SD-WAN provides centralized control and management of network policies from a single pane of glass. This can simplify WAN management and provide more visibility into applications, devices, and users.
IT teams must look for a provider that offers flexible deployment options according to their needs and timetable. This includes the option of adding capacity to remote locations.
Flexibility
So, what is SD-WAN? SD-WAN offers the flexibility to prioritize applications based on specific criteria such as IP addresses, application profiles, quality of service markings, and more. This makes it easier to match applications, locations, and user groups with the most appropriate connectivity types. This helps organizations avoid costly circuit outages while ensuring their business-critical services are running.
The business environment is constantly changing. Whether it’s adding new office locations, remote staff, or additional applications to support more efficient working practices, all of this change will directly impact the transport network that supports it.
When choosing an SD-WAN solution, look for one that will enable you to create multiple virtual connections and route traffic over the most cost-effective path. The best ones allow you to centrally manage and deploy policies for dynamic path selection and secure WAN connectivity, reducing bandwidth costs while improving performance and reliability.
Connecting WAN traffic over multiple transports with an SD-WAN solution is easy, enabling redundancy. For example, all priority applications could be routed over MPLS for the best possible connection, while lower priority internet web traffic is routed over broadband, lowering overall transport costs.
Look for a vendor offering a centralized management platform with unified monitoring capabilities and robust troubleshooting tools. Ensure that the provider has deep domain expertise and an extensive QA process because, like any software-based technology, bugs do occasionally emerge. Also, ensure the solution is a hybrid or cloud-based architecture to be quickly and easily deployed across all operational sites. This way, you can quickly get the solution’s benefits and achieve ROI.
Security
SD-WAN solutions have advanced features that help improve network security, but these capabilities must be thoroughly tested before production. A security breach can have severe, expensive consequences for your organization. It can cost thousands of dollars to repair a cyberattack, or it may make your network unusable. Either way, employee productivity, and performance will be negatively impacted.
Security is also an essential aspect of SD-WAN that must be considered during the planning stage. IT teams must document their existing workflows and user requirements and then work with vendors to analyze how their solutions can help support those goals.
For example, many SD-WAN solutions feature built-in monitoring tools to monitor link health. It’s essential to test these tools for effectiveness and to establish alerts, thresholds, and escalation processes before going live with your SD-WAN. Consider integrating third-party monitoring/ITSM tools for additional visibility and insights into your network. This can provide a complete picture of your network, helping you detect and resolve problems faster.
Performance
SD-WANs enable enterprises to prioritize traffic, minimizing the impact of network issues on critical applications. The technology reroutes data around problem areas, improving performance and eliminating costly outages.
It is also possible to secure SD-WAN connections using advanced security tools such as firewall protection, VPN access, and application layer firewalls. This reduces the risk of hackers gaining access to sensitive information. In addition, security can be further enhanced with multi-factor authentication, which requires users to use multiple forms of identification to log into a system.
In addition to providing security, an ideal SD-WAN solution should also offer high flexibility. This includes centralized monitoring, which allows IT teams to monitor and manage network performance from a single interface. It should also enable organizations to scale bandwidth capacity on demand and easily manage virtual connections to cloud providers. These capabilities help align application performance with business needs and support the agility cloud computing has brought to businesses. In addition, it is essential to find an SD-WAN solution that offers a variety of deployment options, including DIY, co-managed, and fully managed services.
Scalability
Businesses change incredibly – adding new locations, staff members joining or leaving, and applications being added or retired. Having a network solution that can keep pace with these changes is critical. Using an SD-WAN to deliver application performance and reliability over the Internet, or a hybrid of private WAN circuits with low-cost broadband Internet connections, is the best way to keep pace with business change without overpaying for expensive MPLS connections that can’t be easily changed when needed.
Some SD-WAN vendors also provide zero-touch provisioning, meaning that devices will automatically connect to the internet when powered on and configure themselves based on their specific configuration. This is a massive timesaver for IT teams managing hundreds of devices across multiple locations and ensuring security policies are configured correctly. Another valuable feature is the ability to route traffic over multiple paths to reduce latency and improve reliability. This means businesses can replace costly MPLS circuits with lower-cost broadband and 4G/LTE connections while keeping their networks secure.