Why Do Organizations Need Flexibility?

As the conventional corporate IT network relies on the WAN architecture, the IT administrators often find themselves with a never-ending headache – network configuration. The hardware-based WAN, composed of routers, servers, and other network devices across physical locations, in its nature lacks the flexibility for deploying immediate changes and updates to edge devices. Adding subsidiaries or moving the site to new locations? That’s multiple times of manual configuration and management work! In the face of fast-changing management decisions and network security crisis such as spear-phishing, CIOs and CTOs nowadays should be aware, that without the flexibility, not only would handling the regular requests and addressing the enterprise’s growing connectivity be complex and costly, but the business continuity could be crippled.

SD-WAN Offers Unprecedented Connectivity on Enterprise WAN

So, what’s the answer to swiftly deploying changes to the distributed infrastructure? It’s SD-WAN. The SD-WAN virtual networks can assure an enterprise with multiple campuses (such as branch offices or franchises) of continued connectivity, national or global. In terms of connecting multiple endpoints across networks, it allows every User to access resources and applications the core network provides by simply dialing into their local branches, while directly connecting to the centralized portal can increase network traffic and cause data packet loss; even worse, system downtime.

None is Dispensable: Connectivity, Security, and Optimal User Experience

The enterprise-level SD-WAN, however, should not focus on organization connectivity alone. When a multinational corporation owns over a thousand franchises across the world, security becomes equally essential as the company network gets in contact with the Internet. A more secure approach is to scan and re-route all data traffic on packet-to-packet basis instead of having all traffic sent to enterprise datacenter.

To the same degree, User requires continuous access to applications that carry critical business functions like real-time voice/video streaming and screen sharing. Thus, with comprehensive data traffic management/monitoring and precise QoS prioritization, the SD-WAN solution allows system administrators to define bandwidth usage and traffic redirection on demand, optimizing the resources for important applications. What’s more, a more simplified collaboration over the network can be achieved, as those feature-rich cloud applications such as Zoom and Skype for Business are given more bandwidth, and encrypted applications are secured by SSL/TLS traffic inspection.

Hence, a sound and complete secure SD-WAN solution should be capable of:

  • Managing myriad WAN connections of multiple types (such as broadband and LTE)
  • Securing all data flows while distributing security functionality to endpoints through networking
  • Automatically redirecting traffic through the most reliable connection using real-time analytics and dynamically allocating bandwidth for various applications based on requirements

With a capable SD-WAN solution as such, a globally distributed infrastructure can fully embrace the flexibility without sacrificing network security, high-performance, user experience, and network visibility.

Zero-touch Deployment with Centralized Management

On the other hand, for remote site users such as branches, home offices or regional dealers, the SD-WAN consolidates network management into an integrated platform that guarantees reliable connectivity, stable wireless access, and a safe environment from the centralized portal. In the meantime, it saves them from the hassles to deploy or configure required software/hardware components by themselves.

Find out more about maintaining business continuity with a secure SD-WAN solution by Lanner white box Hardware Solutions.