July 2024

In the modern digital landscape, businesses need flexible, secure, and reliable network solutions to thrive. Managed SD-WAN services have emerged as a vital component in achieving these goals. SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Networking, virtualizes network connections over large distances, simplifying network management and enhancing performance.  Managed SD-WAN services involve third-party providers who handle the deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of an organisation’s SD-WAN infrastructure. This approach allows businesses to enjoy the benefits of SD-WAN without the need for extensive in-house resources or expertise. The service provider manages everything from initial setup to ongoing support, ensuring optimal network performance and reliability. One of the main advantages of managed SD-WAN services is reduced operational complexity. Organisations can rely on the provider’s expertise, freeing their IT staff to focus on strategic tasks. This not only boosts efficiency but also minimises network downtime and performance issues. Security is another crucial benefit. Managed SD-WAN providers implement advanced security measures like encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems to protect data and ensure compliance. Continuous network monitoring helps proactively address threats and vulnerabilities. Scalability is a significant advantage as well. Managed SD-WAN services can easily adjust to growing business needs, providing consistent connectivity and performance across multiple locations and remote workers. This flexibility is essential for businesses with expanding network requirements. Cost efficiency is also notable. Managed SD-WAN services usually operate on a subscription basis, avoiding large upfront costs. This model offers predictable monthly expenses and can be more cost-effective than traditional WAN solutions, with the added benefits of improved performance and reduced downtime. In summary, managed SD-WAN services provide businesses with a streamlined, secure, and scalable networking solution, enabling them to focus on growth and innovation without being tied down by network complexities. Visit Evolve’s website to find out more about their fully managed, global SD-WAN solution with end-to-end PCI compliance and 24 hour support. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of customers across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

In today’s rapidly changing digital world, businesses face increasing challenges in securing their network whilst also ensuring seamless connection. Traditional network security approaches, often centred around on-premise solutions, struggle to meet the demands of a dispersed workforce and cloud-centric environments. That is where Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) comes in – a revolutionary approach to network security that combines Wide Area Networking (WAN) and Network security services into a single, cloud-delivered service model. So what is SASE? Secure Access Service Edge, commonly referred to as SASE (pronounced “sassy”), is a network architecture that converges networking and security functions into a unified, cloud-native service. SASE aims to provide secure and optimised access to applications and resources, regardless of their location. By integrating key networking and security capabilities, SASE ensures that organisations can maintain robust security postures while delivering high-performance access to users. What are the key components of SASE? Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Secure Web Gateway (SWG) Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Firewall as a Service (FWaaS What are the benefits of utilising SASE? There are many benefits of implementing SASE into your business, SD-WAN alone boasts a plethora of advantages for businesses so when combined with the additional elements of SASE it is unstoppable. Enhanced Security SASE provides a holistic security approach, combining multiple security functions into a single solution. This ensures comprehensive protection against a wide range of threats, from malware and phishing to data breaches and insider threats. Improved Performance By leveraging SD-WAN and other optimisation technologies, SASE ensures that users experience fast and reliable access to applications and resources. This is particularly beneficial for remote workers and branch offices. Scalability and Flexibility By leveraging SD-WAN and other optimisation technologies, SASE ensures that users experience fast and reliable access to applications and resources. This is particularly beneficial for remote workers and branch offices. Simplified Management SASE consolidates networking and security functions into a single platform, simplifying the management and monitoring of these services. This reduces the complexity of maintaining separate solutions and improves operational efficiency. Cost Savings By integrating networking and security services, SASE can reduce the need for multiple point solutions, leading to cost savings. Additionally, its cloud-based delivery model can lower infrastructure and maintenance costs. In conclusion, SASE represents a significant shift in how organisations approach network security and connectivity. By converging networking and security functions into a single, cloud-delivered service, SASE offers enhanced security, improved performance and greater flexibility. SASE can empower businesses to stay ahead in the digital age, ensuring secure and efficient access to their critical applications. To learn more about Evolve’s SD-WAN device, powered by Mako visit their website today. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of customers across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Evolve Appoints Simon Saffidine As Chief Technology Officer. Simon has a plethora of knowledge in technical service delivery and IT engineering. His appointment will strengthen Evolve’s position as a market leader and accelerate the company’s expansion plan. Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve Business Group, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Simon to our executive team. He is an accomplished IT professional with a proven track record of delivering tailored IT and managed network solutions, and his extensive experience and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to innovate and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”  After working for ANS Group as Director of Technical Transformation, where he oversaw the process and software integration and served as the technical lead for acquisitions, Simon now becomes a member of the Evolve leadership team. He worked at UKFast for six years before this, the final two of which he spent as Technical Director and influencing important decisions from the board. After completing his studies in Computer Networking technology and Information Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University, he began working as an engineering apprentice at Bombardier Aerospace (UK) Ltd. and Fujitsu Services. Simon added: “I am honoured to join Evolve and eager to work with such a talented and dedicated team. Evolve has seen impressive growth in recent years, and my immediate focus will be how we build on that to take the business to the next level. “Aside from the incredible Evolve offering, I was really drawn here by its people; it’s refreshing to be somewhere that people genuinely care and have a passion for the business. That level of motivation is incredibly unique. “I look forward to getting to know our customers better, driving our technology strategy forward, and advancing the company’s mission to take the pain out of connectivity.” In his role as Chief Technology Officer at Evolve, Simon will oversee the rules and processes that dictate how technology may improve the company’s array of state-of-the-art products as well as the strategic direction of Evolve’s technical achievements. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve Managed Network solutions are helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. Explore Evolve’s website to find out more about how their Managed Network Solutions can help your business stay secure. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Two key technologies have emerged to address the need for robust network performance and security: Software-Defined Wide Area WAN (SD-WAN) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). While both solutions offer their own significant benefits, understanding their differences and how they complement each other is crucial for making informed decisions. What is SD-WAN? Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is a technology that optimizes and simplifies the management of a wide area network (WAN). By using software to control connectivity, SD-WAN intelligently routes traffic across multiple network paths, ensuring high performance and reliability. Key features of SD-WAN include: Dynamic path selection Centralised remote management Cost efficiency PCI Compliance through Evolve’s SD-WAN device Enhanced performance Maximised uptime through 4G/5G failover Scalability What is SASE? Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cloud-native architecture that combines network and security functions into a unified service model. SASE aims to provide secure, seamless access to applications and resources, regardless of user location. Core components of SASE include: SD-WAN Integration Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Secure Web Gateway (SWG) Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) What are the key differences between SD-WAN and SASE? While SD-WAN and SASE share some similarities, they serve different purposes and offer distinct advantages. Here are the differences: Scope of functionality Security capabilities Deployment model User experience EvolveWAN Evolve offers a secure, reliable and scalable SD-WAN solution, powered by Mako Networks. Evolve’s SD-WAN solution is remotely managed through a centralised management system, speeding up resolution and creating an extremely flexible solution for your business. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of customers across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

