SD-WAN is the next big thing in enterprise networking, and the buzz around it is not without reason. An extension of SDN (software-defined networking), the system is designed to replace existing WAN connections within an enterprise and makes networking across branch offices and date centers fast, efficient, and cost-effective.
So how do SD-WAN systems make large data transfers several times faster than traditional WAN networks? They achieve lightening-speed data transfer by streaming traffic through the most efficient network routes across branches and data centers.
Through agile traffic management and a centralized, cloud-based controlling system, SD-WAN technology brings greater efficiency in day-to-day and long-term branch operations.
Global acceptance
The rapid growth that SD-WAN technology has seen in the past couple of years is proof of its vast acceptance across businesses of all types and sizes. An increasing number of organizations are exploring switching to this agile technology of tomorrow, and it seems that the traditional WAN networking may be extinct sooner than experts predicted.
IT departments of companies that have made the switch to SD-WAN have been able to scale and increase their area of operations as valuable tangible and intangible resources are freed—and used toward expansion and growth.
Clearly, setting up new branches with appropriate links has never been this easy. It is no longer necessary for a networking expert to be present at a new branch to monitor installation—all that the central IT team needs to do is to send over the ready-to-deploy software in a PnP box, and the branch is ready to communicate via a sophisticated new system.
Bandwidth optimization
The constantly changing flow of traffic across data centers requires WAN systems to be flexible in terms of bandwidth. Growing teams and rapidly expanding businesses, in particular, need greater bandwidth, and that is not easily achieved through conventional WAN technology.
SD-WAN: Software-Defined WAN | VeloCloud are not only time-efficient, they offer real-time monitoring of applications, software, traffic and other key elements of the network, providing IT managers with pertinent information they can use to identify what bandwidth will give them optimum performance based on the network’s specific needs.
Greater flexibility
Another downside of traditional WAN that SD-WAN has successfully overcome is the process of introducing changes across devices and branch offices. This advanced technology combines several different components of the wide area network into a seamless, virtual tool. This takes away the hassle of making individual changes in each appliance, and a robust, integrated system means an improved workflow and an even greater interface experience.
However, as an organization gears up to adapt SD-WAN technology, several key factors must be considered in order to ensure hassle-free deployment that will be worth the investment.
Evaluation of all aspects of business that will be affected by the shift from WAN to SD-WAN is necessary. Network managers must be consulted to understand the current as well as future needs of the organization. Lastly, such a large scale implementation must only be entrusted to a trusted vendor with a proven track record in successful SD-WAN deployment and integration.