Evaluating SD-WAN technology: Is it the right choice for your enterprise?

SD-WAN presents several advantages for businesses. Among the principal benefits is enhanced agility, enabling enterprises to efficiently create and manage virtual networks. This facilitates the scaling of networks as required, resulting in superior security and performance. Improved reliability ensures that networks remain accessible and dependable, crucial for businesses dealing with complex operations. Additionally, the technology can reduce overhead costs by eliminating the need for expensive hardware, resulting in significant cost savings.

As enterprises aspire to become more agile and adaptive, their network requirements become more complex. Most organizations today use multiple cloud platforms and in this context, Software-Defined Wide Area Network or SD-WAN technology emerges as a more favorable alternative to traditional WAN in many areas.

Adopting SD-WAN is a decision that needs a thorough evaluation. In this blog, we will delve deeper into the decision-making process. We have covered important considerations that enterprises need to keep in mind, such as network infrastructure compatibility, scalability, security requirements, implementation challenges, and the potential return on investment (ROI). In doing so, we will help you evaluate whether SD-WAN aligns with your specific business needs and is the right choice for your enterprise.

A quick recap of what is SD-WAN

In one of our previous blogs, we discussed at length about the basics of SD-WAN architecture, what SD-WAN is used for, its benefits and how it represents a preferable alternative to the limitations of traditional networking solutions. To sum it up, SD-WAN is an innovative networking technology that provides businesses with more flexibility, efficiency, and control over their networks.

While traditional WAN relies on fixed paths and proprietary hardware, SD-WAN – as the name implies – uses software to manage network traffic and can dynamically adjust to changing network conditions and sudden network demand from priority applications.

SD-WAN comes with numerous other advantages as well, such as quick provisioning, simplified management through a single view for multiple networks, traffic prioritization, high performance, and reduced costs. All these factors make a strong business case in favor of SD-WAN adoption.

Key factors to consider while adopting SD-WAN

Although SD-WAN comes with a multitude of capabilities and benefits, the decision to onboard it boils down to these basics. When assessing whether SD-WAN benefits your enterprise, it’s essential to evaluate several key factors:

1. The business need: Start by analyzing your current network challenges. If bandwidth limitations, latency problems, or a lack of network transparency plague your operations, SD-WAN can help. The size and complexity of your network might also necessitate it.

   Let’s take the example of a multi-location enterprise. Here, the absence of site-to-site connectivity can present unique challenges. Branches might experience inconsistent network performance, security vulnerabilities, and difficulties in managing and monitoring cross-location traffic. SD-WAN mitigates many of these concerns, offering both security and flexibility, aside from cost benefits over MPLS. Branches can also optimize cloud application performance by routing traffic through direct cloud connections. One crucial aspect of SD-WAN for large enterprises is automated network routing based on well-defined policies. Critical applications can be assigned priority, and in case of network issues, SD-WAN can automatically reroute the traffic to ensure consistent performance.

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2. Budget vs ROI: SD-WAN deployment involves significant initial costs, including that of related devices, software licenses, and staff training. However, businesses find that, post-SD-WAN adoption, they experience substantial savings by reducing the reliance on costlier MPLS circuits and optimizing cloud traffic.

   These accumulated savings and performance improvements can offset the initial setup costs. A case in point: Sify’s SD-WAN services have been instrumental in boosting the performance and reducing the network Opex of a leading public sector company by way of centralized policy enforcement and 24×7 application-level monitoring.

3. Supporting growth and expansion: Traditional networking solutions often entail substantial hardware additions, complex configurations, and significant downtime to accommodate growth. In contrast, SD-WAN configuration provides a more flexible approach to scalability. Its software-centric nature means that scaling up or down can be achieved with minimal hardware adjustments. As the enterprise grows, the network can adapt without major disruptions or hefty hardware investments.
4. Common concerns: Embracing SD-WAN can bring a plethora of advantages to businesses, from increased network agility to cost savings. However, it’s also imperative for decision-makers to be cognizant of the potential obstacles they might face in its adoption.
   • Firstly, SD-WAN security issues often emerge as a concern. Given that SD-WAN often interacts with cloud-based applications and various endpoints, it becomes essential to ensure that security measures are in place and continuously updated to ward off evolving threats.
   • Transitioning from a traditional WAN infrastructure to an SD-WAN model might not always be seamless. There could be short-term disruptions as employees get accustomed to the new system, or as IT personnel work through the setup.
   • Lastly, compatibility can be a concern, especially for businesses with monolithic, legacy systems that are not directly compatible with SD-WAN solutions. This could mean additional costs or extended implementation times.

   However, while these challenges exist, they can often be mitigated with thorough planning, a commitment to network optimization, and most importantly, the right vendor partnerships.

5. Vendor selection: Vendor selection plays a pivotal role in the successful implementation and operations of an SD-WAN solution. The right vendor will provide a robust framework for SD-WAN connectivity in addition to seamless post-deployment security and support. Some studies have even shown that well over half of successful SD-WAN implementations involved a single vendor, in stark contrast to those that worked with multiple SD-WAN providers.

   The significance of carefully evaluating managed SD-WAN providers cannot be overstated. The following measures can help:

   • Credibility and expertise: When selecting a vendor, it’s paramount to ensure their reputation and proficiency in the field. Take stock of proof points involving complex SD-WAN implementations for mid-to-large-sized enterprises.
   • Avoid vendor lock-ins: Make sure that you’re not restricted to a single vendor’s ecosystem and can make changes as your needs evolve.
   • Support: Robust vendor support is crucial, especially during the initial stages of SD-WAN implementation. The vendor should be well-equipped to assist with a seamless transition, addressing any challenges during this period.
   • Post-deployment management: Evaluate the level of support the vendor offers post go-live. Working closely with an established Managed SD-WAN service provider will ensure the longevity and health of your SD-WAN solution.

   Through partnerships with leading OEMs, Sify’s Managed SD-WAN Services have been instrumental in unlocking the network agility and security needed by modern-day enterprises. For over 2 decades, Sify has ranked consistently among the leading managed SD-WAN providers across the globe. Explore more about their SD-WAN services here!

Final Thoughts

In the dynamic landscape of enterprise networking, embracing SD-WAN can be a strategic move towards a more agile, efficient, and resilient network infrastructure. However, the decision should be rooted in a deep understanding of your enterprise’s specific requirements. Evaluating SD-WAN technology for enterprise adoption requires a meticulous assessment of its technical capabilities and alignment with your organization’s objectives and operational realities. By assessing its impact on performance, cost efficiency, security, scalability, ease of management, and reliability, you can make an informed decision on whether SD-WAN is the right choice for your enterprise.

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