Traditional time division multiplexing (TDM) networks have done an excellent job of delivering phone calls, managing test data, and even migrating data to new infrastructures. But it simply doesn’t have the flexibility of SD-WAN. Since TDM networks assign a static time slot for each piece of data, they can’t compete with internet protocol (IP) networks, which can divide, send, and regroup data in myriad ways.
The flexibility, scalability, and efficiency of IP networking pave the way for software-defined wide-area networks (SD-WAN). These give you control over how you move data, use your network, and manipulate traffic to meet your business’s goals.
What Is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN involves optimizing your wide-area network using software to direct traffic. You can think of an SD-WAN solution like a traffic control mechanism. Data moves like vehicles traveling down streets — but only the specific streets chosen by the traffic control managers. Those managing the system also decide how many cars can travel on each street, when, and which vehicles are allowed in.
It’s the same with SD-WAN. You can control the kind of data that can flow through the network, when, the paths it can take, and its destination.
For example, suppose a retailer uses a traditional, inflexible network for its internet service, communications across multiple locations, videoconferencing, point-of-sale (POS) system, and in-store intranet solution. Sometimes, everything works fairly well, and any delays or latency go unnoticed.
However, the retailer’s POS system often suffers latency or dropouts. This is because the combination of internet usage in each store, high-definition videoconferencing, and large data files sent from one store to another consumes too much bandwidth.
To fix the problem, the retailer installs an SD-WAN solution. Using SD-WAN, network engineers can “direct traffic” in a way that ensures the most business-critical services get the bandwidth needed to work without a hitch.
They prioritize the POS system, which is central to the retailer’s revenue model. When there are company-wide meetings, the videoconferencing system also gets priority, ensuring there aren’t dropouts or glitches during important presentations. In this way, businesses can leverage SD-WAN to optimize the performance of their networks.
How SD-WAN Solves Today’s IT Challenges
The modern business network has to be flexible enough to adapt to whatever changes a business makes. This includes adjustments to marketing strategies, operational approaches, and ways of meeting customer needs. SD-WAN gives you the control and flexibility you need to adjust your network’s performance — automatically or manually — in an unlimited variety of situations.
SD-WAN makes agile network management possible by meeting challenges such as:
- Bandwidth adjustments. Cloud-based services and applications, for instance, require varying amounts of bandwidth, and SD-WAN makes it easy to meet these needs.
- Unreliable networks. You can have your provider set up an SD-WAN architecture with automatic failover mechanisms. If there’s an issue with the primary network, your failover system can automatically spin up a backup solution.
- An SD-WAN system can come equipped with end-to-end encryption and access control systems that keep your data safe and intruders away from your digital assets.
- Application performance. Whether it’s a CRM your marketing team needs to launch a campaign, a POS, or an ERP that processes manufacturing data, there are some apps your business can’t live without. SD-WAN ensures these have the throughput they need to receive, send, and process important data.
- If you need to add a new location, connect more employees, or launch an additional product line, SD-WAN can make sure your network grows with you. Your provider can reconfigure network assets and restructure data flows to meet new needs relatively quickly.
Benefits and Advantages of SD-WAN
SD-WAN gives you the ability to design an intelligent network that delivers exactly what you need. Imagine a highway packed with cars, slowly edging forward, bumper to bumper, while there are other highways and streets alongside it that are empty. It’s inefficient and slow. SD-WAN gives you access to many different “streets” you can use to send and receive information, as well as the control necessary to decide what to send, when, and which data to prioritize.
Better Network Performance
Using your SD-WAN network, you can prioritize the applications that are most important to your business. There’s no need to worry about whether or not they get the bandwidth they need to provide the kind of performance your employees and customers expect.
For example, an IoT device may need to process a vast amount of information in real time without interruption, or a VoIP solution may have to manage dozens of calls simultaneously without glitches. SD-WAN ensures that your network provides these systems with the bandwidth they need.
Straightforward Network Management
Your IT team, whether you use in-house staff or an external provider, can control your entire network from a centralized interface. This gives them the power to:
- Monitor your network’s performance and traffic, looking for issues.
- Manage network performance so it satisfies the needs of your applications.
- Adjust your network to optimize performance.
- Use automation to expand or adjust your network according to predefined conditions.
In addition to the simplicity you get with SD-WAN, you also save considerable time because complex network adjustments can be made in a single software interface, either in your office or remotely.
Improved Security
SD-WAN solutions have built-in security features, such as web gateways, firewalls, and encryption. These prevent attackers from accessing your network and malware from flowing to your endpoints.
You can also have an SD-WAN system equipped with role-based access controls and similar systems that greatly reduce the chances of a malicious actor infiltrating a sensitive system.
