As the world moves towards digitalization, the role of networking becomes increasingly important for enterprises. Networking is the backbone of business operations, and with the advent of cloud technology, the burden on traditional networking techniques has increased. To meet this increased demand, Software-defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) has become a crucial solution for many enterprises.
SD-WAN is a technology that allows organizations to optimize their networking infrastructure by incorporating multiple pathways and managing them centrally. This technology is gaining momentum, and many industry experts believe that it is the future of networking solutions.
Recently, Gartner named SD-WAN as the top pick for enterprise networking optimization in 2021. Gartner’s report stated, “SD-WAN is no longer a niche technology. It has become mainstream, providing networking teams with a comprehensive set of tools to solve networking challenges.”
The popularity of SD-WAN can be attributed to its numerous advantages over traditional networking techniques. SD-WAN provides better connectivity between cloud-based applications, data centers, and branch offices. It provides a secure and reliable network connection by incorporating multiple channels, such as MPLS, 4G, and broadband. This enables organizations to ensure continuous connectivity and eliminate network downtime.
SD-WAN is also beneficial for organizations with remote workers. With the increase in remote working, employees need to connect to the office network to access critical business applications. SD-WAN helps in establishing a secure and reliable connection between remote workers and the enterprise network. This ensures that employees working remotely can access business applications and data quickly and securely.
Another significant advantage of SD-WAN is its cost-effectiveness. Traditional networking techniques like MPLS have been expensive, and smaller businesses have suffered because of this. SD-WAN provides a cost-effective solution as it allows organizations to incorporate broadband connectivity into their network infrastructure. This helps in reducing the cost of networking significantly.
One of the most appealing things about SD-WAN is its flexibility. An SD-WAN solution can be customized to meet the needs of a specific enterprise. Whether it is a small business or a large corporation, SD-WAN can be tailor-made to ensure that the organization’s networking infrastructure is optimized.
Gartner’s recognition of SD-WAN as the top pick for enterprise networking optimization in 2021 is a significant milestone for the technology. It highlights the transformational impact that SD-WAN is having on the networking industry. As businesses compete in an increasingly digitalized business environment, it is essential to have a networking infrastructure that can keep pace with the advancements in cloud technology. SD-WAN has proven to be the solution that meets this requirement.