Legacy networks falter in meeting modern bandwidth requirements. Software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) address these issues through centralized software that simplifies management and unites hybrid connections for optimal app performance.
With SD-WAN, enterprises gain a flexible, scalable network foundation that provides a competitive edge now and into the future.
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If you’d like to implement SD-WAN, Symplicity Communications can help. Schedule a free consultation and let’s discuss. We leverage our expertise of the industry to find the perfect solution for your company’s needs.
What Is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN provides a next-generation connectivity solution that enhances traditional wide-area network (WAN) architectures. It simplifies operations and reduces costs compared to legacy multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networks.
An SD-WAN solution can:
- Utilize commodity internet in addition to private networks such as MPLS
- Abstract the network from specific hardware into a unified overlay
- Centralize control for efficient management and visibility
- Automate network functions for business agility and scalability
- Integrate security such as next-generation firewalls and VPNs
- Optimize connectivity and performance for cloud-based applications
SD-WAN delivers a modern, software-defined approach to networking that handles current digital demands. It allows organizations to cost-effectively and scalably support cloud connectivity and strategic initiatives.
Improved Network Performance
SD-WAN solutions improve network performance with:
- Intelligently routed traffic for better leverage of WAN bandwidth capacity across MPLS, broadband, and LTE
- Path selections that adjust in real-time based on current network conditions to ensure consistent data flow
- Traffic shaping and quality of service prioritization that guarantees reliable critical application performance
- Maximized transfer speeds and reduced latency through data caching and compression techniques
- Comprehensive analytics provisions enabling full visibility to monitor, troubleshoot, and manage performance
Overall, SD-WAN dynamically optimizes connectivity and efficiently allocates resources for superb performance. More agile and economical than MPLS, SD-WAN provides cost-effective networking to support enterprise growth.
More Bandwidth for Less Money
SD-WAN solutions help companies add bandwidth while simultaneously reducing operating costs. They accomplish this in a few key ways:
- SD-WANs utilize lower-cost public broadband internet connections alongside MPLS circuits. Public internet offers abundant bandwidth availability at a fraction of the cost of legacy WAN services.
- Companies can efficiently aggregate multiple forms of connectivity such as LTE, DIA internet, and broadband. Bandwidth resources maximize capacity across all available links.
- Advanced traffic shaping and compression allow SD-WANs to optimize performance across connections. This prevents overutilization of more expensive MPLS and cellular data links, reducing costs.
- Usage-based licensing provides flexible alignment of bandwidth costs with business needs. Companies avoid paying for excess fixed-bandwidth capacity typical of MPLS.
Centralized Network Control and Visibility
A major advantage of an SD-WAN is centralized network control and end-to-end visibility enabled by SD-WAN controllers. These controllers give IT a unified point of management for applying policies and configurations across the distributed network. Manual site-by-site configurations are eliminated.
Centralized control through SD-WAN controllers also allows for coordinated traffic routing adjustments based on real-time conditions. Edge devices across multi-site topologies can be rapidly deployed as needed.
Additionally, an SD-WAN solution provides holistic visibility through cloud-based analytics that cover network and application performance; problems can be detected proactively before greatly impacting users. SD-WAN controllers aggregate and analyze data across the WAN to derive optimization insights for network infrastructure and resource planning.
Together, the control and visibility of SD-WAN platforms enhance IT’s capability to adapt the network to changing demands.
Simplified Network Management
SD-WAN solutions simplify management with:
- Centralized dashboards that provide one pane of glass for control, configuration, and monitoring
- Zero-touch provisioning that enables rapid, error-free onboarding of new sites
- Automated troubleshooting and centralized firmware updates, which reduce the IT workload
- Unified policy application that replaces box-by-box configurations
- Complete visibility into performance regardless of location or transport type
SD-WAN solutions empower IT with simplified, centralized tools to manage distributed networks. This allows lean IT teams to support operations efficiently even as the business scales.
Easy Scalability
Another advantage offered by SD-WAN solutions is easy network scalability. The plug-and-play hardware devices that connect sites are designed for rapid deployment. IT can install new locations quickly thanks to streamlined configurations.
SD-WANs automate new site onboarding through zero-touch provisioning. This instant activation brings sites online automatically the moment edge devices are live.
Cost efficiencies are realized as well through flexible licensing aligned to usage rather than fixed capacity. This prevents overpayment as deployments scale up. SD-WANs also maximize transport volumes through business traffic shaping and compression tools that squeeze more capacity from existing circuits.
Security is never compromised. Policies propagate across the topology automatically during site expansions.
With these integrated security features that enable easy rollout, automated provisioning, right-sized licensing, and transport optimization, SD-WAN solutions empower seamless scalability. This agility positions organizations to respond smoothly to business growth and shifting customer demands.
Increased Reliability and Uptime
SD-WAN improves network reliability with:
- Multi-transport connectivity that prevents isolated failures from causing outages
- Granular shaping and priority routing that sustain essential application traffic
- Transport-independent failover that rapidly switches between MPLS, Internet, and LTE links to avoid isolated connection failures
- Operational simplicity that decreases human configuration errors
- Real-time analytics that offers visibility and enable proactive issue resolution
With these strengths, SD-WAN achieves higher reliability and consistent uptime at a lower cost than alternatives such as MPLS. This makes SD-WAN ideal for supporting modern digital business needs.
Application-Aware Traffic Routing
SD-WAN delivers a more advanced traffic routing mechanism than conventional routing protocols. Route selections adapt dynamically based on application types, performance metrics, and business priority.
Granular visibility into network flows allows SD-WAN to distinguish critical business applications. Explicit policies shape and steer this traffic along the optimal path to support performance needs. For example, video and voice are sensitive to latency, while batch transfers require high throughput.
