Webinar: Practical Applications for a Modern Network: SD-WAN

As new technologies are developed, enterprises must become more flexible with the way they structure their networks to optimize the digital experience for employees and customers. SD-WAN is one solution we’ve seen an increased demand for. I recently hosted a webinar with two Spectrum Enterprise experts: Sam Maraghy, our senior director of strategic and partner sales engineering, and Russell Dennis, our director of managed services and security solutions, exploring the benefits of a hybrid SD-WAN. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the first webinar in the Practical Applications for a Modern Network series. View the entire webinar:

Looking at newer technologies for SD-WAN deployment

• Companies need to partner with technology providers and develop an operational plan before embarking on a network modernization journey.
• When moving infrastructure to the cloud, SD-WAN allows lower-cost network connectivity.
• Businesses are investing in more connectivity to make sure their networks are highly resilient.
• SD-WAN allows enterprises to get out in front of connectivity issues and be able to prioritize specific business applications. It allows enterprises to produce the right kind of outcomes for their customers, and their end-users.
• IT CIOs, VPs and directors are increasing cybersecurity and trusting nothing to chance in their network infrastructure. They’re looking at newer technologies for SD-WAN deployment, but also investigating secure access, secure edge technologies, building secure web gateways and a zero-trust network. Also top-of-mind is integrating these new technologies in a way that enables the business to function faster and more efficiently.

Challenges with legacy WAN technology

• SD-WAN was designed as a private, sealed network. The more closed the network, the better it was — in the past.
• Using a legacy network like MPLS or any isolated private network creates some security risks because the network wasn't designed for use with the cloud.
• Accessing the internet or any cloud service in a legacy MPLS network is usually established via inefficient or inexpensive centralized access points which require a lot of configuration. That can create security risks.
• Organizations need to expand the network boundaries to remote users. Doing this with a legacy MPLS network is difficult. Expanding the security parameter of the private network to remote users is a very challenging task.
• SD-WAN truly simplifies the process of modernizing a legacy network and simplifies the deployment, management, and monitoring of a large-scale network.
• SD-WAN provides dynamic bandwidth allocation and automatic traffic steering, and offers network admins true access.