Before choosing an SD-WAN solution, it’s important to understand the nuances of this type of network infrastructure. These can include security, performance, and assurance. SD-WAN can be beneficial for any business requiring high-speed internet access, but it can also present challenges for enterprises that want to ensure their data’s security and privacy.

 

Security

The success of software defined wan (SD-WAN) relies on the security of its infrastructure. Companies can avoid cyberattacks and improve network security with the right security solutions. However, the security of an SD-WAN solution is not as simple as it might seem. While many security solutions provide some level of protection against cyberattacks, not all provide complete security. Some companies may require a more comprehensive approach, and others may need only a few security solutions.

In addition to implementing a comprehensive security plan, SD-WAN vendors offer a range of additional security enhancements. For example, zero-touch provisioning and two-factor authentication are common practices that can make SD-WAN devices more secure. 

 

Performance

Organizations implementing SD-WAN need to understand how their WAN is performing. The right monitoring can prevent unnecessary downtime and ensure that businesses are only paying for the needed performance. Application performance management (APM) tools provide the metrics needed to measure the performance of an SD-WAN. For example, these tools can tell if SD-WAN is underperforming or experiencing sudden drops in performance. They can also determine the source of web traffic and help organizations ensure they are receiving the services they need.

An SD-WAN solution can also identify which links are less available or unreliable. A company can use dynamic path selection to allocate the best connection for the most important traffic. 

 

Assurance

Assurance of SD-WAN solutions helps service providers reduce network incidents. Using this technology, service providers can better understand how network problems affect customers and respond quickly and effectively. An enhanced service assurance solution can also create an indexed repository of valuable information to inform real-time operational intelligence, business strategy, and product and service design. Today, traffic volumes are increasing, and networks are becoming more complex. Additionally, cybercrime techniques are constantly evolving. By implementing an enhanced service assurance solution, service providers can respond to operational changes and mitigate the effects of cyberattacks without incurring high costs.

A key benefit of SD-WAN is its ability to prioritize business-critical traffic, such as VoIP and web-based applications, by steering them over the best path. With a high-performance connection, SD-WAN helps ensure the quality of end-to-end business-critical traffic and reduces latency and packet loss. 

 

Multi-Vendor Devices

While SD-WAN does open up new networking vendors, the ordering process can be time-consuming. Many pre-sales teams and other interactions can lead to a longer lead time. Multi-vendor solutions also allow customers to choose which vendor they want to work with. This makes SD-WAN a more flexible networking platform and makes it possible to select the right equipment for the job.

Multi-vendor SD-WAN deployments offer a range of options for service providers and enterprises. Developing an end-to-end network fabric is essential as 5G deployments are gaining momentum. 

 

Cost

SD-WAN is a great way to reduce your IT costs, both soft and hard. Because it offers centralized management and automation, eliminating the need for expensive network engineers. In addition, it streamlines network tasks and increases agility. Its controller keeps track of network capacity and reroutes packets accordingly to keep traffic flowing and maximizes overall system performance.

Pricing for SD-WAN varies depending on your company’s network size and architecture. For example, organizations that run a legacy WAN model may find their costs lower than those of companies migrating to the cloud. Companies that have more than one site and a large number of users may find that they need a more complex system.

 

Choosing An SD-WAN Provider

Choosing an SD-WAN provider is a complex process, with several factors to consider. Security and reliability are the top priorities for most buyers, though there is a difference between the two. Choosing a provider that offers centralized management is an excellent option. This feature makes it easy to track all aspects of the network from one place and removes the need for multiple monitoring tools and platforms. An SD-WAN provider should also be able to offer simple management so users don’t have toworry about complicated setups.