SD-WAN offers opportunity but requires planning for success

By Tanya Seda, Chief Strategy Officer

If an enterprise is researching a move from legacy WAN networks to a software-defined approach this would involve migrating away from the proprietary hardware that was traditionally required for connecting remote offices and corporate data centers and moving this infrastructure into the cloud.

In the case of SD-WAN, the architecture is typically open, more cost-effective and highly responsive. They are designed to be opposite of rigid and expensive WAN networks of the past. In the future, SD-WAN is said to take market share away from existing hardware-based virtual private networks (VPNs), application delivery controllers (ADC) and WAN markets.

We have identified several use cases for SD-WAN implementations-they include:

• Back-up circuits
• Application performance enhancement
• WAN optimization
• Cloud virtual private networks (VPN)

The increase in cloud use is a primary driver for SD-WAN adoption.

History has shown us that most companies purchased WAN connectivity for internal enterprise network connectivity purposes. Today, with the many changes in technology, enterprises are purchasing network services and bandwidth to connect to cloud services of all kinds. This is a huge shift away from the way that networks were designed over the last decade. Because companies are moving at a rapid pace to migrate from legacy to newer technologies the need for expert support and advice is becoming critical, and it’s rare to see a company trying to plan, let alone execute the transition themselves.

Ask for help with SD-WAN

Enterprises must keep in mind that SD-WAN is still an emerging technology and there are still many quirks with implementation as well as service contract negotiation and billing arrangements. Many businesses are struggling to transition to SD-WAN environments. Extensive planning and testing is required with all initiatives, requiring  re-educating of  IT teams. And for these reasons, it is paramount to have assistance who can offer expert guidance along every step of the SD-WAN migration process.

 Cost Reduction

As an objective advisor, Network Control can assess your environment and requirements to identify potential 40-55% WAN cost reductions. We help your IT team identify key opportunities for savings by review of current billing and service contracts to find service optimization opportunities. From here, we design a customized IT roadmap for the cost reduction and a migration plan.

Don’t go it alone! We can help your company navigate the complexities of this emerging market, ensuring a smooth transition to an SD-WAN environment.