This is a dynamic digital space of enterprise networking, where connectivity, security, and agility are of great importance. One crucial technology that has emerged as a transformative technology is SD-WAN.

As per the report, the SD-WAN infrastructure market witnessed a growth of 25.0% in 2022. By 2027, this market growth is expected to reach $7.5 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 10.1%. This data shows how rapidly the deployment of SD-WAN is increasing in this digital world. Still confused- should large enterprises with complex networking needs invest in SD-WAN? Well, read here in this blog:

Complex Networking Needs of Large Enterprises

SD-WAN has been tailored for large enterprises with multiple branch offices and diverse networking requirements. Bigger companies find difficulty in managing the networks between their different outlets, remote branches, and locations. So, SD-WAN is the right technology that offers a comprehensive solution to manage and optimize wide area networks effectively.

Large enterprises operate geographically in dispersed locations. This is why each location requires seamless connectivity and efficient network management. Enterprises with traditional Wide Area Networks (WANs) might not be able to meet the connectivity needs properly. This is because it is built on MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) so it struggles to keep up with the modern demands of big enterprises.

Not just this, there are so many other challenges such as bandwidth limitations, high operational costs, and lack of agility. All these can impact traditional WAN’s ability to adapt quickly to changing business needs.

The solution to complex networking needs- SD-WAN

SD-WAN is a technology that is specially designed to overcome these limitations that are faced by large enterprises. It makes use of software-defined networking principles to optimize and manage WAN connections. So, SD-WAN introduces a software-centric approach that helps large enterprises. It works by improving the network agility, performance, and security.

The benefit of SD-WAN in terms of Security Features

This is an interconnected business environment, where large enterprises manage expansive networks. These networks span over multiple geographic locations so in such a situation ensuring robust cybersecurity is important.

SD-WAN solutions are critical not only for optimizing network performance but also for enhancing security across distributed environments. Also, SD-WAN incorporates a wide range of advanced security features that help large enterprises in keeping their data safe and secure.

Security Features of SD-WAN Solutions

No doubt, security is a top priority for large enterprises that tackling managing distributed networks. The introduction of SD-WAN technology enhances security. It works by incorporating advanced encryption protocols, segmentation, and threat intelligence capabilities.

Moreover, SD-WAN’s ability to segment traffic helps enterprises comply with regulatory requirements. Enterprises that want to protect sensitive data effectively mostly invest in SD-WAN.

• Encryption (AES, SSL/TLS)

Any large enterprise’s main concern is securing its data in the digitally transformative world. So, SD-WAN solutions integrate strong encryption protocols such as AES and SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security). This is useful in securing the data in transit.

This solution works by encrypting traffic flowing between branch offices, data centers, and cloud services. So, this way, SD-WAN mitigates the risk of interception and unauthorized access from remote locations.

This is crucial for enterprises that are transmitting sensitive information, such as financial transactions, and customer data. Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable without the decryption key. This will ultimately help in maintaining the confidentiality of the enterprises.

• Firewall Functionality

This is also another crucial security feature of SD-WAN that is making large enterprises invest in it. Many SD-WAN platforms have built-in firewall capabilities that act as a defense against cyber threats.

These firewalls keep checking the incoming and outgoing traffic and apply access control policies to filter and block any malicious content. SD-WAN solution works by enforcing security policies at the network edge. In addition to this, SD-WAN firewalls prevent unauthorized access attempts and reduce the risks associated with malware, ransomware, and other cyber-attacks. This granular control over traffic flow feature enhances the network security of the enterprises.

• Secure Segmentation in the network

The SD-WAN also features secure segmentation that divides the network into isolated segments. Each of the segments has its security policies and access controls.

This latest WAN architecture SD-WAN facilitates secure segmentation by creating virtual overlays. So, it will separate traffic based on application, user role, and security requirements. Because of this, there will be limits to the movement of threats within the network.

This secure segmentation is especially beneficial for large enterprises with complex network architectures. It ensures that sensitive applications remain isolated from less secure areas.

• Intrusion detection and prevention

According to reports, the global SD-WAN market is about to reach $26 billion by 2028. This means that a greater number of large enterprises are relying on SD-WAN because of security features and this number is continuing.

SD-WAN solutions add intrusion detection and prevention systems to identify and respond to suspicious activities within the network. These also monitor the traffic patterns to detect anomalous behavior that indicates potential threats.

This real-time threat detection capability is also important for large enterprises that operate across various branches and face cybersecurity issues. When you deploy SD-WAN, it can easily identify and prevent threats. As a result of this, SD-WAN will help in minimizing the impact of security issues.

Conclusion

So, this blog indicates that SD-WAN is not only a technology upgrade but a strategic solution that helps large enterprises. By deploying SD-WAN, enterprises can future-proof their network infrastructure and also solve complex networking issues. As the demand for reliable network solutions continues to rise, SD-WAN is considered the best transformative option in modern enterprise networking. So, large enterprises should invest in SD-WAN deployment.