Published on August 21, 2020
The most frequently asked question:
“SD-WAN seems to be THE solution. But different manufacturers offer different solutions. Are they all the same? How can I ensure I’m making the right choice?”
There are many SD-WAN possibilities, and several providers compete against one another to create THE best product, the one that will render your company network “intelligent.” However, it’s important to point out that not all the solutions offered by SD-WAN manufacturers are created equal: to each situation its own solution!
That being said, SD-WAN technology involves the concrete application of software engineering across extended networks. As such, its deployment relies on common characteristics, and every solution is founded on the same premise of conception, which is founded on a software concept installed at the heart of a company’s physical equipment or virtual servers.
In this sense, despite the impressive number of manufacturers, SD-WAN solutions all offer relatively identical possibilities. What’s important to remember is that it’s the adequacy between a client’s needs and the possibilities of an SD-WAN system that makes all the difference when it comes to the various solutions offered by manufacturers.
In short, seeing as there is no one-size-fits-all SD-WAN solution, your best bet is to opt for the one best suited to your particular needs.
SD-WAN possibilities
- Aggregation of several links in a single virtual network: traffic stream is distributed in a dynamic fashion. Data is sorted by SD-WAN technology equipment before being redirected towards one of the available connections.
- Contact-less provisioning: capacity to provision new sites (or terminals) via a central console.
- Centralized management and visibility: a unique platform that lets you manage strategies (internal or private traffic stream), security terms, various performance reports, as well as the software’s intelligence.
- Bandwidth optimization: SD-WAN technology is compatible with traditional features, such as QoS (quality of service) and Deep Packet Inspection.
- Interoperability with other network services: equipment needs to be able to interact with other third-party devices and products; it allows for automation via the IAP.
- Increased security thanks to encryption options: possibility of creating tunnels to offer a secure pathway via a public link and optimize bandwidth.
- Increased robustness: SD-WAN increases a network’s robustness by combining an LTE or wired backup in the event of a service interruption.
To discover: our SD-WAN service.
To view the webinar in full and see the list of questions asked (in French only – aired May 20, 2020):