SD-WAN
By Stephen Lawrence, Sector
Director for Enterprise, SSE
Enterprise Telecoms
Using software-defined wide area
networking to achieve more secure,
flexible and efficient networks
www.ssetelecoms.com
Having properly optimised networks in place is key to the
success and growth of modern enterprises, especially when
89% of organisations say they have adopted, or plan to
adopt, a digital-first strategy. However, as research by SSE
Enterprise Telecoms has found, the majority of IT decision
makers are frustrated with their current network platforms.
Only 22% of businesses say they’re likely to renew
contracts with their existing provider. They mention
concerns and key frustrations being cost (43%), security
(34%) and inflexible contract terms (33%). As they hunt
for better alternatives, nearly two in five businesses are also
looking to have their security concerns allayed. However, in
order for enterprises to achieve more secure, flexible and
efficient networks, a new approach is required. With the
emergence of software-defined wide area networking (SD-
WAN), those aspirations could soon become a reality.
Understanding the technology
SD-WAN is a software layer which simplifies the delivery of
WAN services to branch sites. Regardless of the underlying
network in place, whether dark fibre, Ethernet or business
broadband, SD-WAN enables network managers to slice up
routing using a transport agnostic device installed at branch
sites. This gives network managers complete visibility of the
network, establishing and prioritising the fastest and most
appropriate routes for data transfer, and the network as a
whole can then be optimised for maximum performance
and productivity.
Improved control also means additional security
benefits. Using SD-WAN allows businesses to segment their
applications based on granular security policies, making sure
the right security protocols are used for relevant sites, data
types or users. For example, a Financial Services organisation
will have a large amount of sensitive and personal data
travelling through its network every day. In this case, SD-
WAN would enable it to segment applications appropriately,
therefore minimising the attack surface.
An additional benefit of SD-WAN is that it simplifies the
delivery of WAN services to branch offices. Although a small
piece of hardware is still required to be installed on-site, this
can be done without the help of an expensive engineer.
From that point onward, an SD-WAN portal can be used to
control and optimise connectivity. With a third of enterprises
keen for a more flexible, adaptable solution, this simplicity
should be highly appealing.
Although 31% of those asked revealed they were
concerned about the cost of a new network platform,
all of these benefits combined will help to drive greater
efficiencies and deliver savings over time. While efficiency
benefits will vary across businesses, depending on the
underlying connectivity they have, the ultimate point
is that SD-WAN offers IT managers the opportunity to
understand their networks better, meaning they can improve
performance, and experience significant productivity
benefits as a result.
A controllable, flexible & secure solution
An array of benefits arises with SD-WAN adoption – one
of the most significant being improved visibility. Without
visibility, businesses aren’t able to accurately assess how
their network is working as a whole – whether that’s
performance, bandwidth suitability or gaining an awareness
of which connectivity is being used most effectively. SD-
WAN gives network managers a deep understanding of
all these areas, arming them with real-time intelligence to
make enhancements to network performance.
Therefore, SD-WAN is a solution that improves both
flexibility and control, making it especially useful during
times of organisational change, such as during mergers and
acquisitions, or the opening of new branch sites. Although
SD-WAN is a relatively new solution, 50% of those who
are already using it mention that, as a result, they have
experienced increased control and more flexibility.
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