SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a relatively new technology in the field of networking that has gained significant popularity over the past few years. It allows businesses to improve their network performance and reduce costs by harnessing the benefits of cloud computing, virtualization, and software-defined networking. One of the prominent players in the SD-WAN landscape is Fortinet, through their SD-WAN Fortigate configuration. This article will guide you through the benefits of using Fortinet’s SD-WAN architecture to optimize network performance.
Improved Network Performance
With the Fortigate SD-WAN solution, businesses can prioritize critical applications and services such as voice, video conferencing, and business-critical data while discouraging non-critical applications like recreational streaming. This prioritization helps avoid network congestion, leading to better performance for critical business processes and applications.
Better Network Security
One of the main benefits of Fortigate SD-WAN is that it comes equipped with advanced cybersecurity features that help protect data and devices from external threats. With its built-in security measures like antivirus, intrusion detection, and prevention systems, as well as web filtering, Fortigate ensures that the traffic that enters and exits the network is safe and secure.
Cost Optimization
By leveraging the cloud and virtualization technologies, Fortigate SD-WAN reduces the need for hardware by consolidating security and routing onto a single platform. With Fortigate, businesses can centrally manage their WAN, eliminating the need for multiple, standalone devices. This consolidation brings about significant cost savings by reducing capital expenditures and operational expenses. Furthermore, by using a cloud-based architecture, businesses can easily scale up or down depending on their needs, avoiding unnecessary costs.
Flexibility and Agility
The Fortigate configuration provides businesses with the ability to control and manage their network centrally, giving them complete visibility into their network’s performance, allowing them to optimize network traffic. This configuration allows for flexibility and agility by supporting multiple connectivity methods including wired, wireless, 4G/LTE, and satellite. The Fortigate SD-WAN platform also enables businesses to better leverage the cloud for data storage and processing, streamlining operations.
Reduced Downtime
Fortigate SD-WAN eliminates network downtime by providing several connectivity options. When one link goes down, SD-WAN Fortigate configuration can reroute traffic through an available link, ensuring that business operations continue uninterrupted.
Fortinet’s SD-WAN Fortigate configuration offers excellent benefits, including improved network performance, better security, cost optimization, flexibility, and agility, and reduced downtime. Businesses can deploy this solution to harness the full power of SD-WAN, enabling them to focus on running their business efficiently while improving their bottom line. With Fortigate SD-WAN in place, businesses are better positioned to overcome network challenges and stay ahead of competition.