SD-WAN
Secure SD-WAN: Edge Transformation with Security-Driven Networking
Or: "Connecting more internet to your network while still remaining secure."
SD-What? SD-WAN Defined and Explained
Software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) solutions transform an organization’s capabilities by leveraging the corporate wide-area network (WAN) as well as multi-cloud connectivity to deliver high-speed application performance at the WAN edge of branch sites. One of the chief benefits of SD-WAN is that it provides a dynamic path selection among connectivity options—MPLS, 4G/5G, or broadband—ensuring organizations can quickly and easily access business-critical cloud applications.
SD-WAN solutions have become increasingly popular as organizations request fast, scalable, and flexible connectivity among different network environments, and seek to lower overall cost while preserving user experience. Redundancy and self healing are things we hold very dear. Tragedy is certain. Disaster, with proper preparation, should be avoidable.
A full SD-WAN solution has several key requirements. First is that, although SD-WAN is often considered a replacement for traditional branch routing architecture—and it is—effective SD-WAN solutions go well beyond branch office needs, with functionality that can extend to home office, teleworker use, and among distributed clouds. SD-WAN solutions should also be available in virtual versions available for multi-cloud environments and set up to enable sufficient Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) adoption.
SD-WAN considerations should also include intuitive orchestration, zero-touch deployment options, the ability to prioritize critical applications, and the ability to self-heal. Finally, SD-WAN solutions must include integrated security—SD-WAN by itself is another conduit for attackers to breach networks if not properly secured—and offer comprehensive analytics and reporting.

How SD-WAN Works
An SD-WAN solution connects users to any application wherever it resides from the data center to the cloud. SD-WAN intelligently determines which path best meets the ideal performance needs for a specific application. It then routes the traffic through to the ideal WAN path, whereas traditional WAN architectures only have the ability to route all applications through MPLS. Below are a few characteristics that define how an SD-WAN solution works and has evolved from a WAN infrastructure:
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History and Evolution of SD-WAN
SD-WAN vs. MPLS: Which Is Better?
There are a handful of factors to consider before shifting an organization to a SD-WAN solution from a traditional MPLS environment. Check out the table below to compare each option:
SD-WAN | MPLS | |
---|---|---|
Complexity | If security is not automatically built-in, teams need add-on options | Internet traffic backhauled to the data center |
Visibility | Broad application visibility | Packet routing limits visibility |
Cost | Consolidated services greatly reduce TCO | Expensive to build and maintain |
Performance & Availability | Enables MPLS, broadband, LTE for high-speed | MPLS offers limited bandwidth and single point of failure |
Scalability | Expand to add secure connectivity with full mesh | Lengthy process that often takes months |
SD-WAN vs. Public Internet
Why SD-WAN? Benefits and Advantages
According to researcher IDC, the SD-WAN market will continue growing at a more than 30% rate over the next few years, approaching $5.3 billion in 2023. Many organizations are embracing SD-WAN solutions for a number of key benefits, including the following.