What is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide-Area Networking, is a technique for using software to make wide area networks more intelligent and flexible. It typically begins with connecting sites directly to the internet over commodity broadband links instead of sending all traffic back to a regional office via private lines (which often are based on older, expensive technology known like MPLS). Configurations and access policies are centrally managed and easily applied across all sites, removing the need to manual administer each WAN device individually.

Many businesses or government agencies look to SD-WAN to reduce or eliminate their dependence upon slow, costly MPLS lines (Learn more about SD-WAN vs MPLS). However, that’s just the start of what SD-WAN can do for organizations  :

Lower Connectivity Costs – SD-WAN can reduce ongoing operating expenses by switching from expensive MPLS lines to commodity broadband like fiber, cable, DSL, or even mobile technologies.

Higher Performance for cloud apps – With SD-WAN, new lines can be added quickly and easily to sites that need more capacity. And, by connecting sites directly to the internet, SD-WAN reduces the bottlenecks and delays that are common in older WANs.

Multiple Link Resilience – Traditional WAN environments usually have a single network link going into each location. With SD-WAN, multiple links from different ISPs can be used, eliminating a single point of failure that could take the network down.

Greater Agility – When you are opening up new branch offices, time is money. SD-WAN allows you to set up reliable and secure networks fast, using whichever ISPs are most appropriate to each location.

Optimized Use of Resources – SD-WAN enables you to intelligently assign key applications to different links, including internal lines as well as Internet connections, assigning different Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees to each. This lets you apply the right resources in each situation to maximize performance and productivity while minimizing cost.