The goal of Software-defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is to transform network edge routing capabilities. Therefore, to become cloud-ready and enhance the overall customer experience, more and more large businesses and organizations are switching from outdated technologies like branch routers to SD-WAN. 

Apparently, cloud-based resources make up an increasing portion of most firms’ networks, and fortunately, SD-WAN solutions assist businesses in significantly enhancing network performance for these resources. 

In addition to being simpler to administer, SD-WAN systems also simplify WAN operations and configuration. 

How? Let’s understand.

Decoding SD-WAN

Application flows are optimally routed by SD-WAN equipment to their intended locations through a variety of media transports, such as MPLS circuits, broadband Internet, and LTE/4G/5G. By establishing several pathways, businesses can achieve or surpass the performance and dependability offered by MPLS while minimizing their reliance on this expensive and geographically constrained infrastructure. This is made possible through Network Access Points or NAP, which has significant interconnection lines all over the country to provide multiple options and massive connectivity to access the most advanced operators and content. Having said that, let’s see what NAP is.

Available for some major cloud service providers like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, etc, a Network Access Point is a neutral carrier and content provider and is a mode that allows getting cross-connections or golden bridges easily and at a low cost. 

Choosing SD-WAN for your enterprise

An expletive understanding of SD-WAN is incomplete without knowing how to choose an SD-WAN for your enterprise. Technology providers in the SD-WAN market include Fortinet, Cisco/Viptela, HPE/Silver Peak, VMware/VeloCloud, Citrix, Versa Networks, and Palo Alto Networks/CloudGenix. The majority of SD-WAN manufacturers provide straightforward management and traffic optimization; however, each provider’s SD-WAN offering is unique. 

It is critical to consider an SD-WAN solution’s capacity to satisfy business needs for application performance and security in addition to the initial purchase price and total cost of ownership (TCO). 

Branch networks for your enterprise can use broadband Internet circuits with cheap costs and high bandwidth when using SD-WAN while still preserving ‘MPLS-like’ performance SLA characteristics. 

But, direct internet breakout exposes these branch networks to threats from the internet. Without fully integrated security, SD-WAN just becomes another channel via which malware and cybercriminals can attack crucial assets.

Offering better application performance and availability across the corporate WAN is one of SD-WAN’s main purposes. An optimal SD-WAN system must have dynamic path selection and the flexibility to be installed on any enterprise WAN edge in order to do this. 

This makes it possible for traffic to be optimally routed directly between any two edges on the corporate WAN, regardless of where they are situated—in an on-site data center, a branch office, or the cloud architecture of a company.

Whether a vendor’s solution delivers Secure SD-WAN or SD-WAN is a key differentiator between different SD-WAN suppliers. 

Comparing SD-WAN vendors: 

Every SD-WAN provider offers a distinctive product from a different angle. Even while improving application speed is SD-main WAN’s goal, security integration and high-performance value are equally important.

Numerous SD-WAN solution suppliers compromise significantly on TCO, security, or network performance. Comparing them according to how well they can satisfy these standards is the best way to choose a vendor for your needs.

• Spectra: 

Spectra is currently one of the best providers of SD-WAN solutions and can be installed on several appliances as per the client’s business preference. Spectra SD-WAN offers enterprises enhanced network flexibility, performance functionality, and services, creating reliable connections to and from the cloud. Spectra’s SD-WAN claims to be the ideal solution to help organizations achieve their digital transformation objectives.

Intelligent traffic prioritization, zero-touch provisioning, built-in next-generation firewall, no packet loss, latency, or jitter, real-time visibility into network usage and insights, and compatibility with multi-branch cloud connectivity are some of the top features that Spectra’s SD-WAN boasts of. With its promise of zero impact on business continuity, the company has positioned its SD-WAN solution as one of the best in the market currently.

• CISCO: 

The SD-WAN solution from Cisco is implemented as software that can be installed on a variety of Cisco appliances. Although the implementation process for a high-end Secure SD-WAN is similar to that of Cisco, it uses a custom ASIC to implement SD-WAN features. 

Because of this, these Secure SD-WANs are able to achieve a throughput rate that is far higher than what would be feasible with a software-based solution. Additionally, these solutions may achieve greater efficiency and more reliable security through complete network and security integration thanks to the usage of hardware acceleration created to support SD-WAN capability and an integrated NGFW. 

Last but not least, Cisco’s comprehensive SD-WAN solution combines a variety of items obtained through Viptela and Meraki with Cisco Integrated Services Routers and Catalyst 8K series, making it a good choice for enterprises.

• HPE/SILVER PEAK:

A Secure SD-WAN solution from Silver Peak is promoted as working over the corporate WAN. Partnerships with numerous different security providers, whose products are connected to Silver Peak’s SD-WAN solution, are used to implement this solution. 

This does so at the expense of additional management overhead, complexity, and TCO, even though it makes it possible for an organization to apply the necessary security controls for privacy and regulatory compliance.

• VeloCloud: 

According to its marketing, VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud is made to offer high-performance, dependable SD-WAN connectivity across the enterprise WAN. However, it lacks crucial components like integrated security, conventional WAN optimization tools, and complete IPv6 functionality.

While VeloCloud supports a wide variety of deployment environments and a large variety of third-party security solutions because of its support for VNFs, doing so frequently comes at the expense of performance. On some VeloCloud models, the integration of a third-party NGFW as a VNF reduces the overall appliance throughout. 

On the contrary, high-end SD-WAN systems use a specially created ASIC to deliver SD-WAN capability and integrate an NGFW. These Secure SD-WANs can undertake a thorough inspection of both encrypted and unencrypted network traffic with performance that is unmatched in the market thanks to the greater efficiency offered by this specially constructed hardware.

• CloudGenix: 

A Palo Alto Networks business called CloudGenix says it provides an SD-WAN that is centered on portable equipment that is simple to set up throughout the corporate WAN. 

However, many essential components for Secure SD-WAN, such as WAN optimization and integrated NGFW capabilities, are missing from the aforementioned lightweight systems. The limited adoption of CloudGenix by service providers further hinders its expansion

• Versa Networks: 

The Secure SD-WAN platform from Versa is marketed as being created to lower the cost of integrating SD-WAN into a company’s network. Versa enables network service virtualization (NSV) to run its own software on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) gear rather than necessitating the procurement of specialized hardware. 

This makes purchasing an organization’s SD-WAN solution easier, but it offers lesser performance than specialized hardware..

• Fortinet Secured SD-WAN: 

One of the other better WAN edge appliances on the market today, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN offers full integration of networking and security features on a single platform. 

With little impact on the system or network performance, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN performs a thorough inspection of both unencrypted and encrypted traffic thanks to specialized hardware for both its SD-WAN and NGFW, including a unique SD-WAN ASIC.

By utilizing integrated application identification and awareness, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN also improves network performance. Over 5,000 applications can be recognized by Secure SD-WAN based on initial packet categorization. With the help of application-specific business rules, integrated automated path intelligence is able to prioritize application flows and route them optimally. 

Conclusion: 

Knowing about SD-WAN, Network Access points or any other major internet-related factors is crucial for a business. Advanced end-to-end network solutions to improve one’s business have been available in the market for a long time now. It is important to be able to analyze each service and choose the best among them to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of one’s business.