The network has developed along with cloud computing adoption, mobile workforce, branch offices, and hybrid environment. No longer is traffic bound by the linear flow from the office to the headquarter data center. Users come from various places, applications run on different platforms, and business applications rely on constant connectivity.
In response to the challenges posed by the network, its performance, visibility, adaptability, and centralization of management become key requirements. The solution to these problems can be provided by SD-WAN with its policy-based approach, application-awareness, and ability to support different types of network connections.
SD-WAN is not a solution to all networking problems, but it can assist companies in solving many common connectivity and management challenges. Below are seven of these challenges.
1. Inconsistent Network Performance
The performance of a network may vary throughout the day. Network latency, jitter, congestion, and packet loss may impact application behavior despite the availability of the network connection. The knowledge of how SD-WAN handles traffic under various network conditions is crucial for analyzing the value of SD-WAN in a business network. A guide to SD-WAN technology can help explain how capabilities such as application awareness, centralized policies, and multiple network connections can be used to manage these performance challenges.
Conventional routing makes use of static routes that do not necessarily adapt themselves according to changes in application requirements or network conditions. The SD-WAN enables enterprises to monitor their network and decide using the configured policies which path should be used by specific traffic.
For example, an organization can decide that their real-time communications traffic should use a specific path while all other traffic can take another available path. In this way, it is possible for enterprises to have better control over their traffic rather than treating each application with the same approach.
One of the important benefits is the ability to have better control over traffic according to the requirements of applications. It can be highly beneficial when the traffic pattern of an enterprise keeps on changing frequently.
2. Limited Visibility Across Distributed Locations
Organizations that continue to build more branches, remote locations, cloud networks, and connectivity services will find it increasingly difficult to monitor their network performance.
An issue in one of those locations might be a local connectivity problem, a routing problem, or something else. Lack of centralized visibility will require network administrators to check different systems before pinpointing the cause.
SD-WAN enables centralized monitoring and management from various locations. The network team can analyze the traffic flows, check application performance, detect connectivity problems, and implement policies from various locations.
Increased visibility helps to shorten troubleshooting time.
3. Rising WAN Connectivity Costs
Connectivity cost could rise with expansion of the geographical location for business. While using a dedicated connection at each location is certain to give reliable performance, it will come with recurring costs.
It is also possible for businesses to use internet connections owing to their flexibility and ubiquity. It is possible to have a combination of various connectivity types through SD-WAN.
| Network approach | Traffic management | Connectivity options | Management approach | Common consideration |
| Traditional WAN | Primarily route-based | Often dedicated | More distributed | Predictable but potentially expensive |
| Internet-based WAN | Basic route selection | Mainly internet | Varies | Performance can vary |
| SD-WAN | Policy- and application-aware | Multiple link types | Centralized | Requires policy design |
SD-WAN does not automatically reduce costs. Savings depend on contracts, traffic requirements, locations, and architecture.
4. Difficulty Connecting Branches to Cloud Applications
Cloud adoption has changed how business traffic moves across networks. Applications that once operated inside a corporate data center may now run in cloud environments or be delivered online.
A branch office may need to communicate directly with several cloud environments instead of sending all traffic through a central data center. A centralized architecture can add network hops and create pressure on central infrastructure.
The use of SD-WAN technology to offer more direct traffic routes is achievable through the implementation of policies according to application and network conditions. Application-aware routing policies can specify routes based on application attributes, while application breakout can allow selected traffic to connect directly to the internet.
This ability allows for adaptation in the face of increasing use of the cloud, without re-designing the WAN infrastructure around one point.
5. Lack of Network Resilience
A branch with just a single connectivity route is vulnerable because if this connection fails, users might lose access to their applications.
While implementing another connection makes the branch more resilient, this does not mean that two connections make for a failover. Network administrators have to figure out when to switch traffic over from one route to another and what applications to prioritize.
SD-WAN solutions are capable of doing that by recognizing when an active route fails and applying their failover policy.
For instance, a particular branch may use one link for carrying out the primary operation, while the other will act as a failover link. In case there is failure of the primary link, the traffic can be rerouted to the secondary link.
However, resilience would depend upon the network itself. In case the physical paths are shared, both links are subject to single point of failure.
6. Complex Network Administration
Network management can be a time-intensive process in a growing wide area network. Each new branch could involve configuration, policy changes, troubleshooting, updates, and monitoring.
SD-WAN simplifies the network management process because of central orchestration. Instead of individually managing each branch, policies can be created centrally and then deployed throughout the entire network.
This helps in the following ways:
- Centralized policy and configuration management
- Consistency in routing policies from one place to another
- Quicker provisioning of new branch offices
- Centralized monitoring and reporting
Automation reduces repetitive work, but teams still need testing and change controls.
The goal is consistent network management as the organization grows.
7. Increasing Security Requirements at the Network Edge
Distributed connectivity enables applications’ traffic to exit the central data center. Hence, there is the need for the creation of consistent security policies.
SD-WAN will be able to complement the network security features in order to ensure that policies are implemented consistently at the network edge. The security features can either be built into the WAN design itself or run independently.
However, both connectivity and security must complement each other and include mechanisms for authentication, segmentation, inspection, and policy enforcement. The SD-WAN Service Architecture defined by an industry standard body also defines SD-WAN as application-aware and policy-driven connectivity through multiple networks.
What SD-WAN Can and Cannot Address
SD-WAN will assist in addressing various issues in the WAN environment, but SD-WAN cannot solve everything.
Some things that SD-WAN can accomplish include better usage of the paths, better visibility, routing based on policies, and distributed management, but there are other network-related issues it cannot solve.
It cannot fix the physical link, offset indefinitely a lack of bandwidth, or solve issues related to applications outside the network.
Building a More Flexible WAN
Cloud apps, branch offices, remote employees, and hybrid environments have altered the function of the WAN. There is an increase in traffic distribution, application needs are different, and visibility of the connection’s performance has become essential.
SD-WAN offers a software-driven strategy via centralized management, application-awareness policies, choice of connection, and dynamic traffic management.
This could work for those who have multiple sites to connect but would like to maintain full control over the traffic of their applications.
They need to think about the application dependencies, connectivity, security measures, traffic flows, branch needs, and operations before deciding on SD-WAN’s place within the network architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What network challenges can SD-WAN help address?
SD-WAN will enable addressing challenges associated with poor network performance, lack of visibility, connectivity expenses, access to cloud applications, link outages, WAN management complexity, and security needs.
2. Can SD-WAN use multiple internet connections?
Yes. SD-WAN works with several connectivity options, which include both the internet and the dedicated connection. Policies may decide on how to utilize paths through various network conditions.
3. Does SD-WAN replace traditional WAN infrastructure?
Not always. SD-WAN is able to function within the current connectivity and can be deployed along with conventional WAN technologies. It all depends on your network design and business needs.
4. Does SD-WAN guarantee better network performance?
No. SD-WAN allows you to choose network routes based on policy configuration and performance data but does not guarantee performance because there may be a lack of capacity in the underlying connections.
