You may have heard about it, but have you attempted to find a clear definition into what is SD-WAN?
Yeah, we can all define the acronym. SD-WAN stands for Software Defined Wide Area Network. And…what does that mean?
Let’s start with the basics. A WAN, Wide Area Network, can be used to connect branch offices to a central corporate network. Or, it can be used to connect data centers in different locations. In the past, WAN connections often utilized proprietary technology and hardware to be functional. For companies, it was quite an investment into your network.
Even though it was an investment, once the WAN was operational, organizations were able to better control their traffic among multiple locations. The WAN connections allowed organizations to prioritize traffic, technologies and applications used by their teams.
However, because of the upfront cost of creating WAN connections, organization often avoided this solution.
The SD part of SD-WAN looks to make this cost more manageable for companies and moves the model from a capital expense to an operational expense. The software allows for a more fluid model as network control is migrated to the cloud.
This flexibility gives enterprise organizations the ability to grow and expand the way they best see fit. From improvement of Internet security to lower cost compared to other models, SD-WAN technology looks to be a more open and approachable solution for companies.
SD-WAN also has an advantage in that it potentially removes routing hardware by provisioning connectivity and services through the cloud. Ultimately, the connectivity is what is most important to a client, and SD-WAN ensures this due to its pathing through the cloud.
SD-WAN services need to focus on delivering simple and secure WAN connections with as much flexibility as possible from the software-based technology. This can be used to deliver basic WAN connectivity, or it can be used for premium business services such as VPN, WAN optimization.
So, have we clarified what SD-WAN is? If not, let us know if you have any questions, we are always ready to help you learn more about what services work for your organization.