Understanding the Basics of SD-WAN and Its Benefits

Photo by Thomas Jensen on Unsplash

The Internet and other technological innovations have revolutionized the way businesses handle their internal communications. A lot of companies use traditional wide area networks to connect their office locations and data centers. This type of network has become less effective in recent times because companies now have multiple branches and use cloud computing platforms for their operations.

This new dynamic has shown the limitations of traditional wide area networks (WAN). To avoid these limitations, companies are increasingly adopting Software-Defined Wide Area Network, also known as SD-WAN.

SD-WAN Explained

To understand the concept of SD-WAN, it is crucial that you first get an insight into the working mechanism of traditional WAN. When companies use traditional Wide Area Networks, they rely on pieces of hardware components like routers placed at different locations in their organizations. These different locations typically include their headquarters, branch office buildings, and data centers.

The network in this setup is designed to send traffic through private connections so communications remain secure and there is no outside interference. An example of these private connections is Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), which is known to be fast, secure, and reliable for everyday business operations.

However, it is challenging for traditional WAN to keep up with modern businesses because their IT infrastructure is different from what this type of network was designed to cater to. Modern businesses use cloud platforms, high-bandwidth software, and remote workers for their operations. Traditional WAN cannot effectively meet the demands of companies that use the aforementioned systems. These limitations are also felt when modern businesses try to scale their operations. 

Business owners would have to spend a significant amount of money to install new hardware and restructure their network configuration to adapt to their changing needs. Many business leaders perceive this as a waste of resources and are rightfully embracing SD-WAN.

In contrast to traditional WAN, Software-Defined Wide Area Network is a software-based approach to network connection. It uses software to manage and optimize the flow of traffic within an organization. SD-WAN is designed to automatically route traffic through different types of connections based on factors like network conditions, cost, and software requirements. Some examples of these types of connections include MPLS, 5G, 4G, LTE, and broadband internet.

Working Mechanism of Software-Defined Wide Area Network

SD-WAN makes the management of a company’s network simpler by centralizing it in a cloud-based platform that oversees the activities in the network. This centralized platform allows network administrators to define network policies, monitor internet performance, and make informed real-time decisions on how traffic should be routed within the organization.

Features of Software-Defined Wide Area Network

SD-WAN has various features which make it distinctly different from a traditional WAN setup. Some of them are:

Application awareness

SD-WAN is focused on efficiency so it can detect applications in the network that need a higher amount of traffic and prioritize them. For instance, if an employee is trying to upload documents and another is using a video conferencing platform,  it will recognize that the video conferencing platform should be prioritized so the user can experience smooth communication.

Dynamic path selection

SD-WAN can identify the best route to transmit traffic through based on factors like packet loss, latency, and bandwidth. This will keep the internet connection stable and ensure that applications on the network perform optimally.

Cybersecurity capabilities

Most SD-WAN tools have cybersecurity features like firewalls, virtual private network (VPN), and encryption, all of which protect crucial business data and protect companies from cybercriminals. It can also be integrated with many other cybersecurity tools to detect cyber threats and keep unauthorized parties from accessing the network.

Centralized network management

This type of network is designed to have a centralized platform where an administrator can oversee the flow of traffic and monitor the activities within. The centralized platform also allows the administrator to configure the network connection and easily troubleshoot problems that arise.

Seamless network scalability

As an organization grows, SD-WAN can seamlessly adapt to its new network demands. Because it is software-based, it can easily be added to new locations as needed.

Main Components of SD-WAN

The infrastructure that facilitates Software-Defined Wide Area Network consists of the following components:

Transport links

SD-WAN uses different types of transport links like satellite connections, broadband internet, MPLS, 5G, 4G, and LTE. It intelligently switches between these transport links to determine the route that provides the best network performance.

Control plane

The control plane is the centralized management system that oversees and manages the traffic flowing within the network. This control plane is usually cloud-based, which makes it easy to access from any location within an organization.

Edge devices

These devices are virtual (sometimes physical) appliances placed at every network location of an organization. This can be their office buildings or data centers. Their function is to communicate with the control plane, enforce the network policies set by the network administrator, and optimize traffic.

Overlay network

An overlay network facilitates seamless connectivity on the various types of connections within the network. It eliminates the need for manual configuration.

The Advantages of Software-Defined Wide Area Network

As stated throughout this article, there are numerous advantages modern businesses will gain from using SD-WAN. This section outlines them in detail.

Better and reliable network performance

SD-WAN dynamically switches traffic routes and optimizes traffic flow based on various factors to give users the best network connection possible. This is in sharp contrast to traditional WAN which struggles to meet the demands of users and applications in fluctuating network conditions.

SD-WAN minimizes network downtime by using multiple transport links. Whenever there is a degradation in service on one, it will automatically reroute traffic to a different path. This ensures businesses stay operational at all times.

Simple management

Managing the connectivity in an SD-WAN is simpler than in a traditional wireless area network, especially if an organization has multiple locations. SD-WAN uses a centralized cloud-based system to monitor and configure the flow of traffic. This reduces the need for human intervention and gives administrators an avenue to change network settings quickly and seamlessly.

The centralized management system also gives administrators the ability to update policies throughout the network with a few clicks. Having a centralized system reduces instances of human error, which can normally lead to downtime or cybersecurity incidents.

Cost-effectiveness

A significant advantage Software-Defined Wide Area Network has over traditional WAN is the amount of money it allows businesses to save when they scale their operations. Instead of relying on Multiprotocol Label Switching like traditional WAN (which is known to be expensive), it uses more cost-effective internet connections alongside MPLS, which reduces the overall networking cost.

In addition, SD-WAN can dynamically route traffic through the least expensive path to save money. During daily business operations, it will send non-critical traffic through more cost-effective channels, while sending crucial traffic through the fastest route.

Enhanced support for remote work and cloud computing

Many modern businesses let some of their employees work remotely and use cloud computing platforms to facilitate this mode of employment. SD-WAN is better suited to IT infrastructure that supports remote work and cloud computing than traditional WAN. It can be seamlessly integrated with mainstream cloud platforms like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services.

Software-Defined Wide Area Networks can also optimize the traffic that flows to and from the cloud-based applications that companies use. This ensures that people in the organization have a smooth internet connection irrespective of their location. This increases productivity because remote workers will be able to access company resources wherever they are.

Greater cybersecurity protection

Cybersecurity is essential for modern businesses because they use the Internet for almost all their operations. If cybercriminals find a way into their network, they can extract valuable data and disrupt business operations. SD-WAN solutions address these security concerns by having features like intrusion detection, firewalls, encryption, and VPN.

Also, its centralized management system makes it easy for cybersecurity professionals to detect suspicious activity in the network and respond to it. When a company wants to add a new cybersecurity policy, it will be able to enforce it from one central point.

Quicker network issue resolution

Since SD-WAN has a centralized management system, it is easy to spot irregular traffic flow patterns so they can be investigated. The centralized system gives a real-time view of a company’s network performance so the appropriate parties can troubleshoot issues before they disrupt regular business operations.

Better support for multi-cloud business environments

Some companies use multiple cloud computing platforms for their operations. SD-WAN supports connectivity between all their cloud platforms. It provides a unified platform where network administrators can manage the flow of traffic through all the cloud systems while maintaining consistent performance.

Endnote

Software-Defined Wide Area Network is a significant upgrade over traditional Wide Area Network because it better supports the demands of modern businesses and is more cost-effective. One of the key benefits of using SD-WAN is the ability to manage the traffic in a network from a centralized platform. However, for SD-WAN to work successfully for businesses, it has to be carefully planned, provided by a reliable company, and maintained well.