Software Defined - Wide Area Network (SD-WAN)
Like MPLS or Ethernet, SD-WAN is applied to WAN connections and used to connect enterprise locations across vast geographic distances. It connects branch offices, data centers, and other business sites to a central corporate network and/or to cloud providers.
SD-WAN’s primary difference is that software is used to manage the data over the WAN, offering many benefits. In some cases, SD-WAN can totally replace WAN connectivity via MPLS or Ethernet. However, it is very important to note that SD-WAN can be an overlay to, and work in conjunction with, either or both MPLS and Ethernet. Additionally, it can link a combined MPLS and Ethernet WAN configuration with broadband and wireless connectivity. SD-WAN can be totally transport-method agnostic.
MPLS VS. SD-WAN
Below is a comparison of some pros and cons of MPLS and SD-WAN. However, many of the pros can be multiplied and/or enhanced, and many of the cons can be offset and/or eliminated by utilizing a USA Digital custom-designed deployment of both MPLS and SD-WAN.
Benefits of SD-WAN from USAD
The ability of SD-WAN to dynamically route traffic makes it ideal for your solutions requiring higher network reliability. SD-WAN can “glue” multiple underlying networks together to be used in an all-active configuration which can minimize the impact of outages. SD-WAN also blurs the lines of what is traditionally thought of as a “primary” and “backup” network configuration. SD-WAN can allow for both networks to be operational and achieve more combined bandwidth availability than any single network due to dynamic routing. USA Digital can also engineer SD-WAN solutions that include wireless access.
Additional benefits include:
- Centralized management across your network.
- Analytics gives visibility into your SD-WAN network.
- More options for connection types and access selection.
- Auto failover between access circuits.
- Prioritize applications across your SD-WAN network.
SD-WAN from USAD
When engineered and deployed by a knowledgeable team, SD-WAN and MPLS can work incredibly well together. Applications vary and we have the expertise to help you design and build the data solution that best fits your needs. On top of that, USAD is a voice services provider and we own and operate a geo-redundant nationwide voice network. Combining and merging data and voice networks, optimized to fit your custom needs, is our specialty. For over 20 years, we have been helping our customers improve their efficiency and profitability.