SD-WAN EBook*.pdf

Enterprise networks are experiencing increased traffic due to cloud data, leading to a need for more bandwidth and impacting costs and user experience. To address this, IT executives are turning to software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) for fast and reliable connectivity. SD-WAN separates network control and management from hardware, making it easily configurable and deployable. However, adopting SD-WAN often prioritizes connectivity and cost over security, putting the network at risk.

Four best practices for SD-WAN security are recommended:
1. Ensure consistent security across all locations,
2. Consolidate connectivity and security,
3. Choose a flexible solution for scalability, and
4. Own the end-to-end SD-WAN infrastructure.

Key features to consider when evaluating SD-WAN solutions include support for applications across data centers and clouds, a global backbone for reliable connectivity, cost savings, consistent security, reduced manual effort, and improved user experience. Traditional multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) has disadvantages such as slower internet and higher costs, which SD-WAN can address. Nearly 95% of enterprises either currently use or plan to use SD-WAN within 24 months, with Gartner predicting SD-WAN technology will be included in up to 75% of infrastructure refreshes by 2020.