Overview
Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is the next-generation of WAN architecture that enables improved scalability, agility, and cost efficiency for businesses of all sizes. It is a software-defined technology that separates the data plane from the control plane topology of networks, allowing for more efficient and highly available data traffic paths. SD-WAN is based on open standards for wide area networking and enables more flexible, reliable and secure communication between geographically separate networks than existing routers and switches. It also provides intelligent and application-aware network routing capabilities which can improve user experience, reduce costs associated with WAN infrastructures, and allow companies to focus on data-rich applications.
Benefits
SD-WAN offers a wide range of benefits and capabilities that can greatly benefit businesses. These include improved scalability, increased agility, enhanced application performance, reduced network cost, and improved security and reliability.
SD-WAN’s improved scalability allows businesses to easily add or reduce network resources in order to meet growing or shrinking business requirements. By doing this, companies not only save money in terms of capital costs, but they are also able to quickly react to changes in their environment.
The increased agility allows for much more flexibility and enables businesses to quickly and easily spin up, modify, or delete resources. This makes it easier for companies to quickly move large files or spin up new applications with ease. Additionally, it enables businesses to quickly prioritize traffic so that more important applications and services have higher priority on the network.
Enhanced application performance is another benefit of SD-WAN as its intelligent network routing allows it to identify applications and provide optimal paths for traffic. This improves user experience by reducing delays and enhancing the performance of applications.
Furthermore, SD-WAN reduces costs associated with WAN infrastructures. This is achieved by reducing the need for expensive leased lines and providing a much simpler and more cost-effective way to connect remote sites.
Lastly, it provides enhanced security and reliability by allowing businesses to establish a single reliable SD-WAN solution in place of multiple physical links. Additionally, most providers offer security features such as firewalls and traffic monitoring.
Security Considerations
When deploying an SD-WAN solution, it is important to consider the security of the network. SD-WANs are relatively new technology, so there is still some risk of security vulnerabilities.
For example, SD-WANs often use a variety of connectivity options, such as MPLS, DSL, Wi-Fi, Cellular, etc. This can leave open opportunities for attackers to gain access to the network. It is therefore important to ensure that proper security protocols and techniques are in place to protect the network from potential threats.
It is also important to ensure that the network is properly segmented and segmentation policies are clearly defined. This will ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and applications. Additionally, it is also important to ensure that all users and connected devices are properly authenticated and authorized before allowing access to the network.
Deployment Considerations
When deploying SD-WAN, it is important to consider both cost and performance. SD-WANs are generally implemented to reduce the cost of a wide area network, but it is important to consider how far into the future the cost savings will last. Additionally, it is important to consider the performance of the network, as this will determine how well applications and services are able to perform.
When considering cost, businesses should consider the various providers and services that are available. Some providers may offer a lower cost upfront, but then require additional fees for services. Furthermore, the total cost of ownership, including fees for additional services, should be taken into consideration.
When considering performance, businesses should consider what type of applications and services will be running over the network. It is also important to consider the number of users and devices that will be accessing the network and what type of data traffic will be running over the network.
Monitoring and Optimization
Once an SD-WAN is deployed and running, it is important to monitor and optimize it to ensure that the network is performing optimally. Monitoring and optimization tasks can include monitoring the performance of the network, performance of specific applications, or reviewing usage and application trends.
To monitor the performance of the network, businesses should monitor the utilization levels over the past 24 hours or weeks, as well as the latency and jitter times for the network. Additionally, it is important to monitor any dropped packets and errors that occur in the network.
When optimizing, businesses should inspect the network traffic and applications to identify any issues that may be occurring. Additionally, companies should monitor the performance of their applications and services, as well as analyze user behavior, in order to identify any bottlenecks or issues.
Automation Considerations
One of the most important benefits of SD-WANs is the ability to automate certain tasks. Automation can help to streamline processes and reduce the administrative overhead associated with managing a wide area network. Additionally, it can help to identify and address issues quickly and efficiently.
When implementing automation, it is important to consider what tasks can be automated and how they will be implemented. Businesses should also consider the cost associated with implementation, as well as the ongoing costs associated with maintenance and support.
Additionally, businesses should be aware of any security implications from automation. Automation can open up opportunities for attackers to gain access to sensitive data, so proper security protocols should be in place to ensure that only authorized users and systems have access.
Conclusion, Cost and Summary
Deploying an SD-WAN solution can provide businesses with improved scalability, increased agility, enhanced application performance, reduced network cost, and improved security and reliability. It is important when deploying an SD-WAN to consider the security requirements, deployment considerations, monitoring and optimization needs, and automation considerations. The cost of an SD-WAN solution will depend on the number of sites, amount of traffic, and the type of services required. All of these considerations need to be taken into consideration when planning and deploying an SD-WAN solution.
