SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a technology that uses software-defined networking to manage and control WAN connections, providing improved performance and simplified management. SD-WAN allows organizations to use a mix of network connections (MPLS, broadband internet, LTE) to connect users to applications, with centralized control and policy enforcement.
Core Components
- SD-WAN Controller: Centralized management and orchestration
- SD-WAN Gateway/Router: Edge devices that connect to the network
- Orchestration Platform: Software for managing the SD-WAN infrastructure
- Analytics Engine: Monitoring and performance analysis tools
- Policy Engine: Centralized policy management and enforcement
Key Features
- Centralized Management: Single pane of glass for network management
- Application-Aware Routing: Routing decisions based on application requirements
- Dynamic Path Selection: Automatic selection of best paths based on conditions
- Quality of Service: Prioritization of critical applications
- Security Integration: Built-in security features and integration
- Zero Touch Provisioning: Automated device deployment and configuration
Benefits
- Cost Reduction: Use of lower-cost internet connections
- Simplified Management: Centralized management and orchestration
- Improved Performance: Optimized application performance
- Enhanced Security: Integrated security features
- Scalability: Easy scaling of network capacity
- Reliability: Improved network availability and failover
Common Use Cases
- Branch office connectivity
- Cloud application access
- Multi-cloud environments
- Remote workforce access
- Disaster recovery
- Network optimization
- Security integration