What is SD-WAN?
Software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs) are designed to simplify and improve the management of networking resources across multiple locations. The technology allows organizations to increase bandwidth and flexibility by leveraging cost-efficient internet connections between multiple sites. This way, existing infrastructure can be used more effectively, enabling businesses to scale faster and reduce costs.
Objectives
One of the most important objectives of SD-WAN technology is to ensure quality of service when many different applications and services are running on the same network. Quality of service is essential for business operations, as it helps to ensure the reliability and performance of applications and services. Organizations need to make sure that their networks can deliver the right level of quality of service to their employees, customers, and partners.
Essential Considerations
In order to successfully implement SD-WAN technology and ensure quality of service, organizations need to consider some essential factors.
Security: As with any networking technology, security is an imperative consideration. Organizations must ensure that they have the right security measures in place to protect their networks and data from potential threats. This includes encryption, authentication, and access control measures.
Monitoring and Management: Organizations need to have the right tools and processes in place to monitor and manage their networks. This should include the ability to detect and respond quickly to any issues or outages.
Bandwidth Considerations: Organizations need to consider how much bandwidth their network will require, and make sure they have the necessary capacity to meet their needs. This includes ensuring that enough bandwidth is available when traffic is at its peak.
Network Redundancy: It is important to make sure that there are multiple paths that traffic can take to reach its destination. This can help to ensure that traffic is reliably and securely delivered, even when one path is unavailable.
Traffic Prioritization: Organizations need to be able to prioritize certain types of traffic, such as VoIP or business-critical applications. This way, important applications and services can be given priority on the network.
Conclusion
Organizations can ensure they maintain quality of service when using SD-WAN technology by considering some essential factors including security, monitoring and management, bandwidth considerations, network redundancy, and traffic prioritization. By taking the right steps, organizations can ensure that their networks remain reliable and secure, while delivering the performance that their users expect.
