What are the Advantages of SD-WAN?

There’s much talk about software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) in business communications. Even if you know that an SD-WAN is positioned for widespread adoption by many businesses, you may also be one of many who wonder, “What is SD-WAN used for?” The answer is that an SD-WAN enables networks to operate with optimized flexibility, ease and dependability, whether you run an on-site enterprise or a remote work infrastructure.

As technology advances, an SD-WAN has emerged as a powerful networking solution that offers increased flexibility, improved performance and enhanced security for businesses. Of course, a lot goes into this level of technological infrastructure, which is why we’re providing this complete tutorial on SD-WAN advantages and disadvantages. Whether you’re new to SD-WAN or looking to deepen your understanding, this tutorial will provide information about enhancing and streamlining your IT operations.

What is SD-WAN in Simple Terms?

An SD-WAN simplifies network management and operation by decoupling the network hardware from its control mechanism. In simple terms, an SD-WAN allows businesses to securely connect their branch offices, data centers and cloud environments using software-based solutions instead of relying solely on traditional hardware routers.

What is SD-WAN Used For?

An SD-WAN is primarily used to streamline and optimize wide area network connectivity. It enables businesses to leverage multiple network links such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), broadband and wireless to meet their connectivity needs. An SD-WAN provides centralized management, increased agility and improved application performance, making it an ideal solution for organizations with multiple branch offices, remote workers or a distributed workforce. Because 32.6 million Americans are expected to work remotely by 2025, quality SD-WAN provider solutions are more crucial than ever.

What are the Three Main Components of SD-WAN?

SD-WAN comprises three main components:

Edge Devices

Edge devices in an SD-WAN are appliances or routers installed at branch offices or remote locations. They serve as the local connection points for the SD-WAN network, establishing connectivity between the local network and the SD-WAN. These devices are crucial for optimizing network traffic by implementing policies and performing traffic steering based on application requirements. They offer features such as dynamic path selection, automatic failover and traffic prioritization to ensure optimal application performance and reliability.

In an SD-WAN, edge devices are key components that help manage network traffic efficiently. They establish secure and reliable connections between the local network and the SD-WAN. By implementing various policies and traffic steering techniques, edge devices prioritize critical applications and optimize the usage of available bandwidth. This ensures that applications perform well, even in bandwidth-constrained environments. Additionally, edge devices provide features like automatic failover, allowing seamless switching between network links in the event of a connection failure.

Example of Edge Devices and SD-WAN Advantages

As an example of the benefits of automatic failover in an SD-WAN, let’s say you run a retail business with multiple stores in different locations. Each store is connected to the main data center through an SD-WAN network. One day, a severe storm causes an internet outage at one of your stores, disrupting the connection to the main data center.

With SD-WAN’s automatic failover, the edge device at the affected store detects the loss of connectivity. It immediately switches to a backup internet connection, such as a 4G Long Term Evolution connection or another available broadband link. As a result, the store’s critical applications, like point-of-sale systems and inventory management, operate seamlessly without interruption. Once the primary internet connection is restored, the SD-WAN system intelligently reverts to the primary link, facilitating optimized performance and reliability for your business operations.

In this scenario, the SD-WAN’s automatic failover feature is crucial for maintaining business continuity and minimizing downtime during unpredictable events such as storms or internet service provider issues. It ensures that your stores can continue serving customers and processing transactions without disruption, even when the primary internet connection becomes unavailable.

SD-WAN Controller

The SD-WAN controller serves as the brain of any SD-WAN solution, responsible for managing and orchestrating the network. It provides centralized control and policy enforcement, interacting with edge devices to push configuration changes, policies and updates, ensuring consistent network behavior. The controller monitors network performance, collects data, and makes intelligent decisions to optimize traffic flow and application performance.

The SD-WAN controller is the administrator’s single interface, often called a single pane of glass, to configure, manage and troubleshoot the SD-WAN network. This centralized approach simplifies network operations, allowing administrators to efficiently handle policy management, performance monitoring and troubleshooting tasks. By providing a comprehensive network view, the SD-WAN controller empowers administrators to make informed decisions and maintain reliable and high-performing connectivity across the SD-WAN deployment.

SD-WAN Orchestrator

The SD-WAN orchestrator is a software platform available as a cloud-based or on-premises solution, configuring, monitoring and analyzing the SD-WAN network. It empowers administrators to define policies, set security rules, and manage the network architecture. With the orchestrator, administrators gain visibility into network performance and application usage, enabling them to identify and address bottlenecks or areas that require optimization.

The SD-WAN orchestrator is critical for optimizing network performance and facilitating effective troubleshooting by analyzing network data and generating actionable insights. It also allows administrators to monitor bandwidth utilization, application performance and security events, enabling proactive management and ensuring compliance with security requirements. In essence, the SD-WAN orchestrator is a powerful tool for network administrators to configure, monitor and optimize the performance and security of the SD-WAN network.

