The demand for bandwidth for locations grows as branch traffic volumes increase. While SD-WAN provides features to improve application performance over Internet connectivity, it cannot address every network performance issue. Moreover, your underlying network connectivity is essential for the entire traffic journey. As branch offices become more feature-rich and enterprise workloads migrate to SaaS/IaaS/PaaS-based hosting, you must find cost-effective ways to increase bandwidth. In this article, you will learn about sd-wan, and its impact on business outcomes.
Centralized management
A managed SD-WAN service provides the flexibility of a centralized management platform. This platform can program changes at the application level and push them out to tens, hundreds, or even thousands of SD-WAN devices in a single network. As a result, a managed SD-WAN solution provides considerable operational benefits while also reducing a company’s threat surface. It also prevents security flaws. Read our SD-WAN overview for more information. When evaluating SD-WAN solutions, look for those that offer a full set of integrated security features. For example, look for an SD-WAN solution with NGFW, IPS security and encryption, AV, and sandboxing capabilities. These features will protect your network from potential data breaches, downtime, and regulatory violations. These features are a must for organizations that use SD-WAN solutions.
Increased bandwidth efficiency
With SD-WAN, you can use the Internet as your WAN link and choose the best path to maximize bandwidth. As a result, SD-WAN allows you to use cheap bandwidth from your local ISP for less business-critical traffic while using more expensive bandwidth for more important data. In addition, SD-WAN improves bandwidth provisioning to existing branch offices, and it can prioritize and route traffic based on priority. As a result, it enhances business outcomes and staff morale. SD-WAN supports centralized configuration, allowing you to deploy new applications or enforce new QoS or security policies from a central location. Doing this can minimize your attack surface and avoid human error. SD-WAN also improves visibility across a large network, essential for ensuring the best performance and security.
Reduced OpEx
Businesses across all sizes are deploying enterprise-grade SD-WAN technology to deliver Internet-based networking and cut costs associated with WANs. For example, WANs can cost as much as $100 per Mbps, and insufficient bandwidth can result in poor user experiences. With SD-WAN, companies can get ten times more bandwidth for half the cost while saving time and money on operational expenses. SD-WAN also allows enterprises to deploy networks with zero-touch provisioning, which reduces operational expenses and ensures rapid deployment and implementation. As organizations increasingly rely on mobile devices, IoT, and media-rich applications, they seek to maximize the efficiency of their network and achieve reduced OpEx. As a result, many are migrating from legacy branch solutions to SD-WAN to realize cost savings and improved business outcomes. However, companies must first determine their specific needs to make the most of SD-WAN as a service.
Increased security
When it comes to increasing the security of business-critical systems, one of the best ways to improve your organization’s security posture is to deploy an SD-WAN solution. SD-WAN solutions are intelligent ways to secure data and channel it through an encrypted tunnel to prevent malware attacks and other security breaches. So whether you use on-premises or cloud-based SD-WAN solutions, you can ensure that your data will remain secure.
SD-WAN is used with other network services, such as WAN optimization. With these services, your organization can optimize network performance and improve application performance. Moreover, you can create Internet break-outs at remote offices with fewer technical requirements by using SD-WAN. It makes setting up Internet break-outs easier, improving the user experience for SaaS applications.
Improved responsiveness
Multiple departments and subdivisions are common in large organizations. These divisions may arise due to mergers or acquisitions and serve different functions. These departments frequently demand high-speed connectivity, but their bandwidth requirements differ. SD-WAN devices allow companies to use any combination of hardware, software, and carrier plans. Traffic segmentation is also possible without requiring separate hardware or services. For example, SD-WAN devices can easily segment traffic according to bandwidth needs. The benefits of SD-WAN go beyond its cost-efficiency. By utilizing last-mile Internet connections within the WAN, businesses can use low-cost, predictable connectivity. Public Internet access can be inflexible, especially in a global context. However, it is crucial for IT organizations to make use of predictable global connectivity. With SD-WAN, businesses can avoid the complexity and expense associated with multiple Internet providers’ footprints.
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