What Is SD-WAN, and Does My Business Really Need It?
More and more businesses are embracing software-defined wide-area networks (SD-WANs) as they find ways to reduce costs, improve user experience, and enhance connectivity within their network.
According to leading tech research firms Gartner and Technavio,
60% of enterprises will have implemented SD-WAN technology into their networks by 2024, growing SD-WAN’s market size to $11 billion in 2027.
SD-WAN sounds like the next big thing in the IT space. But as a business leader who doesn’t manage technology solutions and IT networks, you may be wondering what that means for your company.
What is SD-WAN? What is it for? And does your organization even need it?
What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN is a technology that helps make your network connections faster, more reliable, and smarter by simplifying and optimizing how computer networks are set up and managed, specifically in wide-area networks (WANs) or networks spanning multiple locations.
According to
Cisco, the traditional WAN function connects multiple locations (e.g., offices, branches, clinics) over long distances by allowing their users to access applications hosted on their data center servers.
WANs typically use the following technology to help ensure secure and reliable connectivity:
- Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) MPLS is a switching mechanism that uses predetermined “labels” to route traffic through shorter pathways, prioritizing critical data and ensuring reliable performance.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) While known for allowing secure remote access, VPNs can also optimize network connectivity by creating encrypted tunnels over public networks, allowing multiple locations to communicate and transmit data securely.
- WAN Optimization Controller (WOC) WOCs are hardware-based devices that use techniques like data compression, caching, and protocol optimization to reduce latency, minimize data transmission, and enhance application performance across the network.
However, the rise of
cloud technology and
cloud-based applications brought an unprecedented increase in WAN traffic. This led to management, performance, and data security challenges, which drove the need for a new network model: the SD-WAN.
Designed to enhance the overall cloud experience, SD-WAN enables businesses to fully leverage the benefits of cloud computing while maintaining a robust and efficient network infrastructure.
It allows you to manage, configure, and monitor your organization’s network (including connections to different cloud environments) from a central point.
SD-WAN controls how data travels within your network and ensures it gets to its destination efficiently and securely. It finds the best routes for the data, avoiding slowdowns and bottlenecks along the way.
It also allows you to prioritize network traffic based on the specific needs of certain applications. Based on your configuration, SD-WAN can identify and prioritize critical applications—like a clinic’s electronic medical records (EMR) software or an office’s
unified communications system—and allocate network resources accordingly, ensuring optimal performance and user experience.
Read More:
Cloud Security Tips That Could Save Your Business
The Pros and Cons of SD-WAN
Of course, no technology is perfect. Although SD-WAN addresses many IT challenges and has revolutionized wide-area networking, it is not a catch-all solution. SD-WAN has its strengths and drawbacks. Here are some of them:
Performance
Pros
Connection Speed and Reliability
By finding the best paths for your data to travel, SD-WAN helps information reach its destination quickly and smoothly.
Application Performance
SD-WAN knows which applications you want to prioritize and gives them special treatment over the ones you don’t.
Connection Security
SD-WAN solutions often have built-in
security features like data encryption, firewall capabilities, and integrated threat intelligence.
Con
Dependence on Internet Connection
Internet downtime and issues will affect your SD-WAN connectivity.
Cost
Pro
More Affordable Internet Links
SD-WAN saves you money since it uses less expensive internet connections instead of costly dedicated lines or MPLS networks.
Con
Compatibility Issues
Some older or specialized systems may not be fully compatible with SD-WAN, which could cost you a lot on new systems.
Pro
Centralized Control
SD-WAN allows you to control and manage your network from one central place, making setting up new connections or changing settings quicker and easier.
Cons
Learning Curve
Implementing SD-WAN will require you to learn and understand how it works and how to navigate its management interface, which will take time.
Initial Setup and Configuration
Setting up SD-WAN requires proper network configuration and optimization, which involve technical expertise and assistance.
When Should You Consider Shifting to SD-WAN?
Sometimes, it’s tempting to just jump on the current technology bandwagon and get what everyone else is getting. While SD-WAN is revolutionary and groundbreaking, it’s not for everyone.
SD-WAN suitability depends on specific business needs and circumstances—information you’ll only get after a
thorough IT health assessment.
Read More:
What is an IT Health Assessment, and Does My Practice Need One?
Here are a few indicators that tell you to start looking for a trusted SD-WAN vendor:
You Have a Largely Remote and Hybrid Workforce
According to Australian telecommunications company Telstra, organizations adopting remote and hybrid models struggle to extend their security controls’ reach outside the perimeter of their legacy data centers.
With SD-WAN, your
IT team gets better network performance and security visibility. They can remotely configure and manage the network, troubleshoot issues, and apply security policies consistently across your remote workforce.
SD-WAN also provides flexibility and scalability for remote work environments, allowing you to easily increase and decrease network connections depending on your workforce needs. You can add new sites or home offices quickly and allocate network resources dynamically based on your requirements.
Read More:
How to Keep Track of WFH Devices
Your Company Relies Heavily on the Internet
If poor network connection, internet slowness, or internet outage makes it impossible (or extremely difficult) for your business to function, consider upgrading to SD-WAN so you can better manage your network better.
According to
GeoLinks, SD-WAN allows you to combine multiple Internet links to act as one. So if one connection fails, SD-WAN can seamlessly route your network traffic to your backup connection, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and minimizing downtime for internet-dependent businesses.
You’re Expanding Your Company or Network
Expanding into multiple locations requires a secure and reliable internet. SD-WAN can help you get that running quickly with centralized management, templated configuration, and plug-and-play deployment.
By simplifying the process of adding new locations and integrating them into the network, SD-WAN allows companies to easily scale their network infrastructure as they grow.
Investing in SD-WAN gives you a flexible and efficient networking solution that supports your business’s growth and needs.
The Technology Solution That Drives Business Growth
Many say technology is the key to success, but that’s not entirely true. Finding and implementing the right technology is.
SD-WAN may or may not be the technology for you; the only way to know that is to ask the pros. When it comes to choosing the right technology for your business, you need practical and professional advice from
trusted IT experts.
If you’re unsure how to manage and optimize your network infrastructure, ER Tech Pros’ team of
IT, network,
cloud, and
cybersecurity
engineers are ready to run a full assessment of your organization’s systems. They’ll analyze their findings and provide you with the insight and recommendations you need to achieve an IT environment that drives business growth and success.
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