One of the most significant benefits of the security features of an SD-WAN solution is consistency. You can apply one set of rules across your entire network, making sure different locations, offices, and employees follow the same operational protocols. This is especially helpful considering the diverse array of data protection laws and industry requirements. With SD-WAN, you can ensure every medical facility in your network adheres to HIPAA standards, for example. Or, if you do business with companies in the UK, you can establish GDPR-compliant data management systems across your entire ecosystem.
Analytics
When you have SD-WAN, you’re empowered not just to manage your network but also to analyze how data moves through it. Your system can collect information about which applications use the most data and when. This information is particularly valuable for organizations that need to scale as more or fewer customers interact with their applications. By understanding the bandwidth requirements of each app, you can make strategic decisions around the kind of internet service you need.
The analytics that an SD-WAN system enables are also useful for identifying trends. For instance, if the number of users accessing your mobile application has been steadily climbing over the last six months, your SD-WAN solution can surface this data. Using this information, you can decide when and how to grow your business.
Determining Whether SD-WAN Is Right for You
SD-WAN offers numerous advantages, but it may not be the ideal solution for every business. If your organization has no plans for growth or expansion and your current network infrastructure is functioning effectively, you might not need SD-WAN at this time.
To decide if now is the time to start considering SD-WAN, you can ask the following questions:
- Do we currently have any network challenges? For reference, if you never experience lag time, there aren’t any issues with latency, or your applications always perform up to end-user expectations, you may be able to delay the SD-WAN conversation.
- Is growing our business a high priority? For some organizations, maintaining the status quo is sufficient, and growth is not necessarily on the docket. If this is the case with your company, and your network is currently performing well, you might be able to put the SD-WAN conversation on pause until you decide to pursue growth.
- Do we need to tighten our security? While it’s hard to imagine a company that doesn’t have security concerns, those that have simple, intranet-based networks with strict role-based access control systems may not have SD-WAN on their radar. But if any of your business assets, such as apps, cloud-based services, or website, connect to the internet, SD-WAN can improve your security.
- Do we have a complicated network — or will it get more complicated down the road? Some companies may have only one location and run applications using an on-premise server. In this case, SD-WAN may not be necessary. On the other hand, if you have more than one location, use cloud-based apps, and need connectivity to manage multiple business functions, SD-WAN should be a priority.
- Are internet costs a concern? SD-WAN gives you the leeway to analyze your bandwidth and speed needs and optimize your current internet usage for your business. After an SD-WAN optimization, you may find that you can downgrade your internet service and still enjoy top-notch operations. This can save you money each month.
- Do we need greater network visibility? Because SD-WAN gives you a single pane of glass through which to view all of your network operations, many organizations use it to understand how data flows through their system and to pinpoint potential trouble spots. Some businesses also use the visibility that SD-WAN enables to troubleshoot network issues quickly. It speeds up root cause analysis and limits downtime.
If you answer yes to any of the above questions, it’s time to start exploring your SD-WAN options. Remember that SD-WAN is flexible, so even if your environment is fairly simple now, you can implement SD-WAN and scale up or adjust it as needed.
How to Choose an SD-WAN Provider
Choosing the right SD-WAN provider is crucial because you need a provider that understands how to improve your network’s performance, efficiency, and security. As you make your decision, here are some suggestions that may help:
- Take time to pinpoint what you need — both for now and for the future. Some companies need the ability to adjust how much bandwidth certain applications or services need. Others want a simpler, more centralized network management solution. By making a wish list, you can compare how different providers fit the bill.
- Compare the scalability each provider offers. Scalability comes into play in terms of how much a solution can scale and how quickly. Map out the kinds of scaling you’re most likely to need and check whether a potential provider can accommodate your growth.
- Think about the kinds of network environments you use. Do you use a hybrid, public, private, or on-premise architecture? Some providers may do a better job of managing hybrid cloud environments than others. In some cases, a provider may excel when it comes to the public cloud but may not be able to manage a multi-cloud system as well.
- Determine whether the company’s customer support is adequate. Can they take support calls on weekends or during holidays? What is the average time it takes to resolve network issues? Do you have to pay extra for enhanced support packages?
- Check each company’s references. Collect several references and dedicate a morning or afternoon to chatting with them. You should ask about how they handle challenges, average uptime, and whether they can think creatively to meet your business’s needs. You can also ask about each company’s weaknesses and determine which ones you’re willing to live with.
- Make sure you can afford the solution. Your total cost of ownership is often justified by the savings your solution provides or how it enhances your revenue stream. But it’s best to evaluate the expenses in the context of a long-term budget to make sure your solution will make both dollars and sense.
TPx’s team of SD-WAN experts understands how to decide the best solution for your industry. We also understand how to adjust your SD-WAN system to ensure it meets your company’s short- and long-term goals. To experience the potential of SD-WAN for your company, connect with one of TPx’s experts for a consultation.