What is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN – meaning ‘software-defined wide area network’ – is a networking technology. It enhances a business’s connectivity by intelligently managing and optimising wide area networks, through software rather than hardware. SD-WAN improves performance, boosts flexibility, increases visibility and offers powerful, centralised control over network functionality.

How does SD-WAN work?

’Traditional’ WAN architecture relies on fixed, hardware-based networks. These have limited flexibility and lack a centralised point of control.

In contrast, SD-WAN employs a software-driven approach (hence ‘software-defined wide area network’). SD-WAN services utilise virtualisation and cloud-based technologies for ease and flexibility of use.

SD-WAN’s components include edge devices, a central controller and an overlay network. It intelligently utilises multiple connections – e.g. MPLS, broadband, LTE – to route traffic, dynamically choosing the most efficient path based on real-time conditions.

SD-WAN optimises traffic flow by centralising control, enhancing agility and ensuring seamless adaptability to varying network demands. Bottlenecks and latency are all but eliminated.

SD-WAN architecture explained

SD-WAN architecture modernises the traditional networking model by employing a software-driven approach. The architecture comprises edge devices, a central controller and an overlay network.

At the network’s edge, physical or virtual appliances manage local connectivity. The central controller – which is often cloud-based – will orchestrate network policies. It will also provide a clear overview and rapid control through a single pane-of-glass. The overlay network, built atop existing infrastructure, allows for underlying layers of network abstraction.

SD-WAN solutions intelligently deploy a variety of connections – e.g. MPLS, broadband, LTE – to dynamically direct traffic based on real-time conditions. This flexibility enhances and optimises network performance. SD-WAN architecture prioritises agility, scalability and efficiency, making it a transformative networking solution for modern businesses.

Why are enterprises turning to SD-WAN?

Across all sectors, enterprises are increasingly upgrading to SD-WAN. There are several reasons for this steady and ongoing shift.

Firstly, SD-WAN offers enterprises enhanced network performance by intelligently routing traffic, optimising bandwidth usage and reducing latency. In addition, the flexibility to use multiple types of connections – including cost-effective broadband and LTE – allows for more agile and scalable network solutions.

SD-WAN services enable the efficient use of resources, while maintaining reliability. SD-WAN’s centralised management simplifies network administration, and offers a holistic view and real-time control over the entire infrastructure. And as enterprises expand, SD-WAN's ability to support distributed offices and cloud-based applications ensures seamless connectivity.

Then there are SD-WAN’s intelligent security capabilities. SD-WAN enhances business security through integrated features such as encryption, firewalls and threat detection. By centralising network management, it ensures consistent security policies across all connections. And the dynamic routing of traffic optimises security by selecting the most secure path based on real-time conditions.

In all, SD-WAN aligns with the evolving needs of enterprise-scale businesses, offering a scalable, feature-rich and performance-optimised solution for their complex and growth-focused networking requirements.

What are the benefits of SD-WAN?

Enhanced network performance

SD-WAN optimises your business’s traffic flow, reduces latency and improves user experience.

Flexibility and scalability

Your business can scale seamlessly, and rapidly adapt to its changing priorities and opportunities.

Centralised management

Gain a holistic view and real-time control over the entire network infrastructure, through a single, user-friendly pane-of-glass system.

Security integration

SD-WAN integrates advanced security features, including encryption, firewall capabilities and up-to-date threat detection.

Application performance optimisation

Your SD-WAN solution will prioritise and optimise application traffic for superior performance.

Dynamic routing

Working intelligently and autonomously, SD-WAN can utilise multiple connections – e.g. MPLS, broadband, LTE – based on real-time conditions for efficient traffic routing.

MPLS vs SD-WAN

MPLS – meaning ‘multiprotocol label switching’ – is a networking technology that provides data transmission through predetermined paths. Although reliable and capable of maintaining low latency, MPLS comes with its own set of limitations.

MPLS vs SD-WAN: Performance

MPLS is renowned for its reliability and low latency. But performance-wise, SD-WAN has the edge, due to its ability to dynamically optimise traffic based on real-time conditions. This adaptability ensures efficient utilisation of available resources and enhances overall network performance.

MPLS vs SD-WAN: Flexibility

Flexibility is where SD-WAN really pulls ahead of MPLS. SD-WAN harnesses the power of software to intelligently route traffic, enabling rapid adjustments to accommodate changing business requirements. This flexibility allows enterprises to scale seamlessly, rapidly adapt to changing environments and embrace digital transformation. As MPLS relies on fixed infrastructure, it’s far less capable in this regard.

MPLS vs SD-WAN: Security

SD-WAN offers end-to-end encryption and easy integration with cloud-based security protocols, providing precise control and visibility for swift identification of and response to the latest security threats. In contrast, MPLS lacks these advanced security features, making it more challenging to counter threats promptly. Also, MPLS’s reliance on a private connection can become a vulnerability during a breach, as there’s no alternative data route. SD-WAN, on the other hand, enhances resilience by routing traffic over multiple paths.

SDN vs SD-WAN

What is SDN?

SDN – meaning ‘software-defined networking’ – is an approach to network management that separates the control plane from the data plane in networking devices. Traditionally, network devices – e.g. routers, switches – have both the control plane (responsible for making decisions about where to send data) and the data plane (which actually forwards the data based on those decisions).

In SDN, the control plane is decoupled and moved to a centralised software controller. This controller communicates with the networking devices in the data plane through a standardised protocol, providing a centralised view and control over the entire network.

What is SD-WAN in relation to SDN?

While SDN focuses on the broader network, SD-WAN zooms in on wide-area networks. SD-WAN leverages SDN principles but tailors them to the specific needs of connecting geographically-dispersed branches and data centres. SD-WAN’s primary goal is to intelligently manage and optimise the flow of traffic over wide-area networks, enhancing performance and ensuring efficient use of available resources.

How can SDN and SD-WAN work together?

SDN and SD-WAN can be seamlessly integrated to provide a unified management framework for the entire network. The centralised control offered by SDN complements the distributed nature of SD-WAN, creating a powerfully holistic approach to network administration. Together, SDN and SD-WAN form a potent duo that brings unparalleled flexibility to networks. SDN's ability to adapt network policies centrally aligns with SD-WAN's dynamic response to changing network conditions. The result is a more agile infrastructure capable of meeting the ever-shifting demands of modern business environments.

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.