Managed SD-WAN services eliminate multivendor complexity and disparate technology. They also provide a full range of high-speed Internet connectivity options and improve resiliency through multiple transport services. Unlike traditional hardware-based networking, an SD-WAN overlay network separates devices from the control plane, using centralized management to set policies and real-time performance data to steer traffic per-application basis.
Cost-Effectiveness
A fully managed SD-WAN solution can save businesses money. A business can reduce IT expenses by eliminating the cost of hardware, software, and support for an in-house network. The amount of money saved will depend on the size of a company and whether it is relying on a managed service or going the DIY route. The benefits of a fully managed SD-WAN solution extend beyond reduced costs. It also makes managing security, improving application performance, and building resiliency easier. In addition, a managed SD-WAN can provide secure connectivity for remote and branch offices, so data stays safe even when transmitted over the Internet. In-house management of a business’s network requires specialized IT staff with the necessary knowledge to install, operate, and maintain an SD-WAN. This is particularly challenging for small companies with limited budgets or insufficient IT professionals to do the job correctly. A managed provider offers various services, including deploying SD-WAN appliances, procuring local internet links, and managing the middle mile network. This includes establishing peering relationships that optimize traffic flow for better speed and performance.
Scalability
A fully managed SD-WAN can scale as your business grows. It offers flexibility to connect across various high-speed connectivity options, including MPLS, broadband internet, and 4G LTE. It also lets traffic offload locally through link-bonding, delivering last-mile bandwidth efficiencies. A managed solution can reduce the time and expense of managing multiple vendors by integrating all networking aspects into one software-driven solution. This can be done by combining infrastructure, network access, and security into an as-a-service model, decreasing upfront costs and removing long-term commitments. Unlike traditional WAN architectures that require expensive MPLS connections, SD-WAN can reduce operating costs by simplifying WAN infrastructure, reducing application latency, and using broadband to offload non-critical data traffic. It can also support a seamless on-ramp to the cloud with significant application performance improvements, boosting productivity and lowering the risk of data breaches. Specific organizations, such as regulated industries like financial services and healthcare, must deploy additional technologies to protect sensitive data and ensure it is only accessed by someone else once it reaches its destination. However, a co-managed option can meet these needs, which offers more control over application routing and security policies but enables the managed service provider to handle the rest of your SD-WAN.
Flexibility
A fully managed solution simultaneously pushes centralized policy changes to multiple sites, reducing or eliminating the need for individual gateway and router management. Additionally, managed SD-WANs can prioritize traffic to the best available networks. This can help businesses lower networking expenses by using inexpensive internet connections for some types of network traffic while retaining dedicated MPLS for mission-critical data and real-time applications. A fully managed SD-WAN can also reduce the workload for IT teams by ensuring that a third party handles access configuration, bandwidth prioritization, and endpoint installations. This frees IT staff to focus on more strategic projects that benefit the organization. The result is improved employee morale, better productivity, and business growth.
Security
In the age of digitization, businesses require flawless internal communication and online facilities across all locations. However, many existing networks must be equipped to handle this demand, leaving IT teams with the tricky task of juggling various technologies while keeping costs low and ensuring reliability. With a fully managed SD-WAN, IT can know the network is in good hands. This eliminates manual configuration, bandwidth prioritization, and remote network access, allowing IT to focus on other business-critical tasks. The best-managed SD-WAN providers will also provide security services, including advanced threat detection and prevention. Look for features like SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) and zero trust security to protect your data in real-time. Another crucial factor is the carrier’s network connectivity and peering relationships. Use an open-source database like PeeringDB to check a provider’s peering status and history before committing to them. This will help ensure your information is routed over optimized pathways rather than the public Internet willy-nilly. This will ensure a higher quality of experience for your employees and customers.
Reliability
When it comes to deploying SD-WAN, IT teams have a few different options. They can go the Do-It-Yourself route and build the solution in-house or partner with a managed provider to get the best results. But which option is right for you? Managed SD-WAN solutions offer a variety of benefits, including the ability to deliver more reliable connectivity. This is because they can optimize the network’s connection by selecting the most reliable path to send data, preventing signal loss and speed degradation.
Additionally, managed SD-WAN providers maintain their middle-mile networks connecting to the public Internet, enabling them to provide faster connections than typical Internet providers. They also have peering relationships that allow them to exchange traffic with other networks faster than they could through the public Internet alone. These advantages help to ensure that your business can always access its applications. This helps increase productivity, improve morale, and reduce downtime that can cost your organization significantly.