Is SD-WAN Right For Your Business?
SD-WAN is an emerging technology that has become an essential component in today's cloud-centric business environments. Enterprise deployments continue to nearly double each year, and it's viewed as a good replacement for legacy enterprise wide-area networks. But some companies may still have questions about whether it's right for their business. While small businesses are typically classified by their number of employees and average annual receipts, this isn't relevant when determining networking requirements.
Easy scalability
Easy scalability of SD-WAN is a great benefit for companies that want to add more users or expand their network. This technology works in conjunction with existing WAN services, and provides increased bandwidth and lower latency. It also aggregates links for better network performance. Many small and medium-sized businesses have expanded their use of cloud-based applications, which require high-speed connectivity. Companies are also increasingly using these services for virtual collaboration. This type of service allows users to access large files and applications from remote locations.
SD-WAN works by managing traffic through a software overlay. This way, it prioritizes high-demand applications such as video conferencing and voice over IP. As a result, it helps businesses cut costs and improve security and performance. It is also scalable and can be used in many different locations.
SD-WAN also provides increased centralized control and WAN agility. In addition, it also helps companies use cloud applications, like hosted voice and video services. By integrating VPN security into data transfers, SD-WAN also allows companies to configure existing infrastructure with minimal hassle.
Easy downsizing
Companies can easily downsize and scale their networks with SD-WAN. Whether a company has multiple locations or just a single office, it is simple to add or drop branches. The SD-WAN service is highly customizable and can accommodate any network architecture, including cloud applications and customer data.
Companies using an SD-WAN solution can get more bandwidth per location without reducing the security of their networks. It also helps in application performance. This type of networking solution is suitable for companies that are expanding or downsizing rapidly. This solution can be used to support many business-critical applications and improve the productivity of your employees.
Improved performance
Companies can experience an increase in their network performance by implementing SD-WAN. SD-WAN improves the performance of the network by improving the network link quality. This includes metrics like packet jitter, latency, and dropped packets. Whenever there is congestion on the WAN, the SD-WAN can steer traffic to a better connection. However, it's important to note that SD-WAN can improve the performance only if all the paths are good. If every path is bad, no network optimization can improve it.
Moreover, SD-WAN can reduce costs as it enables companies to mix and match their hardware and access technologies. They can use a cheaper connectivity option, such as mobile 4G, for low-priority traffic and Internet broadband for high-priority traffic. This also saves on port costs, as SD-WAN requires a smaller port than conventional WANs.
Besides reducing IT expenses, SD-WAN also reduces operational costs and improves reliability of WAN services. In addition, it is cloud-aware and can provide real-time traffic steering and dynamic load-balancing. It also helps companies cut their total cost of ownership, as WAN connectivity can be scaled up or down based on the needs of the business.
Cost savings
When evaluating the benefits of SD-WAN, companies should consider both hard and soft savings. Hard savings are based on a reduction in expenditures and are easier to measure. Soft savings are the benefits derived from improved productivity, performance, and compliance. The latter, however, are more difficult to measure and are difficult to justify.
While traditional WANs require separate hardware at branch offices, SD-WAN relies entirely on software. The software-based approach allows companies to reduce their capital expenditure, which is a key advantage. Furthermore, companies won't be stuck with outdated hardware if the technology isn't effective.
SD-WAN providers charge on the amount of traffic that a network generates. This means that a 10Mbps line will cost X dollars, while a 25Mbps line will cost two times that. These costs can add up quickly, especially if a company is running a large network. However, with Hughes Managed SD-WAN, companies can save between $30 and $50 per site per month.
