Simplifying SD WAN Managed Solutions

SD-WAN, or software-defined wide area networking, has revolutionized the way businesses connect to their branch offices, data centers, and cloud services. With its ability to improve network performance, reduce costs, and enhance user experience, SD-WAN has become an essential technology for many organizations. However, implementing and managing SD-WAN can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially for businesses with limited IT resources. This is where managed SD-WAN solutions come in. Managed SD-WAN takes the burden off businesses by providing a comprehensive, outsourced approach to SD-WAN deployment, management, and support. In this blog, we will dive deep into managed SD-WAN, its functions, benefits, and why it is a critical solution for simplifying SD-WAN implementation.

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.

Understanding Managed SD-WAN

Defining Managed SD-WAN

Managed SD-WAN, as the name suggests, is a networking service provided by a managed service provider. It involves the deployment, management, and support of SD-WAN technology by a third-party service provider. When a business decides to opt for managed SD-WAN, they rely on a service provider to handle the intricacies of SD-WAN implementation, configuration, and ongoing management. The service provider takes care of network infrastructure, connectivity, security, and application performance, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations without worrying about network complexities.

How Managed SD-WAN Functions

Managed SD-WAN optimizes network performance and user experience by leveraging management techniques. It offers visibility, control over network traffic, application prioritization, and bandwidth allocation. Advanced routing algorithms minimize latency for efficient application delivery. Intelligent routing mechanisms select the best path based on real-time conditions, ensuring optimal performance and user experience. By outsourcing network management, businesses can enhance productivity with improved performance and reduced downtime.

SD-WAN as a service vs Managed SD-WAN

Key differences and similarities

SD-WAN as a service primarily focuses on network management, providing businesses with a cloud-based platform to centrally configure and control their SD-WAN deployment. On the other hand, managed SD-WAN goes beyond network management, offering a broader range of services including deployment, configuration, network performance optimization, and security management. Both solutions share a common goal of optimizing network connectivity, improving user experience, and reducing costs. However, managed SD-WAN provides a more comprehensive network management approach, leveraging automation, analytics, and secure access service edge (SASE) capabilities to deliver a holistic networking solution.

Choosing the right solution for your business

Choosing between SD-WAN as a service and managed SD-WAN depends on various factors, such as the size of your organization, network requirements, and available IT resources. To make an informed decision, consider the following points: 

• Evaluate the scalability of the solution, ensuring it can handle the growing demands of your entire network infrastructure, including data centers and remote locations. 
• Assess the level of network management expertise within your IT team. If you have limited resources, managed SD-WAN may be a better choice as it offloads network management responsibilities to a service provider. 
• Consider the deployment model that aligns with your business needs. While SD-WAN as a service offers agility and quick deployment, managed SD-WAN provides end-to-end support and ongoing management. 
• Evaluate the cost implications of both solutions, factoring in the initial setup costs, ongoing management fees, and potential savings on network bandwidth utilization.

Examining Managed SD-WAN Features & Benefits

Highlighting Key Features

Managed SD-WAN offers a range of features that enhance network performance, security, and management: 

• Quality of Service (QoS): Managed SD-WAN prioritizes critical applications, ensuring optimal performance and reliable connectivity. 
• Agility: With managed SD-WAN, businesses can quickly adapt to changing network requirements, scaling bandwidth, and connectivity as needed. 
• Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Managed SD-WAN leverages SDN technology, providing centralized management and control of network resources. 
• Automation: Managed SD-WAN automates network configuration, updates, and monitoring, reducing manual effort and improving operational efficiency. 
• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): Managed SD-WAN incorporates SASE capabilities, combining network security, traffic optimization, and secure remote access in a single solution.

