SD-WAN is an advanced version of WAN.

The traditional WAN is only confined to branch, data center and enterprise. Based on MPLS circuits, while it ensures reliable connectivity and security, it might not be compatible with today’s cloud-centric world.

Here comes SD-WAN!

SD-WAN stands for Software-defined Wide Area Network and is a virtual WAN architecture that lets enterprises use any combination of services—including MPLS, LTE and broadband internet services. This technology uses a centralized control function to securely direct traffic across the WAN.

It leads to increased application performance, enhanced user experience, increased business productivity and reduced IT costs.

Here we have rounded up SD-WAN benefits in detail.

 1. Increasing Security:

Let’s accept it. Digital transformation comes with both favorable and unfavorable outcomes.

While it can enhance user experience as well as increase market reach, it can also make any organization prone to critical security threats. That’s a problem, provided that more than 50% of businesses experienced cybersecurity incidents in 2019, according to a recent survey.

SD-WAN technology can be a great help in this context.

Although basic firewall and VPN functions delivered by most SD-WAN solutions are not sufficient, elastic and dynamic SD-WAN can make a difference.

You can opt for SD-WAN technology that is equipped with a wide range of integrated security features, such as IPS, NGFW, encryption, AV and sandboxing that can eliminate the risk of data loss, regulatory violations, legal issues and downtime.

 2. Minimizing Complexities:

Networks are getting complex due to the technical advancements, affecting network performance and burdening IT teams as well.

Luckily, SD-WAN can relieve the IT burden by simplifying WAN infrastructure, utilizing broadband to deactivate non-critical business apps, automating remote tasks, and controlling traffic through a centralized controller. You can consider an SD-WAN service that can be combined with the local brand infrastructure to strengthen the security and management offered by the local LAN.

 3. Enabling Cloud Usage:

Cloud services are on the rise among both small and big enterprises. Another benefit of using SD-WAN is that it supports cloud access at the remote location. This way, it prevents backhauling traffic as it routes all cloud and branch office traffic using the data center.

It means that your IT personal can directly access cloud applications from any location without pinning down the core network with the need to handle additional traffic.

As a bonus, SD-WAN enhances the cloud application performance by stressing business-critical applications and letting your multiple locations to directly communicate.

4. Improving Performance:

Not all network traffic is the same. However, you can configure your SD-WAN to emphasize important traffic and services like VoIP and then run it over the most reliable route.

By delivering important applications through dependable, high-performance connections, you can minimize packet loss and latency concerns, improving productivity and keeping frustration at bay.

The technology also increases IT efficiency at your other business location(s) as it enables automation and offers dependable links for IoT projects.

 5. Minimizing Costs:

Deploying a cloud-based application has added to the data running over WAN, thereby increasing operating expenses.

Luckily, SD-WAN can minimize the expenses by using low-cost local Internet access, facilitating direct cloud access, and minimizing the amount of traffic over the core WAN.

 6. Supporting Edge Computing:

Another benefit is that SD-WAN can help make the maximum of Edge Computing.

Edge Computing is defined as a distributed computing technology that brings computation and data storage to the location where it is required, to enhance response times and conserve bandwidth usage.

SD-WAN can process critical data at the edge of the branch office network—and less important data can be delivered to the cloud and processed there. This leads to many benefits, including minimized latency, lower bandwidth usage, and better reliability.

These are some benefits by opting for SD-WAN technology. Want to ask something else? Or you have other benefits that haven’t been featured here?

Drop what comes to your mind in the comment box given below!