SMOAD Networks

5G SD-WAN
June 21, 2023

The benefits of true wireless SD-WAN for businesses

SD-WAN is a networking technology. It is entirely software-based, and offers managed services at the terminal of a public or private IP (Internet Protocol) network. It also renders the power to supply bandwidth and optimise latency dynamically. SD-WAN also focus on the delivery of secure end-to-end connectivity.

As the name suggests, SD-WAN has evolved from the current WAN technology. It offers a new means to connect with remote sites by using tools like the Internet. SD-WAN assists organisations in minimising operational expenditures and improving the utilisation of resources for deploying an application to two or more data centres.

A briefing on SD-WAN
SD-WAN is more an approach that is predominantly used for building or implementing network infrastructures by using software instead of hardware. This infers that the built network by itself functions like a service. Additionally, the management of the implemented network seems easier since the user would be left with a decreased amount of equipment to keep up with. SD-WAN is a cloud-supported technology that helps firms with deploying networks with the help of existing infrastructure. It renders scalable, secure, and flexible solutions for connecting remotely located sites, mobile workers, and branch offices to the headquarters of the corporate entity.

SD-WAN is recognised as a crucial part of the modern network infrastructure. It permits companies to deploy a wide range of services across different platforms and maintain consistent levels of high performance.

But can SD-WAN be considered an alternative to Virtual Private Network (VPN)? SD-WAN has been widely acknowledged to complement VPN by offering increased functionality. Also, SD-WAN complements a Virtual Private Network by permitting users to link remotely located offices to different third parties securely.

The pros of using SD-WAN
In simple contexts, SD-WAN acts like a sheathing network built above the existing infrastructure, which could be utilised for connecting many sites without making fresh connections to touch them physically. The following are some of the benefits of SD-WAN.

Reduction of costs
SD-WAN is known for using Internet Protocol addresses in the place of leased lines or dedicated circuits. This replacement overrules allocating a special sum for purchasing expensive hardware while linking remotely located offices. The client will only be required to buy a single set of devices for each site.

Improved scalability
Upon using SD-WAN, a person can combine as many sites as required by linking an additional number of nodes, like in the case of any other existing WAN technology. The setup above permits users to scale up even when traffic increases quickly.

Improved safety
SD-WAN offers secure and safe communications across the Internet using Secure Sockets Layer or Transport Layer Security encryption. These encryptions ensure the information transferred through the connection stays confidential and private.

The cons of using SD-WAN
Restricted bandwidth
SD-WAN mainly operates over non-private Internet. Thus, there is no definite surety of bandwidth being available to all users. Users using SD-WAN to stream videos would be entitled to buy latency. SD-WAN usually renders low latency. But there is always a detectable delay when compared to devoted links. One millisecond ping time indicates that packets accurately take 1 ms to move between ends. But this ping time could be more suitable for heavy-bandwidth applications like live streaming.

Restricted reach or range
SD-WAN does not offer direct and uninterrupted connectivity to each device in its range. Rather, SD-WAN directly links devices to a node closest to its network. This restricts the scope or reach of a network outside the building in which it is built. SMOAD SD-WAN solutions provide centralised control over branch/remote offices for boundless reach.

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