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Everything You Need to Know About SD-WAN to Enhance All Your Network Routes
Everything You Need to Know About SD-WAN to Enhance All Your Network Routes

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Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) has modernised conventional network architectures by bringing in a dynamic and adaptable approach to running wide-area networks. SD-WANs can strengthen network capability, improve performance, and deliver predictable connectivity. Businesses could witness an impressive 80% surge in bandwidth efficiency (source:www.virginmediabusiness.co.uk), a staggering 98% reduction in failover time, and an 85% enhancement in overall network performance.

By decoupling networking hardware, SD-WAN introduces agility and reduces costs. This technology helps to accelerate application performance by prioritising critical applications with assurance of an elevated user experience. SD-WAN has also made network management much easier with end-to-end visibility and a single dashboard, thereby achieving better operational efficiency. Moreover, the security features integrated within it as well as native next-generation firewall capabilities for network security also prove valuable.

SD-WAN can become a strategic enabler offering high scalability, efficient yet quality performance, reliable and easy management, and increased security, which eventually result in tremendous business advantages.

Firstly, What is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN, a software-defined wide area network is a technology that is based on software-defined networking. It provides a virtual service where data centres can be connected to branches and the cloud. That enables organisations to securely connect users, applications, and data across multiple sites with improved performance, reliability, and scalability.

SD-WAN uses a centralised control plane to route traffic, which enables efficient management of WANs and provides centralised control and visibility over the entire network. This technology decouples networking hardware from the control plane, making the WAN more efficient and cost-effective due to lower infrastructure and transport costs.

SD-WAN, in other words, may be seen as a transition away from a legacy, hardware-centric approach to networking - a move that is more adaptable, smart, efficient, and cost-effective.

Evolution of SD-WAN

Traditionally, WANs were created to provide distribution networks between user locations in branches and campuses to applications that ran on data centre servers. The point-to-point secure and reliable connections were mostly provided by MPLS circuits.

However, SaaS and IaaS applications (multiple clouds) have changed the terrain. The Cloud-centric world is shifting further away from the old traditional WANs, designed for a different era, and which do not meet its demands.

The growth in the volume of traffic owing to cloud adoption leads to management complexity, unforeseen behaviour, and predictability issues in application performance, as well as weaknesses in the security of data.

One of the solutions that surface to cope with contemporary IT challenges is adopting an SD-WAN solution.

What are the Benefits of SD-WAN?

SD-WAN revolutionises network capabilities, providing various advantages across performance, scalability, management, and security.

Improved Network Performance

1. Intelligent Routing Capabilities: SD-WAN leverages intelligent routing algorithms that automatically adjust data traffic. This guarantees that information travels through the shortest path in real time, which in turn increases the performance and responsiveness of the whole network.

2. Reduced Latency for Critical Applications: Through increased attention to the organisation and the optimisation of traffic flows, the SD-WAN solution greatly reduces latency, which is especially important for applications that involve the immediate transfer of data. This leads to better user experiences and quick and reliable delivery of essential applications.

Scalability

1. Adapting to Changing Business Needs: SD-WAN has built-in scalability, which enables businesses to scale up or down depending on their needs easily. SD-WAN solutions offer flexibility that can be applied to both scaling up operations or making alterations to network configurations to account for changing business environments.

2. No Need for Additional Hardware or Software: SD-WAN differs from other network solutions in that it works effectively without demanding significant investments in the purchase of additional hardware or software products. It capitalises on the current infrastructure with the capacity to adjust to different workloads, thus, eliminating the need for costly upgrades.

Simplified Network Management

SD-WAN helps to streamline the complexities that accompany network management.

1. End-to-end Management for Entire WAN Infrastructure: SD-WAN offers centralised control and management of the entire WAN infrastructure, which allows it to increase visibility, and make monitoring and configuration tasks easier.

2. Single Dashboard View of the Network: Consolidating network management into a single dashboard offers administrators a comprehensive view of the network. This unified interface streamlines monitoring, troubleshooting, and configuration tasks, reducing operational complexities.

Enhanced Security

SD-WAN addresses security concerns through innovative solutions.

1. Native Next-Generation Firewall Capabilities: Integrating next-generation firewall capabilities directly into the network architecture, SD-WAN ensures robust protection against evolving cyber threats, enhancing overall network security.

2. Elimination of Separate Security Devices: SD-WAN consolidates security functions within the infrastructure, reducing the need for separate security devices. This integrated approach enhances efficiency and reduces the attack surface, fortifying the network against potential vulnerabilities.

Cost Reduction

  • Intelligent traffic routing per SD-WAN reduces overall bandwidth consumption, thus resulting in cost savings that may accrue from high-bandwidth demands. The centralised management capabilities of cloud computing result in cost-saving since there is no need for an on-site IT staff in every branch.
  • The capacity to scale the network speaks little of additional investments required in capital configuration reduces both capital and operational expenses. Due to integrated security functions, SD-WAN eliminates separate devices necessary for providing security, reducing overall infrastructure costs while streamlining it.

How Does SD-WAN Work?

The operational framework of SD-WAN involves several key elements:

●   Centralised Control Plane: The SD-WAN solution utilises a centralised control plane, enabling administrators to formulate rules and policies. These directives can be uniformly deployed across the entire network, providing a centralised mechanism for routing traffic.

●   Decoupling of Data and Control Planes: By decoupling the data plane and control plane, SD-WAN enhances flexibility and adaptability in network management.

●   Virtualisation of Multiple Connections: SD-WAN creates an overlay that virtualises multiple, diverse connections, regardless of carriers. This agnostic approach ensures a seamless integration of varied connections for optimal network performance.

●   IoT Edge Integration: SD-WAN supports Internet of Things(IoT) edges, facilitating secure communication from edge devices to the network back end. This is particularly crucial for processing data at the network's edge, whether connected to a public or private cloud.

●   Utilisation of Multiple Means of Transport: Employing multiple means of transport, SD-WAN interconnects a network of SD-WAN appliances. This approach enhances reliability and resilience in network connectivity.

SD-WAN significantly improves application performance, delivering an enhanced user experience, fostering business productivity, and agility, and concurrently reducing IT costs.


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