What is SD-WAN? What is it used for?

Have you ever wondered how you reach the e-commerce sites you shop at, the healthcare institutions you make appointments with, and many more over the internet, and how these institutions communicate with each other?

Have you ever wondered how the relevant institutions exchange information quickly and reliably between their data centers and branches? Thanks to developing technology, the technology behind such communication today is usually SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network).

So, what is SD-WAN, how does it work, and what are its advantages? Let’s discover the answers to these questions together.

SD-WAN Enhances and Optimizes Traditional WAN

In recent years, when we have been able to do almost everything over the internet, institutions and organizations have been relying on internet-based technologies to provide services to customers and other businesses.

It is possible for institutions to communicate over the internet and continue this process smoothly thanks to wide area networks. However, traditional WAN solutions usually work over special and expensive lines and require physical devices to manage network traffic.

While all these components are reliable, they also bring some disadvantages in terms of flexibility and cost. For example, the data center of an e-commerce site needs to be in constant communication with branches and distribution centers in different cities in order to provide fast and uninterrupted service to customers.

Similarly, a healthcare organization needs to share patient information between different hospitals and clinics securely and quickly. Such network connections can be costly and difficult to manage when provided with traditional WAN communication methods.

This is where SD-WAN, the main topic of our article, comes into play. SD-WAN is a modern technology that optimizes the management of wide area networks and dynamically controls internet connections using a software-based controller to direct network traffic in the most efficient way. While the flexibility of SD-WAN increases the network performance of organizations, the relatively low cost of the technology allows organizations to reduce their connection costs.

What are the advantages of SD-WAN?

SD-WAN, which started to become widespread in the mid-2010s and was first developed by large technology companies as well as network providers, has gained popularity, especially with the increase of cloud services and internet-based applications, and continues to do so. If you wish, let’s talk about the advantages of SD-WAN in this part of the article without going into too much technical detail.

• Cost Savings: One of the biggest advantages of SD-WAN is that it provides cost savings. Traditional WAN solutions can be quite expensive, especially when using dedicated lines such as MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching).
• SD-WAN, on the other hand, uses more up-to-date connections such as broadband internet, 4G/LTE, and even 5G, which is expected to become more widespread in the coming period, significantly reducing the network costs of businesses. SD-WAN, which provides advantages to large businesses with many branches spread over a wide geographical area, reduces the dependency on high-cost MPLS lines.
• Flexibility and Dynamic Routing: SD-WAN offers a dynamic and flexible approach to managing network traffic. While traditional WAN solutions route traffic using fixed, predetermined paths, SD-WAN can route network traffic to the most efficient paths in real time.
• This process means that network congestion and problems are instantly detected and traffic is redirected directly to other paths, resulting in increased network performance and improved user experience. In addition, the ability to use different types of connections together provides businesses with greater flexibility.
• Centralized Management: SD-WAN enables the entire network to be managed from a single central control panel. This feature, which allows network administrators to monitor and manage the entire network from a single point, is a little different in WANs.
• In traditional WAN solutions, each device may need to be managed separately, which can turn into a time-consuming and complex process. With SD-WAN, network management becomes quite simple and efficient, as network administrators can monitor and control network traffic, security policies and performance metrics from a central platform.
• Cloud Integration: Modern businesses that are heavily dependent on cloud-based applications and services can benefit from SD-WAN to the fullest. Because SD-WAN facilitates cloud integration and enables fast and reliable access to such innovative applications.
• While traditional WAN solutions can cause limitations and delays in accessing cloud services, SD-WAN eliminates these obstacles. SD-WAN, which is critical in terms of workflow continuity and data access, enables seamless access to cloud-based applications, ensuring that business processes continue uninterrupted.
• Security: SD-WAN offers a variety of built-in features to enhance network security. While traditional WAN solutions typically require additional devices and software for security, SD-WAN comes with built-in security policies and encryption features that secure network traffic. Additionally, centralized management allows security policies to be applied consistently across the entire network.

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SD-WAN Frequently Asked Questions

• What does an SD-WAN device do?

  • SD-WAN devices optimize network performance by managing wide area networks (WANs) through software. These devices dynamically route data traffic, increase network security, and reduce costs. They provide seamless access to cloud services.

• What is Aruba SD-WAN?

  • Aruba SD-WAN is a software-defined wide area network solution offered by Aruba Networks. This system allows businesses to manage network traffic through a centralized platform and improve network performance. It offers advanced features in security and user experience.

• What is Fortigate SD-WAN?

  • Fortigate SD-WAN is a security-focused SD-WAN solution developed by Fortinet. This technology improves enterprise network security and performance by efficiently routing network traffic and protecting against threats. It stands out with its integrated security features.

• What is SD Branch?

  • SD Branch is a technology designed to centrally manage branch networks. It integrates SD-WAN features with local area network (LAN) and security solutions, so businesses can more effectively manage their entire branch networks through a single platform.

• What does SD-WAN stand for?

  • SD-WAN stands for “Software-Defined Wide Area Network”. This technology provides more flexible, secure and cost-effective network solutions by managing network structures through software. It is a modern alternative to traditional WAN solutions.