In today’s business environment you can’t afford to have poor Internet connections. Many business-critical applications are hosted in the cloud, making Internet connectivity more important than ever. Businesses with multiple locations historically connected their offices using Wide Area Network (WAN) connections which can be slow and unreliable. Software Defined Network (SD-WAN) technology enables you to increase network availability while also reducing operational costs.
SD-WAN is a software-defined upgrade or update to traditional WAN technologies. The network control is hosted in the cloud and the connections to each site can include fiber, broadband and traditional technology to deliver flexibility and cost-savings. Compared to WAN, SD-WAN offers improved service, flexibility, and broader capabilities.
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Independence and Flexibility: SD-WAN allows you to aggregate a variety of circuit types at any location, based on what’s available. You can use 4G, LTE, MPLS, Internet, or fixed wireless. These services can be delivered by fiber, copper, coax, or over the air.
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Security: Instead of implementing security measures on each individual location, SD-WAN allows you to set up universal security functions, such as cloud web content filtering, malware defenses, and intervention protocols so all systems can be updated in a timely manner. It also has built-in encryption capabilities so only authorized users can access your data.
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Smart Pathway Control: SD-WAN allows you to increase efficiency by steering traffic based on the applications used and the bandwidth required. This can be controlled either from a centralized location or at each individual site.
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Reduced Equipment and Bandwidth Cost: The technology helps reduce bandwidth cost since you can use a much more affordable standard internet connection instead of a designated MPLS without compromising network speed, security, and uptime.
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Automatic Configuration and Ease of Deployment: SD-WAN simplifies the deployment of WAN systems for businesses. You can send devices to each location unconfigured, thereby reducing IT workload. Upon activation, each device can download its own policy, crypto certificate, and keys based on the location and access requirements.
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Rapid Provisioning: You can provision new locations quickly using broadband circuits instead of waiting long lead-times for fiber installations. This can significantly reduce the time and cost required to connect a new branch to the corporate network. In addition, the system can learn traffic pattern to further simplify provisioning.
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Streamlined Management: The cloud-based solution helps facilitate the deployment of WAN services (e.g., firewalls, security updates) to each individual site. It also streamlines the management and orchestration of IT activities (e.g., scaling up or down bandwidth needs) from a central location so you don’t have to send IT personnel to each individual branch. As a result, critical updates can be made cost-efficiently in a timely manner.
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Single Interface: IT administrators can be notified of any issue and manage the entire WAN for the enterprise through a single interface without manually configuring the network at each individual location
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Lower IT Overhead and Operational Spending: The ability to centralize network management and automate provisioning means you can reduce overhead since you no longer need a full IT team at each location. In addition, the lower ongoing operational cost can help increase the profitability of the organization.
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Business Growth and Expansion: The low cost and ease of deployment allow businesses using SD-WAN to expand quickly as they can get new branches up and running with much less friction. This allows organizations to be more nimble and respond to market conditions in a more agile manner.
BlueAlly provides solutions, expertise and strategy to allow our partners to focus on innovation within their business. Contact your BlueAlly Account Manager or email us at [email protected] to discover ways that we can help!
