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How SD-WAN as a Service Adds Value to Your Business?
The software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) is spearheading a revolution that allows IT departments to display significantly higher business value. SD-WAN is the networking approach that we were searching for. It’s the answer to the challenges of speed, security and reliability, and control that network managers have been faced with as popularity increases in cloud computing.
The growth of cloud technology has changed the way we work. While we are reaping the rewards in terms of accessibility and flexibility, cloud technology reliance has placed a whole new set of demands on the business networks. Legacy WAN configurations that rely on MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) links cannot keep up with an increased performance requirements; they are costly, difficult and complicated. The IT team might patch the issues as a short-term fix by adding extra bandwidth – but that’s expensive and unsustainable.
And that is why a solution with SD-WAN is preferable. It reduces costs, while increasing the agility, safety and performance of the network.
What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN is a traditional WAN evolution that offers Enterprise a more agile networking alternative. It applies software-defined policies and business purpose to WAN connections, allowing IT to control the WAN via a centralised interface or portal and more strategically direct WAN traffic.
Find a few more ways of explaining SD-WAN:
Despite advances in cyber security, attacks are becoming ever more dangerous. The key cyber security issues include:
- An attempt to resolve the congestion and blocks in the network that can occur with traditional WAN and transform the network from static to dynamic.
- It is the next logical step towards hybrid WAN management, and a way for any organisation to improve its agility and versatility in the market.
How Do I Get SD-WAN Implemented?
There are many options to procure and implement SD-WAN, but the two most common methods are to: purchase it from a carrier or partner with a supplier of solutions, such as Teceze, to help develop, procure and implement.
Using a Carrier
Your MPLS provider would likely have the SD-WAN capability. But they’ll probably sell you the equipment in exchange for a multi-year term.
Using a carrier initially seems easy. You just have to sign a new contract and you’re locked down. This binds you to the service provider by doing so – restricting your network access and the opportunity to selectively attach and remove providers. It could also limit your administrative power to the moves that the provider wants to make, adds, and changes. However, if you want to leave the provider, you will sacrifice not just the service but also the infrastructure.
Using a Service Provider
Most organizations, when introducing SD-WAN, utilize the skills and knowledge of a service provider.
The solution provider will collaborate with you to plan and create a network that meets the needs of your organization. Through design, architecture and implementation process this provider can then ease you. Following an existing procedure helps to reduce downtime and ensures a smooth transition to SD-WAN. However, most providers can also offer your support /management of your network.
You own your network by using a solution provider, which gives you control over selecting the best transportation options for each of your locations.
How SD-WAN as a Service Benefits Your Business?
SD-WAN as a Service is highly appealing to a wide range of companies, primarily due to the advantages that SD-WAN service providers boast. Some of the benefits include:
Easy Deployment and Maintenance:
- Instead of managing and maintaining their own WAN, end-users pay a fee to install and distribute their WAN access to the SD-WAN service provider. It also often comes with an ongoing maintenance, pre-installed software, and monitoring services, all of which can reduce a customer’ IT costs.
Cost Reduction:
- The cost-effectiveness is one of the key benefits of SD-WAN as a service. SD-WAN helps businesses minimise their WAN costs by 90% or more by replacing or supplementing private WAN networks, and the same advantages extend to SD-WAN as a service.
Improved Productivity:
- SD-WAN represents a significant benefit for companies that rely on internet connectivity, optimising their bandwidth by prioritising traffic and offering flexibility in transport. Managed SD-WAN improves this benefit with provider-continuously monitored SD-WAN systems, enabling companies to benefit from automated provisioning, as well as real-time adjustment by the service provider.
Security:
- Although standard WAN solutions handle security through multiple devices, SD-WAN offers the same protection for all company locations. As an utility, SD-WAN multiplies this benefit by offering integrated security solutions managed by the service provider, allowing greater flexibility and more efficient protection.
Your Destiny Network
The final questions you need to ask yourself while reviewing your choices for SD-WAN are:
- How much I want control over my network?
- Do I want to have a single carrier locked in?
- Do I want the versatility to change my network to suit my needs?
- Do I want each of my business locations to have the best carrier options?
As always, Teceze experts are keen to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us to talk about SD-WAN for your network.
The only way to protect what you’ve worked hard to build is to be vigilant when it comes to cybersecurity. If you’d like to know more about how your business can benefit from managed services, just give us a call, we are here to help.
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