What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN denotes software-defined wide-area networks. Unlike traditional WAN technology, it is not dependent on hardware. It is a software-based innovation that can be easily deployed with your existing networking infrastructure. So, it saves your costs for deployment too.
SD-WAN solutions allow using 5G, MPLS, broadband, satellite, etc together or any of them as per the enterprise application requirements. With traditional WAN, you are bound to use only MPLS. MPLS is great. But, using MPLS for large, complex, and distributed workstations can turn highly expensive. Therefore, to withstand the present technical requirements in networking, you must leverage SD-WAN for greater flexibility, agility, and security.
Key features of SD-WAN technology
Learning the key features of SD-WAN tools can help us understand their value for the present world:
- You get enhanced security features
Most SD-WAN tools are available with inbuilt next-generation firewalls. These firewalls are able to prohibit the entry of the latest cyber security threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. Moreover, you get advanced end-to-end encryption tools to maintain the confidentiality of your enterprise data.
On the other hand, traditional WAN tools were unable to save the networks from bottlenecks and security threats because they support centralized data centers only. Also, zero-trust network access(ZTNA) is provided to provide authorized and authenticated access only for the management, maintenance, and repair of networks.
- Your networks are agile and flexible with SD-WAN solutions
In the present context, businesses embrace remote workforces and workstations. Therefore, a need for agile and flexible networking architectures is there. Traditional WAN infrastructure stays limited to using MPLS network lines and a fixed infrastructure.
With SD-WAN tools, you gain the ability to change network type according to your enterprise application requirements.If you require, you can choose a combination of MPLS, 5G, broadband, satellite, etc, or any one of these. Also, data packets can be allowed to travel on a priority basis in the most suitable network line. Thus, this dynamic selection feature is ideal for managing data transfer in real time.
- Get centralized management of networking controls
If you are a central node, then, you have the right to access, control, and manage different workstations from one location only. This feature allows easy configuration, provisioning, and maintenance of new networking devices at different workstations located in multiple locations. Further, this happens to be an excellent feature of SD-WAN, because you do not need to visit every single location to manage new networking hardware. It enables organizations to easily adapt to the changing dynamic requirements proactively.
- Enjoy seamless integration of AI, machine learning, and other innovations
SD-WAN allows seamless integration of advancements in technology like AI, machine learning, etc. With AI tools, you can get exact and real-time updates about the progress in data transfer and upcoming cyber security threats. You can define anti-threat parameters by learning the patterns of malware, viruses, and various other security threats with the help of ML tools.
- Easy access to cloud services
Since this era belongs to cloud computing, so, you should always have proactive and seamless accessibility to cloud services. Your data should be transferred in no time. No transaction on your network line should show a glitch. And, all this is possible with deploying SD-WAN solutions in your networking infrastructure. SD-WAN solutions offer low network latency, high performance, least bottlenecks, and excellent efficiency.
- Easy adjustments in bandwidth to enhance performance
SD-WAN tools offer application-aware routing to enterprises. Network administrators or automation tools in the networking infrastructure can allocate a particular bandwidth as required by the specific enterprise application. Further, you can ask your SD-WAN vendor to add WAN-optimization capabilities. It will help in improving bandwidth utilization and latency reduction abilities to boost the performance of networks. In addition, you are allowed to choose a combination of 5G, VoLTE, satellite, etc. So, whatever your enterprise application require, SD-WAN can adjust the bandwidth as per application requirements and they will run smooth and fast always.
- You can enhance your ROI without much efforts
Using online MPLS network lines for large, complex, and cloud-based workstations can lead to much higher costs than expected. Using SD-WAN allows you to combine multiple networks and use the customized bandwidth as per user’s requirements. Moreover, you won’t require any network administrator to do so in fully automated versions of SD-WAN technology. The bandwidths can easily be adjusted as per applications’ demands. Therefore, your return on investment will be greater than ever.
- Expect hassle-free scalability
Every business needs to scale up in some point of time. With traditional WAN, it becomes difficult to scale up or down. You will need a lot of networking devices for deployment at different workstations in multiple locations. SD-WAN offers the right solution in this direction. You don’t need any other hardware other than your existing infrastructure for SD-WAN deployment in new locations. So, you can scale up easily with SD-WAN solutions.
Summary
Today, organizations whether they are small scale or large scale, are finding world-class solutions for effortless connectivity with high performance. Here, SD-WAN becomes the finest saviour at this point. You will get high performing networking lines with almost zero congestion, negligible bottlenecks, and endless security features. For more details, you can collaborate with a reliable SD-WAN vendor like Infinity Labs for proper guidance about SD-WAN.
FAQs:
- Can SD-WAN help in branch office connectivity?
SD-WAN technology allows seamless connectivity with high speed data sharing and transfer at different workspaces located in multiple locations.
- How does SD-WAN enhance ROI?
SD-WAN allows multiple networking lines like MPLS, 5G, satellite, etc to be used together dynamically to operate an enterprise application efficiently.