Exploring the Benefits of SD-WAN

Managed SD-WAN offers numerous benefits to businesses seeking to simplify their network infrastructure and improve performance: 

• Optimal network performance: By leveraging intelligent routing and prioritizing critical applications, managed SD-WAN ensures optimal performance across the entire network, including remote locations. 
• Reliable connectivity: With managed SD-WAN, businesses can experience reliable connectivity by utilizing a combination of internet, broadband, and MPLS links, minimizing downtime and reducing network disruptions. 
• Enhanced security: Managed SD-WAN solutions incorporate advanced security measures, such as encryption, IPSec, and VPN, protecting critical data traffic and ensuring secure access across the network. 
• Greater agility: Managed SD-WAN enables businesses to quickly adapt to changing network requirements, scaling bandwidth, and connectivity as needed, without the need for extensive network infrastructure changes.

How SD-WAN Addresses Today's IT Challenges

IT Challenges and Role of SD-WAN in Solving These Challenges

Modern businesses face various IT challenges such as data center connectivity, secure connection of remote locations, and safeguarding critical data across networks, all while prioritizing performance and user experience. 

SD-WAN technology effectively addresses these IT challenges by: 

• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): SD-WAN incorporates SASE capabilities, providing a secure platform for critical data traffic, ensuring data protection, and secure remote access. 
• Intelligent routing: SD-WAN optimizes traffic flow, using intelligent routing algorithms to select the best network path based on real-time network conditions, resulting in efficient lines of connectivity. 
• Efficient network management: SD-WAN simplifies network management, automating routine tasks, and providing centralized visibility and control over network traffic, application performance, and user experience.

SD-WAN Infrastructure Management Capabilities

Understanding Infrastructure Management in SD-WAN

SD-WAN infrastructure management encompasses a range of tasks critical to network performance, including network configuration, visibility, and traffic management. Managed SD-WAN solutions streamline infrastructure management processes, providing network administrators with the tools and knowledge necessary to optimize network performance and user experience. From configuring network resources and monitoring traffic to troubleshooting network issues, managed SD-WAN takes the burden off network administrators, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities. By leveraging automation and intelligent routing, managed SD-WAN simplifies infrastructure management, ensuring efficient lines of network connectivity, and reliable application performance.

The Role of Infrastructure Management

The efficient management of infrastructure plays a critical role in network connectivity, security, and performance. Managed SD-WAN offers several key capabilities that enhance infrastructure management: 

• Visibility: Managed SD-WAN provides network administrators with comprehensive visibility into network traffic, application performance, and user experience, allowing them to identify and resolve performance issues proactively. 
• Firewall and security management: Managed SD-WAN incorporates advanced firewall capabilities, protecting the network from external threats and providing a secure access service edge for critical data traffic. 
• Router configuration and management: Managed SD-WAN handles router configuration, traffic routing, and network optimization, ensuring efficient lines of connectivity and optimal network performance.

SD-WAN and Network Security

SD-WAN Security Features

SD-WAN technology incorporates robust security features, ensuring secure data transmission, and network access: 

Broadening Your Network with SD-WAN

Going Global with SD-WAN

Managed SD-WAN solutions enable businesses to broaden their network reach and connectivity across regions: 

SD-WAN Management Options

Exploring Different Management Strategies

Managed SD-WAN offers businesses a range of management strategies to optimize network performance and user experience: 

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Managed SD-WAN Solution

When evaluating managed SD-WAN solutions, consider the following factors: 

Conclusion

In conclusion, managed SD-WAN solutions offer businesses a simplified and efficient approach to network management. By outsourcing the management and maintenance of their SD-WAN infrastructure, businesses can focus on their core operations and leave the technical complexities to the experts. With features like centralized control and visibility, enhanced security, and improved scalability, managed SD-WAN solutions provide businesses with the tools they need to address today's IT challenges and support their growing networking needs. When choosing a managed SD-WAN solution, it is important to consider factors such as provider expertise, service level agreements, and cost-effectiveness. By making an informed decision, businesses can leverage the benefits of SD-WAN technology and optimize their network performance.