Why Your Business Needs SD-WAN
Wide-area networks (WAN) are a necessity when your business gets to a certain size, but Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) can be expensive to implement across multiple locations and time-consuming to deploy and maintain. A Software-Defined Wide-Area Network (SD-WAN), on the other hand, can be set up quickly while cutting costs and improving application performance. If it fits your needs, an SD-WAN may be precisely the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Here are six reasons why:
1. More Efficient Bandwidth Usage
As more and more businesses rely on software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions delivered by the cloud, SD-WAN’s ability to provide a secure and fast connection both within and without the network is becoming a game-changer.
Instead of managing traffic by means of physical routers, an SD-WAN relies on a software overlay to provide more efficient WAN bandwidth utilization by means of dynamic path selection. Simply put, it prioritizes pathing for high-demand applications like video conferencing or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). You’ll see noticeable performance improvements for these types of usages because your bandwidth is being allocated where it can make the biggest impact at any given time.
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2. SD-WAN Is Easy to Configure and Quick to Deploy
SD-WAN takes the network technology and infrastructure you already have and makes it work more efficiently. Making these kinds of network improvements to a traditional MPLS would require adding new hardware to your network, not to mention testing and configuring to make sure it works correctly before you could rely on it for business-critical operations. SD-WAN, however, is different.
SD-WAN is deployed and controlled through a software platform rather than hardware, with a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process. Many SD-WAN solutions can even be implemented by non-technical staff, lightening the load on your IT department.
This also means that you can get SD-WAN configured and ready to go at a new location in a matter of days, not weeks. For growing businesses, you get unrivaled flexibility and scalability while delivering a secure, fast connection when and when you need it.
3. Customized Performance
A cloud-enabled SD-WAN can be easily configured with your organization’s specific needs in mind. For example, bandwidth can increase or decrease on-demand, giving you performance where you need it the most.
You’re also likely to see improved speed and responsiveness with SD-WAN services. Traffic for high-demand applications gets routed through the fastest and most reliable connection, reducing common network issues like latency and jitter. Essentially, speed and reliability are delivered where it’ll make a difference in your day-to-day work.
4. Better Security
The traditional approach to data security with an MPLS is to focus on a centralized, corporate data center that operates as the “vault” where you keep all of your data. However, with more and more companies relying on the cloud for business-critical operations, it’s your traffic that you need to protect, especially when you’re working across multiple locations.
A key part of SD-WAN is end-to-end encryption throughout the network. This means that even if your traffic gets intercepted, your data is still protected. Your network is also segmented, containing any security breaches or damage and giving you the chance to respond quickly.
User accounts can be another major threat vector for corporate networks. SD-WAN makes account creation, editing, and removal quick and straightforward.
5. Better Voice Quality on a More Reliable Connection
In the past year, most of us have become familiar with the ins and outs of video and voice conferencing, including some of the common problems that come from this bandwidth-hungry mode of communication. If your VoIP calls are plagued with clipped words and stuttering connections, you may be experiencing packet loss.
SD-WAN can solve this problem by implementing Forward Error Correction (FEC) to compensate for packet loss. Additionally, you can configure your network to route voice traffic along the most efficient path, making sure that your calls are clear and consistent.
6. A Cost-Effective Solution
One of the biggest reasons to deploy an SD-WAN is how cost-effective it is. You get to reap the benefits of improved performance, reliability, and security simply by overlaying a software-side implementation onto the technology you already have. SD-WAN will use whatever connection makes the most sense for the user, whether that’s MPLS, Ethernet, WiFi, or anything else.
When you need to grow, SD-WAN saves you money and time with simple deployment and configuration that can be achieved with minimal IT involvement. This networking technology keeps pace with your business while reducing overhead and equipment spending.
SD-WAN helps you get the most out of the connectivity you already have, delivering bandwidth to the mission-critical applications that need it the most.
What You Can Do Right Now
For many growing businesses, a growing challenge is finding a networking solution that can keep pace with the increasing demands of bandwidth-hungry applications like voice and video while managing an ever-expanding list of cloud applications. You need something that will be secure no matter how you connect and where your traffic is headed. At the same time, you want something scalable that’s cheap and easy to implement.
SD-WAN solves these problems with dynamic path selection, end-to-end encryption, and a user-friendly configuration interface, all while overlaying onto the network infrastructure you already have. SD-WAN will help you get the most out of your internet connection by delivering performance to applications where it matters the most. Here’s why your business needs SD-WAN:
- Use the bandwidth you already have more efficiently with dynamic path selection.
- Set up and configure new locations quickly and easily, without spending on more equipment.
- Customize your network performance to prioritize the applications where performance matters the most.
- Protect your data with end-to-end encryption.
- Improve your VoIP experience with minimized packet loss and better performance.
- Get more for your money and maximize the value you get from your internet connection.
| Learn how Cox Business and SD-WAN can help your business. Learn More |
