SD-WAN technology has resolved many difficulties in establishing a secure, agile, and robust networking infrastructure. The present networking infrastructure requires managing cloud devices, remote work culture, and cybersecurity threats too. Here, SD-WAN tools help build a sturdy networking infrastructure. It enables centralized networking management, real-time monitoring, and intelligent traffic routing. Let us see how we can use SD-WAN tools to maximize their benefits.

Clearly define your business perspective and technical objections

A well-defined strategy can give your business planning the right direction. You can consider the following points before deploying SD-WAN technology for your enterprise:

• You can identify business drivers like remote work, cloud integration, cost reduction, etc.
• You can identify your key performance indicators to regulate network performance, security, user experience, and network uptime.
• You should align your business goals and technical goals.

Aligning your IT goals with a business perspective can help you assess the actual transformation you want.

Conducting an all-around network assessment will be great

You should clearly know your current network status to find out the best available advancement for your network infrastructure:

• Perform network checks for the existing connectivity(MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G).
• Analyze network traffic patterns.
• Explore and determine the bandwidth usage at each site.
• Get to know your network security controls and compliance requirements.

You can design a scalable, convenient, and useful networking infrastructure based on the above assessment.

Select the right SD-WAN solution for your enterprise

Choosing the right technology for your enterprise is the crucial step in advancing your network architecture. You can keep the following pointers in mind while making a selection:

• You can consider a vendor that offers cloud native integration to meet the present cloud-related networking requirements. You can choose among the services from AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.
• Check which vendor provides you with advanced security capabilities. It should enable next-gen firewalls, secure web gateways, and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) integration within your networking infrastructure.
• Choose the one that allows application-aware routing. It helps in application performance-based dynamic path selection.
• Know whether you will get centralized network management for enhanced visibility or policy enforcement.
• Further, you must go for deploying Zero-Touch Provisioning(ZTP) for added security and efficient deployment of new networking devices.

Cisco (Viptela, Meraki), Fortinet, VMware (Velocloud), Palo Alto (CloudGenix), and Aruba (Silver Peak), etc, are some of the top SD-WAN vendors in the world.

Add extensive security features to your networking infrastructure

Real-time security is one of the major essential requirements in the present digital world. While choosing the right SD-WAN solution, you must consider security as an important feature:

• You should develop Zero Trust Network Access(ZTNA) to authenticate users and devices in your enterprise.
• You can use network segmentation to make a clear segregation of traffic between enterprise branches, data centers, and cloud workspaces.
• You must promote the use of end-to-end encryption protocols and dynamic security policies.
• You must integrate your networking architecture with firewalls, SIEM, identity providers, etc.

Leveraging SASE in your networking architecture can unify security and networking needs in the cloud.

Use pilot program for SD-WAN deployment

Instead of deploying SD-WAN everywhere in the initial phase, you can choose to start deploying it in phases. You can roll out from any of the phases if it doesn’t seem to work as you desired.

• You can choose some specific locations like HQ, branch office, or remote location for SD-WAN deployment in the initial stage.
• You should schedule a test of routing, failover, policy enforcement, and user experience.
• Validate the network visibility features and their capability to control and manage the networking infrastructure.

This step can help you minimize risks related to investments, security, and several other aspects.

Execution of phased roll-out activities

In spite of cancelling the entire deployment process at once, you must execute phased roll-out actions to avoid any kind of hassle.

• Initiate the roll-out process in a phase-wise manner. You can group sites on a priority or geographical basis.
• You can standardize configurations according to the site types.
• You must make use of ZTP and remote management systems to minimize the time and effort in the deployment process.

You should keep in touch with the local IT team at different office spaces to avoid confusion and conflicts.

Use: Monitor, Analyze, and Optimize the process

For a successful SD-WAN deployment, you must trust the following points:

• Always use built-in tools to enhance visibility into network traffic routes, link usage, and network performance.
• Adopt a system for prompt notifications for violations of security policies and identification of bottlenecks.
• Plan periodic reviews to redefine network security and configuration policies to optimize cost and performance.

Real-time monitoring, analysis, and optimization of networking infrastructure in your enterprise to enhance insights, visibility, and automation.

You must train your staff and prepare the required documentation

You must provide adequate training to your employees so that they can work efficiently in the changed environment. Further, they should be allowed to access vendor base and support channels. In addition, they should get the proper knowledge and access to configuration, policies, and procedures according to their roles and responsibilities.

Ensure scalability to grow your enterprise in the future

You should ask your SD-WAN vendor to design your SD-WAN infrastructure with per the future. It should support cloud regions, new branches, and data centers for seamless collaboration. Scalability in your networking infrastructure will determine the growth and expansion of your company.

Summary

In this article, we have provided valuable insights regarding the successful and correct deployment of SD-WAN technology in your enterprise. It is recommended to collaborate with a popular SD-WAN vendor. A reputed SD-WAN vendor can guide you correctly to use the dynamic features of SD-WAN technology to the fullest.

 

FAQs:

How can you deploy SD-WAN infrastructure efficiently?

You can deploy SD-WAN infrastructure in your enterprise with the help of a popular SD-WAN vendor like Infinity Labs.

What are the benefits of deploying SD-WAN in your enterprise?

Deploying SD-WAN tools in your enterprise adds agility, scalability, security, and high performance in your networking architecture.