The digital transformation journey for many businesses has been marked by the need to adapt their Wide Area Networks (WAN) to meet increasing demands for performance, flexibility and security. Traditional WAN architectures have struggled to keep up with the dynamic needs of modern enterprises, leading to the rise of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) and the more recent Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) model. This blog explores the evolution from SD-WAN to SASE, highlighting how WAN is transforming to support the needs of contemporary businesses. The Rise of SD-WAN   What is SD-WAN? Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is a technology that revolutionised the way businesses manage their WANs. SD-WAN uses software to control the network connections, applications, and services between enterprise locations, data centres, and cloud environments. Key Benefits of SD-WAN Optimised performance Cost efficiency Simplified management Scalability The Emergence of SASE Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), pronounced “sassy,” is a transformative architecture that converges networking and security services into a single, cloud-delivered service model. SASE extends the capabilities of SD-WAN by integrating comprehensive security functions, creating a unified solution that addresses both connectivity and security needs. Key Benefits of SASE Integrated security Unified management Cloud-native architecture Enhanced user experience Evolution Driven by Changing Needs The evolution from SD-WAN to SASE is driven by the changing needs of businesses in an increasingly digital world. As organisations adopt more cloud services and remote work becomes the norm, the need for integrated security and efficient connectivity has become paramount. Traditional WAN and even SD-WAN solutions, while beneficial, often require additional security measures to fully protect modern networks. The Convergence of Networking and Security SASE represents the convergence of networking and security into a single, cloud-native service. This convergence simplifies the architecture, reduces complexity, and ensures that security is built into the network rather than being an afterthought. By combining SD-WAN with advanced security functions, SASE addresses the limitations of standalone solutions and offers a more cohesive and effective approach. Preparing for the future Implementing SASE helps future-proof the network by providing a scalable, flexible, and secure solution that can adapt to evolving business needs. As new threats emerge and technology continues to advance, SASE’s integrated approach ensures that businesses can maintain robust security while delivering high-performance connectivity. The evolution from SD-WAN to SASE marks a significant shift in how businesses manage their WANs. While SD-WAN brought about substantial improvements in network performance and cost efficiency, SASE takes it a step further by integrating comprehensive security into the network fabric. This evolution reflects the growing importance of security in a cloud-centric, remote-work-enabled world. By embracing SASE, organisations can achieve a more resilient, scalable, and secure network infrastructure that meets the demands of today’s digital landscape. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of customers across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn