Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) is transforming the way the organizations work by enhancing the efficiency and security of their network infrastructure. It enables businesses to streamline operations, improve user experience, and reduce costs. In recent years, SD-WAN technology has gained momentum, with a growing number of enterprises adopting it. However, before jumping on board, it is important for businesses to consider certain key factors to ensure successful adoption of SD-WAN.
Here are some important considerations that can help navigate the world of SD-WAN:
1. Security: Security should be the top priority when it comes to SD-WAN adoption. With the increasing number of cyberattacks, businesses need to ensure that their network infrastructure is secure. SD-WAN must be designed in such a way that it provides advanced security features such as end-to-end encryption, application-level security, and intrusion detection. Organizations need to ensure that they select an SD-WAN solution that offers a strong security layer.
2. Network Performance: SD-WAN offers the capability to improve network performance by enabling distributed enterprises to leverage multiple connections. However, it’s important to select an SD-WAN solution that offers dynamic path selection, which can choose the optimal path based on applications needs, network availability, and latency. It is important to evaluate the network performance of current SD-WAN solutions that meet business requirements.
3. Ease of Deployment and Management: SD-WAN adoption is the relatively easy solution when compared with traditional network infrastructure. It allows businesses to deploy and manage their network infrastructure remotely, making it ideal for distributed enterprises. However, it is important to ensure that the SD-WAN solution is easy to integrate with existing network infrastructure and is user-friendly.
4. Service Level Agreements: Service level agreements (SLAs) are an essential component of SD-WAN adoption. Businesses need to have a clear understanding of the SLAs offered by SD-WAN providers to ensure that they meet the organization’s requirements. SLAs should cover critical aspects such as uptime, latency, and throughput. Organizations need to ensure that the SD-WAN provider offers a flexible SLA, which allows them to scale the services up or down as needed.
5. Cost Efficiency: SD-WAN adoption should enhance cost efficiency for businesses. The SD-WAN solution should help businesses reduce the cost of managing their network infrastructure by enabling them to use multiple connections and reduce bandwidth costs. Organizations need to evaluate SD-WAN solutions based on the cost controls they offer, such as pay-per-use or cost predictability.
In conclusion, SD-WAN adoption can be a game-changer for businesses. It offers better network performance, increased security, reduced costs, and ease of deployment and management. However, before adopting SD-WAN, businesses need to consider crucial factors such as security, network performance, ease of deployment and management, service level agreements and cost efficiency. By carefully considering these factors, businesses can ensure successful adoption of SD-WAN and maximize its benefits.