Organizations are struggling to ensure the same level of connectivity and security for their employees as the incorporation of remote working as the new normal. What came as a new solution is called SD-WAN or Software-Defined Wide Area Network – the innovation shifting the concept of work from anywhere.
Have you ever found that video calls are slow and problematic, or that you can’t always adequately access what your company needs at home? You’re not alone. Originally, WAN has been designed for enterprise-wide networking, but as distances between employees lengthen, those architectures are struggling. What if there was a solution to these problems that was more than an answer, that was also a better way of doing things and more secure and easier to expand?
In this post, we will discuss SD-WAN and about how, this distinct technology is changing the landscape of working remotely. Starting with the definition of the concept to the analysis of use cases we will explore why SD-WAN is becoming the foundation for effective remote model. Prepare yourselves to find out how your business can make SD-WAN work for you in the new world of work!
SD-WAN is a new generation networking concept that is being claimed as an efficient means of improving and simplifying WAN management. The technology comprises of edge devices, controller, orchestrator as well as overlay virtualization.
Combined with the other ingredients, it provides a modern intelligent and adaptive network that is self-organizing and self-optimization based on the network environment. This makes it possible for SD-WAN providers to present cloud SD-WAN solutions that pave way to control the available bandwidth to distinct traffic classes according to business needs with the aim of improving both the performance and security.
The benefits of SD-WAN solutions are significant and comprehensive and they include better performances of the network, better costs control, better security of the data, better management of the network resources. SD-WAN technology offers a better way to manage traffic than traditional WAN, it allows for less dependence on costly MPLS links and has better application performance.
It also has built in encryption, micro-segmentation and also brings network policy management and instant resource provisioning and resource orchestration into the mix. Unlike the conventional WAN, SD-WAN leverages the software to drive the routing decisions thus easier and more efficient to manage centrally.
Cloud SD-WAN solutions also offer lower service delivery costs using inexpensive internet services which are a big plus as remote work increases consistently. For this reason, the particular attributes of SD-WAN where features such as cost efficiencies and improvements in security provide vital network solutions for dispersed work organisations are central.
Remote working has become the new buzz in workplace flexibility in a bid that has been propelled by events such as globalization and advanced technology. This type of change has created new sets of issues and opening for organisational entities and workforce populations.
Due to the recent trend of going virtual in the corporate world, the need for resilient and adaptable networking has exponentially risen.
People also must be able to access the company’s resources from multiple locations, devices, and networks, which demands fast internet connections, secure connections to the corporate intranet and cloud applications and services, as well as the ability to adjust the bandwidth to the fluctuations in demand.
Conventional networking, however, was not built with remote work in mind, which created the following problems, as an example, restricted bandwidth, high latency, complicated VPN configuration, no clear perception of the network state, and inability to prioritize applications.
In this respect, one is also able to identify an increase in security dangers as the number of entry points also increases. These challenges have called for better networking solutions hence the emergence of SD-WAN technology.
Remote work can also be noted as having changed the portrait of workplace relations fundamentally by introducing new expectations and expectations into it. The four major challenges include: There has been a focus on the work-life balance in the workplace, increased usage of technology to support collaboration in the workplace, performance based results rather than-expectations, and competition hence rising security awareness among employees.
When organizations deploy these changes, then there is need to adopt more efficient and secure networking solutions such as the SD-WAN. It is also less prone to many of the issues arising out of remote work, and offers a far more robust model of connectivity.
In the next section, we will discuss in detail how SD-WAN improves the work of employees when working from home and addresses the mentioned problems.
As organisations across the world adopted work from home as the new normal, SD-WAN technology play has become central to increasing efficiency in remote working environments with the following advantages that will improve productivity.
SD-WAN enhances the value and quality of the experience remote users have in terms of efficiently and effectively prioritizing the work that they do over the internet in a highly secure and reliable manner because of optimized bandwidth.
This leads to always smooth video conferences, faster transfers of files and optimal interaction with cloud-based apps irrespective of location.
Lastly, another convincing aspect has to do with the affordability of SD-WAN for distributed workplaces. There is high cost associated with conventional WAN mainly on the bandwidth, hardware and maintenance while the SD-WAN comes at a much lower cost in terms of bandwidth, hardware and maintenance cost.
In addition, SD-WAN scalability ensures that business organizations can alter their network requirements in line with their needs, and hence there is a huge flexibility in tariff plans that enable businesses to make reasonable costs without eradicating connection quality.
SD-WAN also reduces the amount of time that is required in the management and deployment of networks hence helping the IT teams support remote workers. Configurable web-based master controller, on-demand site creation, live system status, all managed from the centralized interface, to further ease out distributed networks for IT teams.
This is very advantageous since it minimizes the time taken before one can know if there is a problem and by extension, get it fixed.
furthermore, SD-WAN improves the performance and resiliency of the networks that underpin remote work. While it offers multiple WAN connections, SD-WAN uses intelligent routing and has the capability to implement automated failover, dynamic path selection, and Quality of Service policies must needed for applications.
These features help to provide the stable and effective remote work and do not let the employee think about the system failures and network problems on the move.
SD-WAN not only provides better network preference but also has special advantages in terms of security in remote work. Speaking about the advantages of SD-WAN solutions, it is necessary to mention that the centralized control helps IT departments to apply the same security policies as in other sites.
With this centralization possible, there can be fast updates of the network, and the network can offer real time monitoring and control.
When it comes to security features SD-WAN providers deliver security enhancements that are more customized for an organization. This involves security solutions that can be customized according to the specific user so that the cloud application access is both secure and fast. To prevent information leakage and provide protection to the data that is being transferred through the cloud, cloud SD-WAN solutions offer direct–to-cloud connection, application-based routing and traffic preference controls.
The SD-WAN solutions of the present have built-in security features such as end-to-end encryption, next generation firewall, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and secure web gateway. These enhanced security features provide a strong protection against threats hence making SD-WAN a critical solution for companies shifting to a more remote-based strategy.
It is these advanced forms of security solutions that offer a security realm to remote workers and protect them against several forms of risk. With such extensive security features put in place, SD-WAN is able to solve the problems of remote working hence helping organizations to bolster their security system as they transition to a more remote-oriented model.
More and more companies turn to remote work and flexible schedules, they require solid solutions to manage teleworkers, SD-WAN is one of the key tools that allows organizing remote operations at the enterprise level. The advantage of SD-WAN makes it easy for organizations to adopt different connection types for example broadband, 4G and 5G, MPLS, and satellite to enable the connection of remote workers.
SD-WAN has become the answer to remote access in the workplace. With better connectivity, security and scalability SD-WAN has changed the way we work today. It has the tools to improve network quality, reduce costs and optimize remote work setup.
Al Fuzail has an advanced SD-WAN solution for organizations that adopt remote work model. Their solution has top notch security, flexibility and can support large distributed workforce, perfect for businesses that want to upgrade their infrastructure.
The future of work is remote. Be ready for it. For more details, contact us – we’d be glad to assist!
