SD-WAN Solutions

What is SD-WAN?

There are situations where a company gets too large for a standard network infrastructure. They require a Wide Area Network (WAN) framework to link to their other locations and the internet as a whole. However, even that can be limiting, especially if they rely heavily on cloud architecture. Thus, the organization needs to take the next step.

This level is known as software-defined WAN (SD-WAN).

Why SD-WAN?

Conventional WANs weren't designed for the cloud. This is logical -- the modern version of this environment wasn't established until the 21st century. Thus, companies that used a standard WAN only carried their traffic from branches to a main data center.

Here, network packets were inspected before delivery. In turn, communication over a standard WAN continually backed up and impaired speed and the performance of applications. On top of this, access to the cloud required additional investment in hardware and constant monitoring.

SD-WAN corrects this because it's not a physical setup. It's a virtual architecture that permits a business to utilize any type of network protocol to quickly and securely connect users to their information. For example, an SD-WAN setup can be combined with broadband internet and still not lose data or speed.

How SD-WAN Works?

The main component of an SD-WAN environment is a central control that helps direct traffic across the network. It can host data servers within a corporate office as well as those at the branches. On top of this, it maintains a connection to private cloud environments or public ones connected to locations like Google Drive or OneDrive. Furthermore, the SD-WAN has the capability to link to CRM and ERP services like Salesforce or SAP.

How it sends and receives data is built-in to the environment through quality of experience (QoEX) and quality of service (QoS) protocols. Depending on the business' requirements, applications connected to the SD-WAN are assigned an appropriate QoS along with security enforcement. As it executes the QoEX and QoS protocols it separates traffic from the internet as a service (IaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) applications to maintain productivity.

The other difference between SD-WAN and the standard WAN protocol is control. In the latter, control is handled by all devices across the network based on TCP/IP addresses and access control lists (ACLs). This creates a rigidity in communications and a central point of failure.

Furthermore, the addresses and ACLs have to be manually updated on a regular basis. If this isn't done, or the incorrect information is added, the network will be interrupted. Operations won't resume until the issue is discovered.

SD-WAN isn't built this way. Routers and firewalls are still required to help secure data packs and prevent attacks from cybercriminals. However, the software-driven portion controls traffic from the aforementioned QoEX and QoS practices.

SD-WAN For Businesses

There are two types of SD-WAN companies need to be aware of. While they have the same architecture they work in different ways to channel data in and out of an organization.

There's the standard SD-WAN. This is good for small businesses with a need to quickly move data around to the cloud and a small number of branches. Then there's an enterprise-based SD-WAN, which is meant for large amounts of data and extremely rapid delivery without packet loss. Here are a few of the things this type of SD-WAN architecture can do.

Self-Learning

An enterprise SD-WAN has a built-in artificial intelligence (AI) that allows it to learn on its own through constant monitoring. This gives it the ability to deliver maximum performance under any type of real-time condition. For instance, it recognizes changes to data structures, congested networks, or if there's a power outage.

By constantly updating itself, the SD-WAN environment continues to operate without network specialists needing to intervene. If it locates an inoperable area, the protocols look at other paths to maintain traffic and productivity.

Segmentation

The enterprise-based SD-WAN focuses on micro-segmentation where it comes to proper security. It learns how to do this by breaking the network up into smaller domains. When done, SD-WAN applies endpoint security to the divided units. Overall, it compartmentalizes each domain to prevent a wider attack.

The way it does this is through a zone-based firewall that spans the physical structure of a data center's LAN-WAN setup. This extends to the LAN-WAN cloud setup and all the points in-between.

On top of this configuration, the architecture of a business SD-WAN handles security policy changes differently. Instead of manually uploading information to individual network devices, the change is installed from a central location. Once it's scheduled, the policies are pushed to 1000s of nodes across the network. As a result, operations remain efficient while attack potential is minimized.

Rapid Deployment Via Automation

The enterprise SD-WAN has to maintain peak operational status to maintain productivity. This can be an issue when new enterprises must be deployed or if the organization is reaching out to a different IaaS or SaaS environment.

Thus, to avoid long setup periods, an enterprise SD-WAN automates the distribution updates to be inspected and installed within a shorter period. Sometimes, this is as little as 24 hours. Of course, even a rapid deployment like this needs to be accomplished during off-hours to minimize productivity issues.

Why Enterprise-Based SD-WAN Is Needed?

The descriptions above might seem too technical to determine if your company should utilize the higher level of SD-WAN. However, there are important reasons why you should switch to this virtual network. Below are a few of them.

Revenue

Revenue is lost each time a business' network is breached. If cybercriminals take personally identifiable information (PII), they lose revenue because customers are no longer confident about their security. If they are attacked by ransomware, then they lose revenue because they can't get back into their network.

The enterprise SD-WAN has the AI to maintain a constant security protocol. As mentioned, policies can be updated to thousands of network nodes in minutes. While security is never 100 percent, rapid deployment greatly minimizes the risk of attack.

Productivity

The smallest backup of data can cause productivity issues across the business. Especially if it occurs at one of the endpoints. If data backs up there, then normal operations are delayed at the core. In turn, other branches don't receive their data.

Thanks to its segmentation abilities, the higher-end SD-WAN reduces this issue. It compartmentalizes the problematic node. As a result, it frees up the rest of the network to continue working at normal speed.

Return On Investment

Network equipment can take a bite out of your IT budget. However, when the right equipment is selected, the return on investment increases.

This is the case with equipment for an enterprise SD-WAN. Its return on investment is made through increased security and continuity of business. Productivity and revenue remain steady as the centralized mechanism constantly learns and updates itself.

In total, SD-WAN is the best way to go to maintain peace in the business world. With eCommerce and remote work becoming the standard, this architecture allows a company to adapt to changing times.