SD-WAN for Mobile Workforce: Improving Productivity and Efficiency
Remote working has become the order of the day during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. More and more companies rely on WAN to connect to branches and remote offices. There is a need for a reliable and secure network to connect to the company network and cloud services. The growing demand for bandwidth has led to constant interruptions and downtime. The rise in latency-sensitive applications like video conferencing has turned the focus on SD-WAN.
Remote workers have always relied on their cellular connection for communication and accessing real-time data. These workers remain disconnected from corporate networks, leaving them at the mercy of mobile data or home broadband. SD-WAN offers multiple data transport options by adding a software layer. Now, organisations can connect with their remote employees via cellular, fibre internet, broadband, and satellite. The SD-WAN routes data intelligently based on the application requirement, irrespective of the network.
During the disruption of traditional links, SD-WAN uses cellular services to support their remote workers. Cellular connectivity can be a backup, while traditional WAN links are primary connections in remote locations.
Mobility through SD-WAN
Organisations are shifting towards SD-WAN for better performance, agility, affordability, and easy management of networks and devices. With SD-WAN, there is better visibility of traffic across the workspace. Moreover, SD-WAN can optimise WAN connectivity for remote workers. Using traditional technology like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), remote workers can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity, especially while using business-critical applications and cloud services. Yet there are drawbacks like administrative challenges and security issues despite minimising latency while accessing the internet through cellular. These drawbacks can be overcome using SD-WAN.
Security risks can be overcome using centralised authentication, layered security controls, and policy enforcement. Moreover, it offers WAN optimisation, application prioritisation, and traffic shaping to enhance performance. In SD-WAN, bandwidth is controlled depending on the requirements of your business.
How to improve the performance of remote offices with SD-WAN?
Security is a major concern in SD-WAN since they do not come with in-built security options or encryption. Thanks to the cloud technology, this concern can now be countered. Yet, to enjoy the benefits of a complete SD-WAN package, the following are essential:
Data Plane: It is the data plane that carries the traffic, and this needs to be encrypted; choosing the right encryption services is vital to keeping your services secure. There are countless encryption methods, but identify the right one to prevent hackers from penetrating your system. Rotating encryption keys is a popular method to outwit hackers; it provides a higher degree of security by reducing the window for hackers. Moreover, it ensures your company follows industry standards and encryption best practices.
Onboarding: A secure device onboarding makes devices connected to your network legitimate, granting access to those who need it. Blocking new devices from accessing the network unless the service provider authenticates them can secure your network from intrusions. Using the Zero-trust model is an effective way to authenticate devices, where only approved devices get on the safelist, and a certificate will prove its authenticity. SD-WAN is getting there when it comes to optimising cloud usage. Though it is still being fine-tuned, there is no doubt it has put most of the security concerns at rest when it comes to addressing the mobile workforce.
Firewall: SD-WAN service providers offer firewalls for security measures, yet they are basic and do not protect the organisation from intrusion or data loss. The in-built security does not integrate with the organisation’s security infrastructure, making it vulnerable to threats. SD-WAN vendors are joining security vendors to customise security based on the organisation’s specifications. Some of the features include next-generation firewalls.
SD-WAN is gaining popularity due to its better visibility, improved performance, availability, and flexibility compared to MPLS. Distributed enterprises are moving to SD-WAN as it provides secure and uninterrupted connectivity to branch and remote offices via the cloud without stressing data centre resources. It allows your business to adopt the latest applications at the edge, ensuring quick data transmission. Adding WAN to a mobile device is a step towards giving your workforce the flexibility to work from anywhere, irrespective of geographical location.
SD-WAN is versatile with all OS, making it accessible on smartphones, laptops, and tablets. The simplicity, reliability, and security have made SD-WAN the first choice for organisations to have their workforce outside their office. With myriad applications waiting to be consumed daily, offering a reliable and secure network can help your business scale to new heights.
SMOAD SD-WAN offers seamless and secure network connectivity at affordable cost with centralised control and zero worries of mission-critical applications failing.
Call us for a demo!