SD-WAN – A Keystone in Modern Networking

Roman engineering formed the building blocks for the modern civilization, constructing aqueducts spanning the known world, connecting peoples of all walks of life. The arch supports these spectacular structures, but central to these grand architectural achievements, is the keystone. SD-WAN is the keystone to modern networking, unlocking the door to consistent quality of service (QoS), centralized cloud-based network management and control. SD-WAN solidifies secure user-to-application connectivity, whether the network is MPLS, broadband internet or LTE/5G. Gartner defines SD-WAN as “a replacement for traditional WAN routers and are agnostic to WAN transport technologies. SD-WAN provides dynamic, policy-based, application path selection across multiple WAN connections and supports service chaining for additional services such as WAN optimization and firewalls.” SD-WAN erects the pillars of simplicity, better performance, greater security and business continuity, paving the way toward the Infinite Enterprise. Gain the simplicity of a single, centralized blueprint of connections on your network – edge to core – for configuration, management and reporting. Discover better performance via dynamic traffic routing, offering high availability and low latency, enhancing the end user experience. Embrace greater security in SD-WAN. Find peace of mind in end-to-end segmentation and real-time access control, which secures traffic across all connections, and distributes security policy across all endpoints. Bask in business continuity, knowing SD-WAN provides single pane of glass management for your networking ecosystem, arming IT with user-friendly means to maintain operations through the cloud. As you draft your technology strategy, it’s important to consider how you will implement SD-WAN within your environment.  Here are some considerations that may help you build a stronger technology foundation. On-premises SD-WAN vs. Cloud-based SD-WAN

• On-premises SD-WAN – Intended for organizations that do not connect to the cloud, this SD-WAN infrastructure only connects to resources private and internal to the organization,
• Cloud-based SD-WAN – Serving as an onramp to the cloud, this approach supports cloud-based applications delivered via internet (i.e. Zoom or Dropbox), and promises simple network management, dynamic routing, threat protection, as well as reduced TCO.

Application Based Licensing (CAPEX) vs. SD-WAN as a Service (OPEX)

• Application Based Licensing – This on-premises SD-WAN option demands you to purchase hardware and a license for said hardware. Deployment requires upfront CAPEX, the wait for shipping and installation, then configuration (which must be done on-premises)
• SD-WAN as a Service – A cloud-based alternative that accelerates deployment, offers minimal upfront investment and predictable monthly billing (turning a capital expense to an operational expense).

The remote workforce reaps the rewards of SD-WAN, as cloud-based networking is enabling anytime, anywhere connectivity empowering industry’s response to the new ways of working: The Infinite Enterprise. Thanks to the keystone, the ancient aqueducts have stood the test of time. As technology continues to change, organizations whose strategies feature SD-WAN as part of a broader cloud initiative will likewise overcome the challenges beset by the pandemic and evolved ways of working.  If you’d like to learn more about how SD-WAN can be a hallmark of a quality technology architecture, visit our SD-WAN solution page for more information.