SDWAN, as an emerging network technology, has many advantages, but it also has some drawbacks and challenges. When considering deploying SDWAN, organizations need to fully understand these drawbacks and adopt corresponding solutions to ensure the effective implementation and operation of SDWAN. The following are the major drawbacks of SDWAN and the corresponding solutions.

1. Higher initial cost

Disadvantage: The introduction of SDWAN technology requires investment in hardware devices and software licenses, as well as specialized configuration and deployment, and the initial cost may be more expensive for some small and medium-sized enterprises.
Solution: Organizations can opt for managed services from SDWAN service providers to minimize the initial investment. It is also possible to adopt a cloud-based SDWAN solution that reduces the purchase cost of hardware equipment through virtualized appliances offered by cloud service providers.

2. Complexity and technical requirements

Disadvantage: SDWAN technology is a complex network architecture that requires specialized technical staff to configure and manage, and for some small and medium-sized enterprises, it may be difficult to hire an IT team with the relevant skills.
Solution: Enterprises can choose to partner with a specialized SDWAN service provider and leverage their team of technical professionals to configure and manage the SDWAN network. In addition, simplified SDWAN solutions, such as automated configuration and centralized management, can be adopted to reduce technical requirements.

3. Security Risks

Disadvantage: Since SDWAN data traffic can be transmitted over the public Internet, it may be exposed to risks from malicious attacks and security threats, especially for organizations that handle sensitive data, making security a primary concern.
Solution: Enterprises should adopt comprehensive security measures to protect the security of their SDWAN networks, including encryption technology, firewalls, intrusion detection and defense systems. In addition, security acceleration services can be used to ensure secure data transmission and processing.

4. Dependence on Internet Connection

Disadvantage: SDWANs often use the public Internet as the transmission medium, which is not as reliable and stable as dedicated lines, and may result in compromised network performance.
Solution: Organizations can use a hybrid connection that combines SDWAN with dedicated lines to ensure network reliability and stability. In addition, there is an option to use a backup Internet connection for situations where the Internet connection fails.

5. Integration Complexity

Disadvantage: For some existing network architectures, integrating SDWAN into the existing network may be complex, requiring large-scale network modification and reconfiguration, which may lead to network disruption and business interruption.
Solution: When integrating SDWAN, organizations should conduct adequate planning and preparations beforehand to ensure compatibility with existing networks and a smooth transition. A phased integration approach can be adopted to gradually replace and upgrade existing network equipment.

6. Quality of Service Dependency

Disadvantage: Although SDWAN can improve bandwidth utilization by dynamically selecting the optimal path and load balancing, it still depends on the quality of service of the network service provider. If the service provider’s network fails or suffers a performance degradation, the performance of the SDWAN may also be affected.
Solution: Organizations can choose to work with multiple service providers and establish redundant connections to ensure that they can switch to other reliable service providers if one service provider goes down. In addition, application-aware and traffic optimization techniques can be employed to improve network performance.

7. May introduce new problems

Disadvantage: SDWAN deployment may introduce new problems and challenges, such as complex routing issues, configuration conflicts, QoS (Quality of Service) management, etc.
Solution: Enterprises should fully understand the technical characteristics and architecture of SDWAN before deploying it, and conduct adequate training and preparation to deal with possible problems. In addition, they can choose to work with an experienced SDWAN service provider for professional support and assistance.

Overall, SDWAN, as an emerging network technology, has some challenges and drawbacks despite its many advantages. When enterprises consider deploying SDWAN, they need to comprehensively consider its advantages and disadvantages, and formulate appropriate plans and strategies to ensure the successful implementation and operation of SDWAN, bringing better network experience and benefits to the enterprise. Through proper planning and taking appropriate measures, enterprises can maximize their efforts to overcome the disadvantages of SDWAN and achieve better network performance. If you have the need for SDWAN networking, please feel free to contact us at https://www.ogcloud.net/zh/sdWan

OgCloud SD-WAN Service Provider, helps enterprise informatization construction, digital transformation, and globalization interconnection. OgCloud Cloud SD-WAN breaks the global geographical restriction, which can realize global access acceleration, SaaS access acceleration, OgCloud Cloud SD-WAN breaks global geographic restrictions and can realize global access acceleration, SaaS access acceleration, overseas video acceleration, and overseas branch networking, which effectively improves the efficiency of international communication and helps Chinese enterprises explore the international market.