In the widespread application of today’s network technology, SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) has emerged as a crucial component within a broader technological trend known as Software-Defined Networking (SDN). SD-WAN introduces a novel approach to centralized network management, segregating the underlying network infrastructure from the services and applications running on the network.

Decentralized Network Management with SD-WAN

To this day, the majority of networks still rely on the traditional “device-centric” approach for manual operations and configurations. However, this method of device-centric allocation has several drawbacks:

1. Human Error Risk

Numerous studies conducted over the years indicate that most network disruptions occur due to configuration errors, ultimately attributed to human error.

2. Service Speed

In the realm of enabling new functionalities, many network engineers agree that networks are the slowest service among all technology verticals. Configuring each network device individually via the Command Line Interface (CLI) is not a scalable method.

3. Analysis

In traditional network management with dispersed device control, understanding the “big picture” is a rare feat. In many instances, different devices are operated by different teams, making the centralized collection of analysis data and network configuration integrity a challenging task.

Advantages of SD-WAN

Numerous commercial and technical researchers unanimously believe that the future of networks will lean towards system deployment and operation, rather than a simple collection of individual network devices. SD-WAN, as a method for centralized management and operation of extensive wide area networks, stands as a primary driving force for the next generation of networks. One of its core concepts is managing wide area networks through a singular centralized platform, rather than individually managing the underlying network devices. This approach brings about several significant advantages:

1. Automation

Treating the network as a system through centralized operation and management eradicates the complexity of large-scale networks. Automation becomes the core of centralized management, creating a simplified and consistent deployment and operation model.

2. Cost Reduction

SD-WAN’s automation allows for the utilization of various transport services, including broadband internet circuits, 4G/5G, MPLS, etc., securely connecting users to applications. This flexibility significantly reduces network operating costs.

3. Improved Uptime

Through centralized management and automation, SD-WAN can eliminate the majority of human errors, such as misconfigurations, design flaws, and deployment errors, significantly improving the overall uptime of the network.

4. Enhanced Security

Centrally managed SD-WAN networks can effortlessly apply end-to-end security policies, a challenging feat with traditional box-to-box methods. This provides a more comprehensive network security approach.

5. Advanced Analytics

In traditional large-scale networks, gaining insights into the overall situation is challenging. SD-WAN treats the network as a system, achieving a single management console that can display data from multiple sources, leading to a better network analytics experience.

Through the widespread adoption of this next-generation network technology, SD-WAN addresses the inefficiencies in the management of traditional wide area networks. If you are interested in SD-WAN, feel free to contact Ogcloud, where we will provide you with a tailored, cost-effective network solution!