SD-WAN

SD-WAN, or software-defined wide area network, is an advanced network technology that overlays a virtual network on top of existing network connections to efficiently and securely connect users to applications. It achieves this by intelligently utilising various network connectivity options, allowing for enhanced performance and reliability in the delivery of network services and applications.

A managed SD-WAN service is a comprehensive solution provided by a managed network service provider. In this service, the provider offers the necessary hardware, software, and network connectivity for an organisation’s site locations. They also deliver a fully managed service, which includes continuous monitoring and maintenance to ensure the prescribed uptime and performance levels, as defined in their service-level agreements (SLAs). This managed approach relieves the organisation from the operational responsibilities of configuring, monitoring, and maintaining their SD-WAN network, allowing them to focus on their core business activities while the provider takes care of the network management.

SD-WAN and MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) can work together to provide a flexible and efficient network solution. Here’s how they typically function in a network setup:

1. MPLS for Private Connectivity: MPLS is used for secure and dedicated private connectivity between an organisation’s sites. It’s a reliable and high-performance network technology, ideal for business-critical and sensitive applications such as telephony, databases, and financial systems. MPLS ensures that data between these sites is transferred securely and efficiently.

1. SD-WAN for Internet and Cloud Access: In conjunction with MPLS, SD-WAN comes into play to manage network traffic that is destined for the internet or cloud services. It leverages both the MPLS connection and the additional internet connection. SD-WAN intelligently routes internet-bound traffic over the internet connection or an SD-WAN connection. This is typically more cost-effective and provides high performance for cloud-based services, web browsing, and applications like Microsoft 365 or services hosted in Azure.

By using this hybrid approach, organisations can balance the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of internet-based connections with the security and reliability of MPLS for critical internal applications. SD-WAN plays a pivotal role in dynamically routing traffic to optimise the user experience, making sure that each type of traffic takes the most appropriate route, whether that’s over the private MPLS network or the internet connection. This configuration allows organisations to make the most of their existing investments in MPLS while benefiting from the flexibility and cost savings that SD-WAN offers for cloud and internet traffic.

SD-WAN has a centralised security policy management, built in NGFW (next-generation firewalls) and end-to-end encryption. SD-WAN secures your traffic between locations and to the internet by connecting packet sources with a secure tunnel that employs strong encryption.

Traditional private MPLS/VPLS-based WANs were primarily designed for the pre-cloud era, and they may not be inherently suited to the dynamic and elastic nature of modern hybrid cloud applications. SD-WAN providers play a pivotal role in aligning organisations with the characteristics of the cloud, which include elasticity, dynamism, and software-defined attributes. SD-WAN solutions are specifically engineered to harmonise with cloud-based applications and systems, ensuring that network performance and flexibility are optimised to match the demands of the ever-evolving cloud landscape.