Multi-Cloud Maze: Managed SD-Wan as the Key to Streamlined Connectivity

Introduction

Traditional wide area networks (WANs) connect remote users to data center-hosted applications using antiquated routers. A router is mostly controlled using the command line interface (CLI). Network engineers and administrators must manually write rules and policies to determine when and how data exits a branch network via traditional WAN. These methods are often time-consuming and error-prone.

On the other hand, SD-WAN is intended to address the numerous issues associated with traditional WAN, providing networking professionals with a more straightforward method of optimising and securing network communication. According to a recent report, the SD-WAN market was valued at USD 3,141 million in 2019 and is expected to grow to around USD 10,613.87 million by 2025.

One key reason for development is that SD-WAN allows businesses to securely link users, apps, and data from many locations while improving performance, reliability, and scalability. But what is SD-WAN? 

Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is a networking solution that manages and optimises WAN performance using software-defined networking (SDN) concepts. Furthermore, SD-WAN simplifies WAN management by enabling centralised control and visibility throughout the network. Continue reading as we talk more about SD-WAN and its benefits and features.

What Is Managed SD-Wan?

SD-WAN services replace traditional branch routers with virtualised or appliance-centric software that employs intelligent routing to transfer data packets across the most secure and efficient lines. SD-WAN-managed solutions route traffic based on applications rather than addresses.

They optimise routes based on business requirements, allowing providers to dynamically manage traffic and maintain excellent performance and security. These business criteria include the application’s priority, expected performance, and the security policies that will be implemented. Virtualisation separates the control and networking elements from the physical hardware.

The control plane, which handles network and security administration, moves to a central controller. SD-WAN providers can use this unified dashboard to establish services and control traffic according to centralised policies. Furthermore, they can centrally design and program service quality and security rules across several appliances at branch offices.

This leads to more predictable and consistent application performance and uniform and improved security across the WAN. Furthermore, the software paradigm makes it much easier to add applications and locations and change policies than the previous router-based strategy.

SD-WAN as a Service vs Managed SD-Wan

SD-WAN as a service often means that the end-user or customer is responsible for monitoring, managing, and altering the SD-WAN service via a cloud-based portal. Managed SD-WAN is an offer curated by managed IT service providers, and it solves a problem that any business may have when they lack the time or resources to run their own SD-WAN. 

Let’s take a better look at their differences:

What Is the Purpose of Managed SD-WAN?

A managed SD-WAN enables organisations to improve network performance, agility, efficiency and cost savings compared to traditional WANs.

Here are some of the key purposes and benefits of managed SD-WAN:

• Improve network performance: SD-WAN allows policies to prioritise key business applications like VoIP and video conferencing traffic. This leads to better, consistent application performance. A managed service provider can help optimise policies.

• Increase bandwidth capacity: SD-WAN can leverage lower-cost public internet links and MPLS/private links to significantly boost the bandwidth capacity available for critical sites.

• Network agility and faster deployment: SD-WAN allows for rapid site deployments by reducing dependence on physical infrastructure. A plug-and-play model can simply add new links to enable business growth.

• Reduced costs: A key benefit of SD-WAN is lower connectivity costs through public/hybrid internet links instead of relying solely on expensive MPLS links. A managed provider can also help reduce operational expenses.

• Centralised control and visibility: Management and monitoring can be centralised instead of having distributed routers. This allows holistic network visibility and control to enable appropriate policies.

Managed SD-Wan Tools and Services

The responsiveness of SD-WAN solutions provides a wide range of tools and service alternatives, including:

• Managed CPE: The IT and telecom assets housed at each branch of a customer’s facility are referred to as customer premises equipment. Automated SD-WAN management capabilities decrease or eliminate the time-consuming duties of seeking, measuring, and responding to out-of-bounds network behaviour, increasing user experience.

• Public cloud support for global ISP connectivity: Major internet service providers (ISPs) such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and others use SD-WAN software to operate and transport traffic across long-distance networks. Customers can construct automated, site-to-site communication across global distances using SD-WAN packages on these networks.

• The CPE WAN Management Protocol allows IT professionals to manage on-premises IT and telecom assets remotely and autonomously. This technique covers many features, including automatic configuration, performance and status management, and software module management. 

Benefits of Managed SD-WAN

Here are some of the key benefits of using a managed service provider for SD-WAN:

• Reduced Implementation Risks: A managed service provider handles the end-to-end SD-WAN implementation, including design, equipment provisioning, configuration and integration. Their expertise significantly reduces deployment risks.

• Ongoing Management and Optimisation: The SD-WAN environment needs continuous monitoring and tuning as applications, usage patterns and business policies evolve. A dedicated managed service relieves this burden via technical experts.

