Transitioning to SD-WAN from MPLS is becoming a typical transition for enterprises all around the world, because of its new and more helpful technology. Keeping you informed and up-to-date on the SD-WAN facts that you’ll need to know when transitioning from MPLS will help you decide if moving from MPLS is right for you.
What is SD-WAN
SD-WAN is Software-Defined Wide Area Network that uses technology to communicate over the Internet by using encrypted tunnels. In addition, SD-WAN uses cellular and satellite bonds to securely connect users to the software.
This technology assists in making a useful link between your central network and other branch offices and data centers. This linkage is helpful when your company wants to connect to other geographical regions far from your area.
Benefits of SD-WAN
Some of these benefits that have made SD-WAN the most popular choice are listed below:
Simple to use:
The most convincing argument from IT professionals is that SD-WAN is a simple-to-use system that gives the enterprise complete control through one central interface.
Cost Effective:
MPLS has high costs due to the building and maintaining of these servers. If you want more cost-efficient technology for your enterprise, then SD-WAN is the way to go. SD-WAN has been able to reduce its costs over the years. These reduces costs have been proven because the services have consolidated the routing networks for company use.
Higher Performance Value:
This technology allows data to travel the quickest routes through many different channels without slowing down from all the channels used. Some IT professionals say that this improvement to SD-WAN is due to the dynamic bandwidth allocation, a new feature of the SD-WAN technology.
Reliability
You’re always going to want a reliable program. SD-WAN provides remote access to the resources that you will be relying on daily, especially for cloud-based applications, including Microsoft Office 365. In addition, all Microsoft Office applications will be safe and secure with SD-WAN.
Visibility
SD-WAN includes more visibility across different applications. As a result, this technology is more beneficial than MPLS, which only has limited visibility because of packet routing on servers.
Ease of Set-Up For Transitioning to SD-WAN from MPLS
Going from MPLS to SD-WAN is easy when using the different networks. This process works because SD-WAN utilizes the network from any provider, unlike MPLS, which requires you to pay for these new networks or resell the provider’s connectivity.
Moving from MPLS to SD-WAN is mainly because the telecom provider manages and maintains MPLS software. As a result, users that use MPLS are restricted when it comes to involvement in the network.
In contrast, SD-WAN is a self-managed network that gives all users control and transparency. In addition, this network is cloud-delivered, which provides additional security for all locations, including branch, campus, and cloud connections.
Some users are uncomfortable with the responsibility that comes with self-managing their SD-WAN software. There are Managed SD-WAN Providers that offer administration for self-managed SD-WAN; however, this provider comes with a cost.
Network Resiliency
The biggest reason for the resiliency of SD-WAN comes from the centralized, software-driven solution. This carrier has multiple routes to give you proper data trafficking throughout your networks.
You’re going to want to determine your network requirements. SD-WAN ensures the quality of experience through your network requirements and works to guarantee less network congestion. In addition, this network guarantees quality performance on the networking routes.
3 Transition Tips When Going To SD-WAN
We’ve spoken a lot about the differences between MPLS and SD-WAN while also showing you how to manage this new transition to SD-WAN.
Here are some helpful transition tips to make the process easier:
Taking Stock of Your Current Architecture
Gaining an understanding of your own personal timeframe, budget, and compatibility are some of the cornerstones when making the transition from MPLS to SD-WAN. The proper investigation gives you the infrastructure you need to see if transitioning from MPLS to SD-WAN is the best option for you.
Preparing Yourself for The Transition
SD-WAN requires you to have a plan of action when it comes to the transitioning process. Looking at an indirect relationship between costs and time, you are going to want a flat transition matched with a shorter amount of time to keep you on schedule with your enterprise.
Some users purchase SD-WAN tools while tasking the IT with some implementation. Other users have found success in partnering with an MSP (Managed Service Provider). This provider is a third-party company that delivers the IT processes to clients, including networking, security, applications, mobility, and infrastructure.
These IT processes help give you the simple transition from MPLS to SD-WAN you want and need to keep your enterprise running smoothly for yourself and your customers.
Be Ready For Anything
When dealing with anything tech-related, you can never be sure of everything.
No matter how smooth your transition is, make sure your enterprise is ready for these types of situations:
- Increased network traffic
- Slow performance of applications
- Disconnections between internet devices
- SD-WAN is incompatible with certain apps of your enterprise’s personal or sensitive information
Suppose you have a plan in place for when sometimes it possibly goes sideways. In that case, you’ll be able to recover and have everything stay on schedule for your enterprise.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the process of, or debating on transitioning to SD-WAN from MPLS, you are probably at ease and content with using the private lines.
However, keeping in mind the flexibility, cloud readiness, and networking insights available with the SD-WAN gives you that extra push to switch to this new technology.
We hope that this guide from Tech Blogs – IT Phobia gives you all the necessary information when evaluating the switch from MPLS to SD-WAN. However, taking careful consideration and the essential steps for the transition, it’s important to note the facts listed above in this article.
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