4 Reasons You Should Consider SD-WAN
There have been several factors leading to the growth of software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN). Initially, it gained traction as a solution for companies pursuing digital transformation and the flexibility, agility and cost savings of cloud solutions. SD-WAN also equipped geographically-dispersed enterprises with a solution that could be managed, deployed and maintained from a centralized dashboard.
The enthusiasm around SD-WAN grew more during the pandemic, when companies needed a way to provide a consistent connected work experience to remote employees. With hybrid work environments becoming permanent, the demand for SD-WAN continues.
Should you be considering SD-WAN for your company? Here are four reasons you might want to implement it:
1) SD-WAN Supports Multi-Cloud Environments
If you’re like a lot of companies, you’re no longer all housed in a single headquarters, and your network may be just as distributed. SD-WAN allows for traffic to be steered directly to the cloud, rather than backhauling every transmission back to the data center for security inspection. With SD-WAN, business policy can be applied so that as applications are identified on the first packet, they are steered to the appropriate destination. For instance, transmissions from a trusted application can be set up to go directly to the cloud. Advanced SD-WAN equipped with cloud service orchestration allows you to manage complex WAN from various cloud providers.
2) SD-WAN Offers a Built-In Next Generation Firewall
Today’s SD-WAN features a built-in Next Generation Firewall with features like Deep Packet Inspection and Distributed Denial of Service protection, as well as role-based segmentation. The firewall is also centrally managed, so there is no manual configuration or upgrades. In addition, personnel no longer have to travel to a branch location in person to manage a troubleshooting situation; it’s all done from the central dashboard.
3) SD-WAN Provides Improved Performance
SD-WAN utilizes multiple links, including Multi-Protocol Label Switching, 5G and Broadband Internet. Depending on the performance demands of any given application, they can be routed over these links to optimize performance across all systems. Administrators can prioritize Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), for instance, over email or another transmission that does not rely on real-time communication. SD-WAN can be set up with automatic failover, so that when problems like jitter or latency occur, the transmission is rerouted to the next best link option.
4) SD-WAN Consolidates Network Infrastructure
With traditional networks, individual branches require multiple devices and personnel to upgrade and troubleshoot performance issues. With SD-WAN, the need for devices and network administrators is eliminated. In addition, SD-WAN prepares the network for expanded security features related to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), a framework of security tools and policies designed to move security closer to the edge, improving both protection and network performance.
Before you start evaluating SD-WAN options, it’s a good idea to assess your overall architecture and the direction your IT strategy is headed. At One Connect, we assist you in leveraging the best network upgrade for your overall IT environment. Contact us today to talk about software-defined network options and the best upgrade for your company.