What is SD-WAN?
Software: Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) has emerged as a transformative technology, revolutionising the way enterprises manage and optimise their network infrastructure. This white paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of SD-WAN, expanding on its principles, benefits, implementation strategies, and impact on modern networking paradigms.
Introduction to SD-WAN
Traditional Wide Area Networking (WAN) architectures often face challenges in meeting the requirements of modern enterprises. With the implementation of cloud-based applications, the increase in remote working trends, and the increasing need for reliable and high-performing connections, traditional WANs often demonstrate limitations in terms of scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
SD-WAN is a paradigm shift in networking technology that addresses these shortcomings by leveraging software-defined principles to enhance the management, security, and performance of WAN connections.
Understanding SD-WAN
By definition, SD-WAN is an approach to network connectivity that utilises software-based controls and policies to intelligently direct traffic across the WAN. It abstracts the underlying hardware and transport mechanisms, providing centralised management and dynamic traffic prioritisation.
Functionality of the device:
- Path selection and optimisation
SD-WAN intelligently chooses the most suitable path for data transmission, considering factors such as latency, bandwidth, and application requirements.
- Traffic prioritisation
It allows for granular control over traffic flow, prioritising critical applications over less important ones to optimise performance.
- CMS
SD-WAN offers a centralised management system, allowing the management of devices, network policies, and configurations that can be managed and implemented across the entire network, simply by administration.
- Security Enhancements
SD-WAN integrates security measures such as encryption, firewalls, and threat detection to fortify the network against potential threats. Mako, Evolve’s security gateway device partner, is the only Level 1 PCI-certified device in the world. Providing an extra layer of security for businesses carrying out card payments.
There are significant benefits to utilising SD-WAN:
- Enhanced agility and flexibility
SD-WAN facilitates rapid deployment, configuration changes, and dynamic adaptation to network conditions, therefore enabling businesses to respond swiftly to ever-changing needs.
- Improved performance
Through the ability to optimise traffic flow and select the best available path, SD-WAN enhances application performance and the user experience.
- Cost savings
SD-WAN reduces the reliance on expensive MPLS links, resulting in cost savings. In Evolve’s case, with 4G failover capabilities in the Mako devices, minimised downtime ensures there is reduced loss for the business.
- Enhanced security
Integration of robust security features fortifies the network against vulnerabilities, ensuring data protection and compliance adherence.
- Centralised management
Simplified network administration and policy enforcement lead to operational efficiency and reduced administrative overheads. Managed network providers such as Evolve can also manage your network infrastructure remotely to save your business even more resources.