Example of SD-WAN Orchestrator and SD-WAN Advantages

Tracking down the source of a network issue can be frustrating, especially considering that unforeseen network quality drops can cost a business approximately $600,000. By offering a centralized interface, an SD-WAN orchestrator eliminates the need for and time spent to locate the source of an error. The time it takes to identify an error or misconfiguration is reduced, and the network error can be solved quickly, potentially saving your business a significant amount of money.

What are the SD-WAN Advantages and Disadvantages?

An SD-WAN offers several advantages that make it an attractive choice for certain businesses, including increased network agility and flexibility, improved application performance, enhanced security, threat protection, cost savings through optimized network utilization, and simplified network management and troubleshooting.

However, it’s important to consider that not all tech solutions are appropriate for every business, so let’s also take a look at SD-WAN disadvantages, and what types of companies should not use an SD-WAN.

SD-WAN Advantages

SD-WAN advantages include:

• Improved application performance: An SD-WAN prioritizes and optimizes critical applications, ensuring a high-quality user experience even in bandwidth-constrained environments.
• Enhanced security: SD-WAN solutions incorporate advanced security features, including encryption, next-generation firewalls and unified threat management, to protect the network from cyberthreats.
• Cost optimization: By intelligently routing traffic across different network links, an SD-WAN maximizes bandwidth usage, reduces reliance on expensive MPLS connections, and potentially lowers operating costs.
• Increased flexibility: An SD-WAN enables businesses to quickly adapt their network configuration based on changing needs, such as adding new branches, integrating with cloud services, or supporting remote workers.

What is a Disadvantage of SD-WAN?

While an SD-WAN has numerous advantages, it’s essential to consider its potential disadvantages, such as its dependence on internet connectivity and its initial deployment complexity. These factors may impact network performance and do require careful planning and integration with the existing infrastructure. However, selecting an SD-WAN provider with best-in-class network dependability and local customer service decreases the risks of being affected by network outages.

Additionally, there are businesses for which SD-WAN is a poor fit, such as:

• Small businesses with simple network requirements: Businesses that operate from a single location, don’t use cloud operations, and don’t have remote workers don’t need an SD-WAN and would likely benefit from other business network solutions.
• Businesses operating in highly regulated industries: Businesses should perform due diligence about security and compliance regulations before implementing an SD-WAN to ensure that it meets all regulatory requirements in their field. For example, there are other network solutions that align with the specific regulatory needs of businesses in the health care and financial industries.

Is SD-WAN a Router?

An SD-WAN does perform router functions but goes beyond the functionality of traditional routing devices. SD-WAN solutions incorporate advanced features like dynamic traffic steering, application-aware routing and centralized management capabilities, making them more sophisticated and flexible than standard routers.

Does SD-WAN Replace Firewall?

No, an SD-WAN does not replace firewalls. An SD-WAN and firewalls serve different roles in a network infrastructure. An SD-WAN focuses on optimizing connectivity and managing traffic flows, while firewalls specialize in securing the network by monitoring and controlling traffic, based on security policies.

Do You Need a Firewall with an SD-WAN?

While SD-WAN solutions do provide certain security features, they are not meant to replace dedicated firewalls entirely. It is still considered a best practice to have a robust firewall system in place to complement the security provided by SD-WAN. Firewalls offer additional layers of protection, including intrusion detection/prevention, web filtering and advanced threat detection.

What is the Difference Between MPLS and SD-WAN?

MPLS and SD-WAN are two distinct technologies that address different networking requirements. MPLS is a reliable and secure networking solution that connects multiple locations with dedicated circuits. On the other hand, an SD-WAN uses software-defined networking principles to enhance network agility, optimize performance, and provide cost-effective access to various network links.

Does SD-WAN Replace MPLS?

An SD-WAN and MPLS can coexist and complement each other. An SD-WAN can leverage MPLS as one of the transport options along with broadband or wireless connections. By using an SD-WAN, businesses can intelligently route traffic based on application requirements, prioritizing critical traffic over MPLS while offloading noncritical traffic to broadband connections, improving performance and optimizing costs.

Which is Better: SD-WAN or Fortinet?

An SD-WAN and Fortinet are not directly comparable, as they serve different purposes. An SD-WAN is a networking technology that optimizes wide area network performance, while Fortinet is a cybersecurity company with security solutions including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems and secure access solutions. Both an SD-WAN and Fortinet can complement each other as network infrastructure components.

Selecting an SD-WAN Provider Near You

You have a choice when selecting an SD-WAN solution provider. At LOGIX, we offer affordable solutions, offering outstanding Texas-based customer service. We deliver best-in-class reliability so that you can focus on your business needs. There are plenty of SD-WAN advantages, but to benefit from them, you need to partner with a dependable provider like LOGIX.

For more information about SD-WAN solutions from LOGIX, call 281-688-6231, or request a quote.