Software Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs) began to gain traction in the early 2010s in response to the changing landscape of enterprise networking: when bandwidth requirements were growing and businesses began to adopt a cloud-first model.

Following a steady period of maturation, market growth, standardisation and enhancement, SD-WAN’s popularity has accelerated in recent years, thanks to its natural fit with remote, hybrid and flexible ways of working. Today, the technology is widely accepted. And it’s rapidly replacing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) as the backbone of digital infrastructure across all sorts of WAN-reliant enterprises.

Those enterprises span structures and sectors; from multi-site corporates, to retail networks, from manufacturing and logistics, to hospitality, healthcare, government and education.

The kinds of businesses that use SD-WAN are many and varied, and rightly so. All businesses are continuously looking to benefit from better performance, increased agility, mature security and operational simplification – SD-WAN delivers on all these promises.

Here, we take a deeper look at the benefits of SD-WAN, and how it’s reshaping wide area networking. If you’re looking for a fundamental guide to the technology itself, before you dive into the benefits, read the first guide in this series: What is SD-WAN?

Improved performance

SD-WAN improves WAN performance in a number of ways.

Smarter path selection:

Unlike MPLS, which relies on static routing, SD-WAN solutions intelligently and dynamically select network traffic paths based on real-time conditions. Application-aware routing ensures appropriate path selection, and that business-critical applications are prioritised.

Greater bandwidth efficiency:

SD-WAN solutions incorporate optimisation techniques such as data compression and deduplication, helping to improve the efficiency of bandwidth use and reduce congestion.

Improved network flexibility:

SD-WAN infrastructure allows network managers to mix and match different network types, such as MPLS, LTE and broadband; meaning businesses can use more cost-effective network types for lower volume or lower priority services and flex the network quickly when establishing new sites.

Ultimately, MPLS is a fixed and relatively inflexible solution. Integrating a new MPLS branch into an existing network typically involves modifications to the network infrastructure, and hardware like routers and switches must be installed and configured. SD-WAN is easier to scale up or down, bringing control and simplicity to network set up and management.

The increased network performance enabled by SD-WAN brings with it a host of business and IT benefits: more automation, efficiency and flexibility mean greater control and more available IT resources.

The Cloud Advantage

As a cloud solution, SD-WAN brings a number of functional benefits to distributed enterprises. Firstly, it eliminates backhauling traffic congestion by allowing direct internet access from branch offices to the network, rather than routing all traffic through a centralised data centre.

This direct internet access, coupled with local internet breakout, allows branch users to access cloud applications without burdening the core network. Of course, advanced edge security features must be implemented to ensure local inspection and filtering of internet-bound traffic.

SD-WAN’s in-built ability to prioritise business-critical applications improves cloud app performance and reduces latency. Through real-time analysis and application-aware routing, SD-WAN prioritises essential applications and can reroute traffic to high-capacity lines and private network types when required.

Improved agility

The agility and flexibility an SD-WAN solution delivers doesn’t just occur once the network’s established. Provisioning and onboarding new networks and branches is faster and more straightforward.

Traditionally, configuring and managing MPLS connections has been complex and time-consuming, but SD-WAN streamlines every step. Onboarding a new branch via SD-WAN takes a matter of days, if not hours. This unlocks an accelerated pace for enterprise businesses to adapt to their evolving needs, effortlessly.

SD-WAN is peerless when it comes to scalability. Scaling up is a breeze, but equally importantly, if you need to roll the network back, SD-WAN solutions are easy to scale down as well, with fewer fixed asset costs and contractual obligations to contend with, and the ability to restrict the network remotely.

In the world of enterprise business, agility is more than a buzzword – it’s a necessity. And with SD-WAN, enterprise operations can confidently navigate the modern digital landscape, confident that their network is as flexible and responsive as their ambitions.

Simplified WAN management

As enterprises grow, WAN management becomes more and more complex, with more branches, devices and traffic types to maintain and manage. Granular network visibility becomes a challenge, meaning automated monitoring is needed to spot issues.

SD-WAN from TalkTalk Business increases visibility of network activity using a cohesive ‘single pane of glass’ view. With the ability to monitor networks and traffic through both a wide and more granular lens, IT teams can control and manage wide-ranging traffic, at scale. But it also allows them to pin down and troubleshoot specific issues, all from a centralised control point.

And beyond improving operational efficiency, increased visibility can be a powerful asset for wider business decision-making.

For instance, by identifying bottlenecks and closely monitoring application performance, IT teams can gather actionable insights, derived from real-time data. In turn, this can inform strategic decision-making such as optimising resource allocation, responding to evolving user needs and aligning network strategies with overarching business goals.

More than optimising, troubleshooting and strategically navigating the network, IT teams can contribute to informed decisions that resonate throughout your enterprise. The result? Elevated network performance, enriched user experiences, and a data-driven approach that fuels business growth.

Improved security

The final big SD-WAN benefit is the integral, flexible security measures that are part and parcel of this technology. As cybersecurity threats mature, and defence and preservation of information and assets remains critical to the corporate agenda, building security into the very foundations of digital real estate is key. And that means starting with the network.

While SD-WAN solutions provide built-in security measures such as encryption, firewalls, VPN support, intrusion detection and secure access control, basic firewall and VPN solutions often aren’t enough to guarantee protection.

TalkTalk Business’s SD-WAN solution, powered by industry leaders Cisco Meraki, offers a range of advanced security features. Cisco Meraki MX licences are available in three levels to suit a range of budgets and cybersecurity needs.

Key features available include Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Advanced Malware Protection and Geo-IP- and Identity-Based Firewall Rules. These are essential for safeguarding against malware and network vulnerabilities.

In addition, a Cisco Meraki SD-WAN solution also includes Automatic Firmware Updates, Threat Intelligence Feeds and Security Dashboard and Reporting. This ensures comprehensive cybersecurity and peace of mind that your network is always protected.

And businesses with remote users connecting to the network externally are covered by the Cisco Secure Client. Using pre-configured profiles and multiple entry points into the network, it provides added resilience while ensuring the transfer of user data is secure.

Talk to us about SD-WAN

If you'd like to learn more about how our SD-WAN solutions could transform your business, we'd love to talk.

You can give our experts a call on 03330 603 359 or arrange a call back from a member of the team here.