We hear constantly about data and all of the massive strides that have been taken in recent years. However, people often overlook network as an important part of serving your business online. After all, if you don’t have the bandwidth to accommodate them, nor the security that makes you a trusted source, you’ve missed the mark. Today, we’re examining the benefits of SD-WAN.
What It Is
SD-WAN stands for software-defined wide-area network. It’s the best way to link up your operations, from coastal office to coastal office, from data center to distribution center, using the combined powers of SDN and WAN. And then, of course, you have the benefits of the cloud. Altogether, it’s a system that makes smart decisions concerning distribution of traffic.
The Benefits of SD-WAN
How much does your business spend on MPLS? Probably more than SD-WAN, since you have to keep adding more bandwidth on as you grow – it’s siphoning off profits you could enjoy courtesy of the increased traffic. Dust off those WAN links, save money, and see decreased latency fast.
Your business deserves the same quality of internet on its private network that the average person has, and SD-WAN is making it more and more possible.
SD-WAN is also great in terms of scalability. In fact, that’s why SDNs were originally implemented at data centers. With the increased capacity of SD-WAN, your business can finally enjoy faster speeds and more applications, so you can worry less about the impacts of growth on your network.
And if your business does use a lot of applications, you will appreciate the cloud capabilities. But that doesn’t mean you have to rely on the cloud completely; SD-WAN works well in a number of configurations.
However, cloud capabilities are invaluable when it comes to cost-effective security solutions. Amped up intervention protocols and extra malware defenses make for really attractive incentives for many companies.
Other Considerations
Before you switch your business network over to SD-WAN, read up on the models on offer. If you have a dedicated IT team, collaborate to figure out whether a hybrid, carrier or DIY model would be best for your needs and capabilities.
You should also consult with the provider of your network as it stands now. If they’re well-versed in SD-WAN, making the switch will go that much smoother. From there, you can assess different vendors and see which ones are offering the most essential features on your wish list.
All of this planning and selection of service providers will make the actual transition so easy, you’ll barely notice it occurred until you take note of the performance. It definitely isn’t the massive undertaking that MPLS deployment can be.
If you’re tired of the additional costs associated with your current system, SD-WAN is definitely worth checking out. Your company has likely already benefitted from intelligent decisions, so it’s time to explore a network that makes intelligent decisions constantly. Stop suffering through downtime, say goodbye to constant interruptions, and enjoy the benefits of the fast, efficient connectivity for businesses.