When evaluating SD-WAN, it is important to understand how it can streamline WAN management and replace legacy routers. It also improves security. However, choosing the right vendor can be a daunting task. Listed below are several things to consider before selecting an SD-WAN provider. Also, be sure to ask your provider about customer support. Finally, you’ll want to find a vendor that understands your needs and goals before making a decision.

SD-WAN simplifies WAN management

SD-Wan is an architecture that combines network and security capabilities, allowing high-performance, secure network connections. Traditional WAN architectures follow a hub-and-spoke model, with traffic flowing from the remote location to the central hub. Then, the network segments traffic according to different business needs and automatically optimizes application delivery. In the past, organizations used leased lines from service providers to connect branch offices to applications in data centers. Point-to-point leased lines and Frame Relay services were common for connecting users at the branch locations to the data center. However, traditional WANs rely on physical routers to connect remote users to applications and data centers. These routers have two distinct layers: a data plane and a control plane. Network engineers and administrators have to write custom rules and policies for each router to maintain and control data flows. The management and control processes are separated from the underlying networking hardware with SD-WAN. As a result, network administrators can write new rules and policies easily and centrally.

It replaces legacy routers.

The recent surge in sd-wan explained sales as a testament to the demand for the new technology. According to a recent report, revenue from SD-WAN appliances was up 23% year over year as enterprises increasingly recognize the benefits of the new network architecture. Considering the many benefits of SD-WAN, here are some of the best reasons to switch from legacy routers to this new technology. SD-WAN is the new enterprise-wide area network. It connects users across branch offices, data centers, and multi-cloud. With SD-WAN, organizations can create a single network and eliminate the need for multiple routers and legacy switches. With this new solution, they can meet the growing demand for unified management and network security. As the world becomes more digital, branch network administrators face challenges that continue to evolve. They must protect and secure their networks while meeting ever-changing compliance standards.

It reduces the cost of connectivity.

Many businesses want to expand, but growth comes with costs. More customers and revenue mean more profit, but change across multiple locations is expensive. Network and infrastructure costs add up quickly. SD-WAN can reduce the costs associated with network expansion while meeting the needs of new sites. Since new sites have fewer employees, in the beginning, a broadband or LTE connection may be more appropriate. In contrast, a more expensive MPLS connection will take longer to deploy. Additionally, SD-WAN cuts IT management costs. Since it automates management functions, an SD-WAN system eliminates the need for highly trained network engineers. It means that fewer IT staff can perform the entire deployment and maintenance of a network. As a result, it can save a company as much as 1.5% of its total WAN costs. Choosing SD-WAN for your network is a smart move. There are many benefits.

It improves security.

Among the benefits of SD-WAN is the increased level of security. Its network monitoring and malware protection capabilities are more thorough and proactive than with traditional WANs. Additionally, intelligent pathway control and granular network control help optimize speed and improve security. As a result, SD-WAN has the potential to improve business security. But it’s also important to remember that SD-WAN isn’t secure enough to protect sensitive data from hackers. Traditional security architectures are based on the consolidation of data streams. Traditional premises-based firewalls, for instance, examine packets before they reach the data center. With SD-WAN, however, traffic can pass outside the perimeter, bypassing traditional firewalls. This means that mobile workers can access cloud resources and IoT devices without a problem. Of course, despite the increased security, SD-WAN isn’t perfect. There are still several common security issues that IT leaders should be aware of.