Enterprises are continuously searching for the best way to maximise the potential of the cloud in their business operations. For many enterprises, the next step in their networking journey is Software-Defined Wide-Area Networking (SD-WAN).
According to Expert Market Research, the global SD-WAN industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 30% between 2022-2027. This is due to the increasing demand for cloud solutions, and traditional WAN architectures being unable to support cloud applications – ultimately contributing to network congestion, network stability and latency issues.
In addition, the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation efforts to keep up with customer and market demands, with this pace of change continuing for businesses today.
Multi-cloud strategies have become widely accepted by many enterprises – it helps to avoid vendor lock-in and makes the most out of best-of-breed solutions, while adding agility and flexibility to operations.
By moving to an SD-WAN environment, enterprises can improve application performance and security across multiple clouds. They also gain:
- Greater Network Availability
- Increased Network and Application Visibility
- Simplified WAN Management
- Cost efficiencies by lowering OPEX and CAPEX
Overcoming network and security challenges with SD-WAN
The public internet is a common underlay network that provides enterprises with the agility and scalability required to cope with evolving market demands. However, this gives rise to the risk of poor availability due to potential outages, as well as security issues. Enterprises can seek to overcome these challenges by integrating SD-WAN with their multi-cloud strategies.
The high cost associated with legacy MPLS networks is another key challenge that enterprises try to overcome with SD-WAN. To save costs while enhancing scalability, some may look to replace some of their costly MPLS underlay network with either cheaper internet or a hybrid internet/MPLS environment.
For other enterprises, their main goal may be to optimise their existing WAN with the rich features that an SD-WAN overlay can provide, such as application-driven routing, optimal path selection and WAN optimisation.
Simple, secure and software-defined
SD-WAN has the tools and intelligence to overcome several enterprise challenges, and the flexibility to adapt to all kinds of business environments.
A multi-cloud approach with SD-WAN can include a mixture of public and private clouds, leveraging on various underlay networks including Internet, dedicated internet access or even a traditional MPLS network to ensure performance, security and 24/7 availability.
SD-WAN eliminates the need for MPLS to backhaul traffic through the headquarters or data centre to access the cloud – thus driving cost-savings for enterprises.
For enterprises seeking security improvements, SD-WAN can hold the key to overcoming a wide range of security challenges. SD-WAN, an overlay for orchestrating the WAN, is a component of the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture – a term coined by Gartner. The security component of SASE, Security Service Edge (SSE), provides additional features such as high security, Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Access Security Broker and Zero Trust network access.
SD-WAN complements SSE to provide a SASE architecture that addresses both the remote user/end point and WAN requirements securely. This is best suited for distributed workers that require secure, remote access to multi-cloud, on-prem services or Software as a Service (SaaS) services.
Partnering for success
Enterprises should seek service providers that can provide:
- A complete end-to-end service from initial design, to deployment, management, and evolution of the solution according to security and multi-cloud requirements
- An intelligent networking solution to connect sites over any combination of underlay technologies, be it Internet, MPLS, LTE, public cloud, or private cloud
- Dedicated expert support and 24x7 service availability
The right provider will analyse network requirements, and design a tailored SD-WAN solution with a simplicity-driven, multi-cloud-ready network to best meet application needs.
The increased visibility, superior network performance and security across different sites, clouds, and applications that SD-WAN provides, will enable enterprises to stay competitive in the market.
Enterprises need a partner offering a comprehensive SD-WAN solution with end-to-end support and expertise, as well as a continually evolving ecosystem to simplify network management and create more opportunities.
An intelligent networking solution should form a solid foundation for the future, moving enterprises from basic cloud connectivity to advanced, end-to-end multi-cloud and SD-WAN capabilities. Enterprises will then be able to efficiently manage risk and protect data with advanced security. They will also be equipped with crucial insights and full control to seamlessly move data and applications between clouds.