In contrast, legacy routing lacks this app awareness, handling all traffic equally. This leads to applications contending and degrading key services. SD-WAN oversees application flows independently to ensure ideal handling. Custom priority controls allow organizations to align treatment with specific app performance SLAs.
The superior user experience and productivity enabled by application-aware routing make SD-WAN a key enabler of strategic initiatives relying on mission-critical application services.
Integrated SD-WAN Security
SD-WAN technology offers natively integrated security providing robust protection of data across the distributed network. This allows enterprises to:
- Implement comprehensive security without needing to bolt on additional appliances at each site
- Consistently enforce centralized security policies enterprise-wide
- Encrypt sensitive application traffic end-to-end across any transport type
- Support standards such as IPsec VPNs for strong data protection in transit
- Enable identity-based access controls restricting network accessibility
- Detect threats through anomaly monitoring protections against zero days
- Provide deep visibility into threats at both the WAN edge and endpoints
With advanced security intrinsically built into the SD-WAN fabric, enterprises gain significant risk reduction. IT workload is also reduced by consolidating disparate security controls into a unified policy framework spanning network and cloud edge.
Multi-Cloud Connectivity
The SD-WAN solutions allow enhanced connectivity to major cloud platforms from distributed branch locations. Network administrators are provided centralized management for configuring policies and steering traffic that incorporates public cloud networks.
This unified control covers branch offices across the entire enterprise infrastructure. Granular oversight of network traffic routing to cloud destinations helps ensure efficient and reliable connectivity for remote offices to access critical SaaS and public cloud environments.
While not inherently seamless or automated across all clouds, SD-WAN architecture compliments initiatives to migrate applications to the cloud or enable hybrid cloud architectures.
Centralized policy systems save effort compared to box-by-box configurations otherwise needed to manage network traffic interactions between on-prem Core networks and Azure, AWS, or other major cloud providers.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership
SD-WAN solutions offer substantially lower total cost of ownership compared to conventional WAN approaches. Savings are achieved from multiple dimensions:
Reduced Transport Costs
- Internet and broadband services replace more expensive private MPLS circuits
- Bandwidth is right-sized using flexible licensing aligned to usage rather than fixed increments
Lower Equipment Expenses
- Open-source software reduces reliance on proprietary hardware
- Commodity servers and networking gear displace costly routers
Decreased Operational Overhead
- Rapid zero-touch installation and activation of sites
- Simplified central management covers distributed locations
- Automation replaces manual tasks such as config backups and firmware updates
About Symplicity
Consider us your trusted partners in the realm of SD-WAN services. Our specialization lies in delivering comprehensive solutions that can transform the way you manage your network and optimize your connectivity.
Here’s how we can help ensure your SD-WAN success:
- Our top priority is establishing a robust and dependable SD-WAN network connection. This guarantees constant accessibility to your critical data and applications, ensuring uninterrupted network performance and support for your business operations.
- We are dedicated to providing you with a flexible and scalable SD-WAN environment. As your network requirements evolve, our services can effortlessly adapt to accommodate increased demand, eliminating concerns about network limitations.
- We recognize the importance of efficient communication in SD-WAN operations. Our solutions are thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration among your network administrators and partners, facilitating smoother network management workflows and decision-making processes.
Our commitment is to offer you the expertise, guidance, and ongoing support needed to ensure a seamless implementation of your SD-WAN strategy. With our services, you can trust that your SD-WAN will be efficient, reliable, and equipped with the capabilities necessary for your business to excel in the world of network management.
Explore our solutions page for a comprehensive overview of the services we provide.
SD-WAN Benefits FAQ
What is the point of SD-WAN?
The point of SD-WAN is to provide modern, flexible network operations that improve management, performance, security, and cloud integration compared to traditional WAN approaches.
SD-WAN utilizes software-defined networking to abstract the network from proprietary hardware, enabling centralized orchestration and traffic optimization across the entire network.
Why is SD-WAN better than WAN?
SD-WAN is better than traditional WAN because it utilizes both private links and public networks intelligently based on traffic priorities, securing optimal performance for business-critical applications. This enhances user experience and employee productivity.
SD-WAN also provides comprehensive visibility, automation, and analytics lacking in legacy WANs to simplify operations.
What are the two major weaknesses of SD-WAN?
Two major weaknesses of SD-WAN currently are integration limitations with some cloud service providers and challenges delivering sub-second failover speeds across transports. However, rapid innovation is overcoming these issues.
What are the benefits of SD-WAN for retail?
Key benefits of SD-WAN for retail include reduced networking costs through efficient internet integration, consistent application performance and reliability for point-of-sale systems via smart routing, and simplified connectivity to retail cloud platforms. Centralized SD-WAN control also eases management across stores.
What are the four main components of the enchanted SD-WAN solutions?
The four main components of enterprise-grade SD-WAN solutions are:
- Unified policy control
- Application-aware traffic steering
- Advanced security
- Extensive analytics and visibility
Together these provide intelligent abstraction of network architectures for flexibility and oversight.
What are the best SD-WAN vendors?
Leading SD-WAN vendors include
- VMware SD-WAN
- Cisco SD-WAN
- Aryaka SD-WAN
- Fortinet SD-WAN
- Versa Networks SD-WAN
- Citrix SD-WAN
- Masergy SD-WAN
- Silver Peak SD-WAN
The right solution depends on specific business requirements and use cases.
What is a next-generation SD-WAN?
Next-generation SD-WAN is an advanced software-defined networking solution that incorporates modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation.
What is VoIP?
Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a form of communication that allows you to make phone calls over a broadband internet connection instead of typical analog telephone lines. Basic VoIP access usually allows you to call others who are also receiving calls over the Internet.