• Increased Cost Efficiency: Managed providers have the scale to negotiate better deals on SD-WAN equipment and internet links, leading to Capex savings. They also optimise resources for lower Opex.

• Flexibility: Based on changing requirements, a managed provider can seamlessly scale SD-WAN infrastructure and make policy changes without business disruption. In-house IT may lack this agility.

• Enhanced Reliability and Uptime: Proactive incident resolution, failover mechanisms and SLAs offered by managed providers result in greater network reliability and application availability.

• Improved Security: Managed providers stay updated on the latest threats and firewall vulnerabilities to protect SD-WAN better from cyberattacks through their security operations centres.

Managed SD-WAN Features

Here are some of the major features offered by managed SD-WAN service providers:

• Hybrid Network Connectivity: Combines cheaper public internet links with private MPLS or 4G/5G links to lower costs while maintaining performance. Providers manage the entire hybrid infrastructure.

• Traffic Shaping and Prioritisation: Set policies to improve application performance by shaping and prioritising traffic flows based on business criticality. The provider handles this.

• Centralised Control and Monitoring: Provides an integrated dashboard view and control across the entire WAN from a single pane of glass to simplify operations and gain insights.

• Security Capabilities: Managed security services protecting the SD-WAN infrastructure, including next-gen firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, malware blocking and web filtering.

• Automatic Failover: Helps achieve high network resiliency by automatically redirecting traffic to alternate links to minimise downtime when circuit failure is detected.

• Ease of Scaling Bandwidth: Allows seamless and rapid increase/decrease of internet/LTE bandwidths to align with evolving business needs through the managed provider.

• SLA-backed Uptime: Managed SD-WAN services are backed by comprehensive SLAs on overall network availability, reliability and optimised performance metrics.

Managed SD-WAN Connectivity

Managed SD-WAN services are cloud-based security and connectivity solutions managed service providers offer. Centralised SD-WAN control functionalities use established application and routing policies to direct traffic based on enterprise rules and real-time network circumstances. Business-driven SD WANs constantly adjust to changes like heavy traffic and outages, which can impair application performance.

Why Choose Tata Communication as Your Managed SD-Wan Service Provider?

Tata offers end-to-end managed SD-WAN services, spanning assessment, design, deployment and ongoing optimisation. Their platform delivers consistent network performance and security. Here are a few more reasons why you should choose Tata Communications as your managed SD-WAN service provider:

• Successful track record: Tata boasts high first-time-right deployment rates (99.8%) and rapid service adoption, with over 1,000 SD-Wan CPEs delivered monthly across 100+ countries. This demonstrates proven execution capabilities.

• Multiple industry recognitions: Tata Communications received several industry awards in 2023, named “Global SD-WAN Managed Service Provider of the Year” by MEF and a leader in SD-WAN managed services by Avasant RadarView. This third-party validation builds confidence.

• Seamless delivery approach: Tata utilises a zero-risk delivery methodology, leveraging assessments, simulations and validations to enable the smooth transformation to SD-Wan. Their automated management platform also resolves 95% of incidents proactively.

• Tailored, scalable solutions: Their agile architecture and ecosystem integrations ensure appropriately sized SD-Wan deployment that maximises business benefits. Customers have realised over 25% TCO reduction.

SD-WAN Management Options

SD-WAN management options encompass various approaches and tools that organisations can leverage to control and optimise their SD-WAN infrastructure. Here are some common SD-WAN management options:

• Centralised Management Platforms: These platforms provide a single interface for overseeing the entire SD-WAN infrastructure. These platforms allow administrators to configure policies, monitor performance, and troubleshoot issues from a centralised location.

• Cloud-based SD-WAN Management involves utilising cloud services to oversee and control SD-WAN deployments. This approach facilitates remote management and provides scalability by leveraging cloud resources.

• Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP): It automates the deployment and configuration of SD-WAN devices. This minimises the need for manual intervention, making scaling and deploying SD-WAN solutions easier across various locations.

• Real-Time Monitoring and Analytics: These tools continuously collect and analyse data on network performance, application usage, and user behaviour. This information helps identify issues, optimise the network, and make informed decisions.

• Security Orchestration: This involves integrating security measures seamlessly into the overall SD-WAN infrastructure. This includes features such as encryption, firewall policies, and threat detection.

Wrapping Up

The traditional WAN is no longer fitting primarily because backhauling all traffic—including that destined for the cloud—from branch offices to headquarters creates delays and degrades application performance. Managed SD-WAN, on the other hand, offers WAN simplification, lower costs, bandwidth efficiency, and a seamless on-ramp to the cloud.

It also offers considerable application performance, particularly for essential applications, without compromising security or data privacy. Improved application performance boosts business productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Also, consistent security lowers business risk.