For decades, computer networks have worked in more or less similar ways. When a data request is made from a device, the request goes to a data centre and, from there, is routed through dedicated infrastructure to its destination. At the destination, the reverse happens as the requested data is sent back to the requester.
It gets a lot more complicated than that, but it does serve to illustrate just how complex networks can be. Quite often, network data requests will include multiple stops and have a multitude of complications like fixed routing paths that can create bottlenecks and slow down performance. As more and more organisations adopt cloud services and resource-hungry AI tools, these traditional networking models are coming up woefully short, with traditional data centres struggling to address exponentially rising data demands.
Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) technology overcomes these limitations through a centralised controller that dynamically distributes traffic along the pathways that best suit a business’s needs. When deployed correctly, they can conserve valuable computing resources while also reducing many other network management costs.
In a time when businesses are increasingly reliant on cloud services and remote teams located across the globe, an SD-WAN offers a multitude of important benefits. Here’s what you’ll be able to do once Network Edge implements an SD-WAN in your business’s network:
If your business is in an area with multiple ISPs, an SD-WAN will enable it to utilise whichever internet connections cost the least to use for the needed amount of bandwidth. This enables an immediate reduction in baseline connectivity costs without impacting reliability. Even better, an SD-WAN will enable your network to switch ISPs in case of an outage, minimising downtime and opportunity costs for your business.
SD-WAN lets your network automatically route traffic based on current conditions. It can be set up to prioritise the most critical business applications and route less important traffic through more suitable alternatives. The end result is less latency and a full maximisation of your network’s resources.
From a user’s perspective, this means faster speeds, especially when using cloud-based applications and working with offsite teams. Collaborations among larger groups of participants can now truly be done in real time, leading to a better overall experience and closer connections between employees.
SD WANs will also enable smoother network expansions. With fewer steps separating data requesters and data sources, the costs of delivering information drop significantly. With existing resources, administrators will be able to accommodate more traffic without a serious penalty in speed or user experience. This makes SD WANs a good choice for businesses that must constantly deploy new branches or pivot towards new directions.
Administrating traditional WAN systems can quickly become a juggling act when network demands increase, remote sites are added, or security threats emerge. Network Edge’s SD-WAN implementation eliminates much of this complexity by giving administrators real-time insights into network performance as well as a formidable array of cost-reducing automation options. Our proprietary centralised, cloud-based management console can help remove the blindspots and dashboard-hopping that has become all-too-familiar in traditional network administration, enabling better decision-making.
The proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) devices in workplaces has created significant challenges for networks, not only due to the increased data demands generated by these items but also due to the larger network footprints that they collectively create. Workplaces no longer have just the office printer to contend with but also a vast array of wearables, sensors, production machinery, and even vehicles in some cases.
The way SD-WAN optimises traffic routing improves network security from the start, effectively limiting the number of potential vulnerabilities and failure points. The dynamic nature of the data routing can also serve to confound conventional attempts to gain unauthorised network access. The flexibility of SD-WAN setups also means that networks can easily integrate any security function a business needs. Highly accurate monitoring can be set up so that even extremely large collections of IoT devices can be managed without compromises to either security or performance.
SD-WAN is a once-in-a-generation technology that has upended networking as many of us have come to understand it. Where other recent developments have merely been incremental, SD-WAN enables massive gains in performance, security, and cost-efficiency, coming right at a time when these benefits are sorely needed. With networks being faced with increasingly formidable data demands and routing challenges, you’ll want the right team to implement your SD-WAN.
For years, businesses across New Zealand have trusted Network Edge to set up and maintain their networks. With its genuine understanding of both networking and client requirements, Network Edge has earned a solid reputation for network customisations that truly serve businesses’s multifaceted visions. Contact Network Edge today to futureproof your IT with a customised SD-WAN.