SD-WAN and Beyond: Interconnecting Distributed Offices with SMOAD

MPLS is an expensive proposition, driving the way towards a cost-saving process called SD-WAN. Software-defined WAN is a new trend that connects IoT services and meets the needs of the ever-evolving IT landscape. With the rise of distributed offices and a remote work culture, the demand for security, network deployment, optimisation, intelligence, and business agility is higher than ever before. SD-WAN deployment can improve maintenance and reduce infrastructure costs.

Today, more and more enterprises are shifting to SD-WAN solutions as they are simple, economical, and easy to maintain. Converting your branch office’s existing WAN network into an SD-WAN solution is simple. Instead of adding excessive hardware, you can invest in SD-WAN solutions to fix your connectivity issues.
SD-WAN solutions are compatible with 5G, LTE, and Wi-Fi networks. They are perfect for small offices as there are no worries about adding Wi-Fi routers to your existing network. Small office spaces are confined and can therefore tolerate low noise; therefore, appliances must be noise-free. Since people sit close to a small office, they require fanless network appliances.

Why SD-WAN is right for distributed offices?

• SD-WAN offers faster, automated deployment of network services to distributed offices and on-premises. Zero-touch provisioning enables branch employees to set up devices with minimal technical skills quickly and efficiently.
• Centralised management is another advantage of SD-WAN solutions. It provides real-time visibility and control across the network, making it easier to monitor, configure, and enforce policies across locations.
• Affordability is the key factor in choosing SD-WAN for distributed offices. Leveraging LTE, broadband, and other internet connections, SD-WAN enables reduced dependence on MPLS circuits, thereby reducing overall WAN costs while maintaining security and reliability.
• Embedded security features are also crucial for branch offices, and SD-WAN solutions offer firewalls, SASE frameworks, and segmentation, promising consistent protection across all sites.
• SD-WAN enables the scaling up and down of bandwidth to support business growth and evolving business requirements.

SD-WAN connecting distributed offices

• Edge computing brings storage and computing closer to the user, minimising latency and enriching responsiveness in branch offices.
• Using centralised policies, you can dynamically prioritise critical applications and route traffic to optimise performance and reliability.
• Integrating with the cloud enables direct and secure access to cloud services from distributed locations, avoiding traditional data centre backhauling and thereby reducing latency.
• Unified security helps deliver consistent security controls and policies, including SASE support across endpoints and locations.

SD-WAN best practices for distributed offices
When deploying SD-WAN for distributed offices, it is crucial to evaluate the current WAN and LAN infrastructure for seamless integration and compatibility. You can prioritise solutions and scale easily with zero-touch deployment and centralised orchestration. The SD-WAN platform comes with excellent security features like SASE and firewalls. Moreover, it makes real-time monitoring easy with analytics and single-pane glass management. Organisations can consider hybrid options to take advantage of both MPLS and Internet-based circuits for affordability, reliability, and redundancy.

SD-WAN reduces IT support for distributed offices
Centralised management allows IT teams to configure, monitor and troubleshoot the network using a single dashboard. It removes the need for an on-site IT team at distributed locations. Setup is quick and straightforward at the distributed office and can be done without the help of technical experts, as there is not much manual configuration. The hardware requirements are almost nil at the branch office, reducing the need for on-site visits for hardware maintenance. IT administrators can deploy and update network policies across distributed offices, thereby reducing the effort and time required for manual updates and quick troubleshooting.

Organisations can easily integrate advanced security features, such as VPNs, segmentation, and firewalls, for simplified management across distributed locations. By optimising network traffic and minimising user-reported connectivity issues, organisations can improve reliability and performance.

SD-WAN offers excellent scalability, especially for organisations with distributed and remote offices. With SD-WAN, you can easily add new offices or users by deploying additional nodes or devices. There is no need for sophisticated hardware installation or manual configuration at each location. Therefore, scaling up and down is faster and more affordable. Flexible bandwidth connections enable flexible workload support for peak demands without straining resources. By aggregating broadband, LTE, 5G, and MPLS, organisations can bid goodbye to downtime at an affordable cost and optimise performance.

SMOAD SD-Branch Solutions is a full-stack solution that combines wired, wireless LAN, and WAN connectivity. It comes with AI-driven analytics, Edge Naas, Microservices, and surveillance in one package: diverse WAN links, quantum-secure communication, and intelligent routing, which offer seamless business operations. Want to know more? Call us for a demo.