-WAN. It can be conducive for large global enterprises with multiple offices and remote workers. It is based on the vendor’s middle mile network, direct cloud connectivity, and peering relationships into the public Internet. It allows for a more optimized network path to reduce bandwidth and latency.
Additionally, businesses can significantly reduce circuit costs by reducing the need for over-provisioning IP circuits and leveraging WAN optimization. Depending on the site and available bandwidth, it is possible to see savings of $20 per month or more per site per line. It directly impacts the bottom line of an organization. It is a significant saving that is often overlooked when considering the benefits of an SD-WAN solution. Its savings should be considered alongside the potential for application performance improvements achieved with an SD-WAN solution.
Scalability
Unlike MPLS networks, which only support connections to the company headquarters and can be expensive and slow, SD-WAN solutions can enable grander scale and flexibility. It enables enterprises to converge multiple sites into one securely managed network via centralized software. It makes connecting remote employees and branch offices much more effortless, improving application performance for business-critical applications and providing a seamless onramp to cloud services.
Managed service providers that offer SD-WAN typically maintain their points of presence (POPs), direct cloud connectivity, and peering relationships into the public Internet, which enables them to deliver higher performance and bandwidth efficiency. In addition, their centralized management function can automate traffic steering in an application-driven manner based on business intent and ensures consistent security across the WAN and cloud.
In addition to these advantages, the best SD-WAN solutions can be deployed on a wide range of edge locations, including branch offices and retail stores with no dedicated IT infrastructure. It can save money by avoiding the expense of hiring onsite technicians and instead relying on the managed service provider to handle everything remotely. It can also help to reduce downtime by reducing the need for onsite repairs. It can also increase the speed at which changes can be pushed to 10s, 100s, and even 1000s of network locations by minimizing the number of human errors and improving operational agility.
Flexibility
SD-WAN solutions enable greater flexibility to connect remote employees to applications hosted in the cloud or ISP internet connections. Rather than legacy command-line interface-driven routers, centralized configuration and management of SD-WAN devices allow network engineers to make changes in minutes. It significantly reduces the amount of human error to improve performance and security.
Unlike MPLS, which is limited to a single provider, SD-WAN supports multiple network connections, including ISP broadband and LTE. It enables you to utilize the most cost-effective options for network transport and prioritize WAN traffic based on application needs. Advanced solutions can automatically direct application traffic over the best path in real-time, minimizing packet loss, latency, and jitter. They can also introduce on-demand remediation to the link if it’s not performing as intended, guaranteeing high-priority application performance.
If you’re looking for an SD-WAN solution that can manage multiple connections and deliver a seamless experience for remote users, consider working with an MSP that offers a wide range of deployment options and flexible managed services.
