SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) is a type of networking technology that uses software-defined networking (SDN) principles to manage and optimise the performance of wide area networks (WANs). It enables organizations to securely connect users, applications and data across multiple locations while providing improved performance, reliability and scalability. SD-WAN also simplifies the management of WANs by providing centralized control and visibility over the entire network.

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How SD-WAN Helps Today’s critical network systems and IoT

SD-WAN is transforming network architectures and is also playing a crucial role in the growing ecosystem of Internet of Things (IoT). SD-WAN benefits IoT in the following ways:

  • Better Performance: SD-WAN uses a centralized control function to intelligently direct traffic across the WAN.
  • Improved Security: SD-WAN can enhance security by segmenting the network.
  • Scalability: As businesses deploy more IoT devices, SD-WAN can easily accommodate increased traffic and more devices.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: With SD-WAN, businesses can use a combination of network services (like fibre, standard NBN, Starlink, 4G/5G, or other broadband services) based on their needs.
  • Simplified Management: SD-WAN simplifies the task of network management.
  • Quality of Service (QoS): SD-WAN allows for policies to prioritize certain types of traffic over others.
  • Better Visibility: SD-WAN provides improved visibility into network performance and traffic patterns.

SD-WAN provides a flexible, scalable, and secure solution for managing the increased network traffic and complexity that comes with IoT. By improving performance and visibility, while also reducing costs, SD-WAN is an essential tool for businesses looking to leverage the power of IoT.

Improved Performance

SD-WAN allows automatic provisioning of application policies that align to business intent. Intelligently steering traffic based on service level agreements (SLAs), SD-WAN ensures application performance is maintained, while continuously measuring WAN performance. Such a proactive approach enables SD-WAN to remediate performance degradation by failing over to better-performing WAN links.

Cost Savings

Network administrators can scale up or down their WAN connections based on actual demand. Network administrators can supplement or substitute expensive MPLS with broadband connectivity options. This also reduces the amount of capital expenditure required by eliminating unused capacity at any given time. Because it's easier to manage than traditional networks (since it requires less configuration), there are fewer ongoing costs associated with maintenance and support.

Improved Connectivity

By allowing efficient access to cloud-based resources without the need to backhaul traffic to centralized locations, organizations can provide a better user experience. Static routes are replaced with dynamic ones that adapt to changing network conditions in real time, which means there's no lag between the source and destination when sending files or video streams over long distances.

Increased Security

With software-defined networking, you can protect your network from external threats like DDoS attacks and malware. You can also prevent internal threats like hacking or data theft by only allowing authorized devices onto your network. This means that if someone tries to get into your system from an unapproved location, they'll just be blocked out automatically.

Improved Reliability

With SD-WAN, you can ensure that all of your data stays connected regardless of internet connectivity or physical location. Your employees will always have access to their data no matter what happens with their internet connection or cellular service — and they'll never have to worry about missing important emails or calls because they forgot their phone at home!

How Does SD-WAN Work?

SD-WAN is a virtualized service that connects and extends enterprise networks over large geographical distances. WANs use links such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), wireless, broadband, virtual private networks (VPNs) and the internet to give users in branch and remote offices access to corporate applications, services and resources, allowing them to work regardless of location. SD-WAN also monitors the performance of WAN connections and manages traffic in an effort to maintain high speeds and optimise connectivity.

Traditional WANs use legacy routers to connect remote users to applications hosted in data centers. A router is mostly command line interface (CLI) driven. To define where and how the data egresses a branch network utilizing traditional WAN, network engineers and administrators must manually write rules and policies. Such procedures are frequently time-consuming and error-prone.

SD-WAN is designed to solve the multiple challenges associated with traditional WAN, allowing networking professionals a simpler way to optimise and secure WAN connectivity. SD-WAN is based on software rather than hardware and is configured to handle different kinds of traffic and conditions in real-time. It can adapt quickly to changing situations and offer better security and reliability than traditional WANs.