What is SD-WAN?
A Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is a virtual WAN architecture that allows businesses to securely link users to applications using any mix of transport services, such as MPLS, LTE, and broadband internet services.
A centralized control function in an SD-WAN secures and intelligently directs traffic over the WAN and directly to trusted SaaS and IaaS providers. This improves application speed and provides a high-quality user experience, boosting corporate productivity and agility while also lowering IT expenses.
SD-WAN Architecture
Traditional WANs, which rely on traditional routers, were never intended for cloud use. They usually necessitate backhauling all traffic from branch offices to a hub or headquarters data centre, where enhanced security inspection services may be implemented. Backhaul delays degrade application performance, resulting in a negative user experience and lost productivity.
Unlike traditional router-centric WAN architecture, the SD-WAN model is built to fully support applications hosted in on-premises data centres, public or private clouds, and SaaS services like Salesforce.com, Workday, Dropbox, Microsoft 365, and others, all while delivering the highest levels of application performance.
What are the Benefits of Secure SD-WAN?
Secure SD-WAN delivers self-healing architectural capabilities while natively integrating network and security services into the WAN. Secure SD-WAN does this by focusing on the application user experience, monitoring the applications and network, and using an integrated platform to improve and enhance security posture.
The WAN and branch constantly adjust to maintain network availability, application dependability, and an ideal user experience, all while safeguarding the company from threats and vulnerabilities, thanks to application-based controls.
Benefits and advantages specific to Versa Secure SD-WAN:
- Cloud-to-cloud, branch-to-multi-cloud, and business-to-multi-cloud secure multi-cloud connection
- Security elements such as Universal Threat Management and Role-Based Access Control are embedded and robust next-generation security technologies.
- Regardless of cloud platforms, applications, or transports, a secure private/public cloud connection is available.
- Full multi-tenancy enables micro-segmentation of a line of business, tenant, and control, each with its own set of policies
- Micro-segmentation within the network to minimize danger zones and lateral movement
- Users, devices, locations, and applications-based network and security policies, as well as traffic guiding
How SD-WAN Addresses Today's IT Network Issues
Cloud, virtualization, mobility, IoT, and the usage of artificial intelligence and machine learning all contribute large volumes of data and traffic to business WANs. Unfortunately, by dramatically extending the attack surface, they are also generating network stability and performance issues, as well as security breaches.
These innovations have necessitated the creation of a more streamlined and integrated IT infrastructure. In the service provider core, or central enterprise IT infrastructure, and at the network edges, robust cloud-native VNF-based network and security services are required.
Secure SD-WAN can be installed as a VNF on a third-party uCPE or virtualization platform, or as the uCPE platform to host additional services. Secure SD-WAN is a single software platform that includes routing, SD-WAN, analytics, security, and more.
This creates a unified, virtualized network with a multi-layered security strategy that avoids silos, single-function appliances that add danger, complexity, and cost to the system.
SD-WAN Achieves Business Goals
Business intent and application experience drive the underlying policy architecture, automate deployment, and create a dynamic environment that can swiftly comply with and execute business objectives with an SD-WAN-driven network.
So, how can an enterprise WAN swiftly and dynamically become driven by business intent? To achieve this, two fundamental components are required: a business-aware architecture and a simpler and unified platform.
Secure SD-WAN solves network problems by offering a secure cloud IP platform that is easy to manage and administer. Through our business-aware design, Secure SD-WAN delivers business objectives and intent into the WAN. Secure SD-WAN is a multi-purpose platform with native networking and security apps and services capabilities that simplifies network and security architecture.
Secure SD-WAN simplifies the process of maintaining uniform policies by ensuring that all policies are current and meet their goals across all platforms:
- Identity management in Secure SD-WAN protects the security of credentials and, as a result, access control by tying contextual policies to users, applications, destinations, and pathways via Active Directory integration.
- With comprehensive routing, SD-WAN, and a next-generation security stack, secure SD-WAN incorporates advanced layers 3-7.
- All capability is included in a single view that is easy to configure and operate the full SD-WAN and WAN edge security, and everything is controlled by an SD-WAN Director with orchestration and analytics.
SD-WAN Deployment Guide
Network designs have always found a method to adapt to changing business dynamics in order to meet current needs. Most firms are using a hybrid WAN architecture because legacy WANs are no longer enough to fulfil business objectives. Hybrid WANs benefited from a software-defined approach, which resulted in SD-WAN architecture's automation, agility, and improved intelligence.
SD-WAN has acquired more significance in recent years as it has been offered and controlled from the cloud, allowing for increased speed, scalability, and flexibility. Enterprises use cloud-delivered SD-WAN to streamline secure connection services that may dramatically maximize branch offices and IoT.
SD-WAN devices comprehend application traffic flows better than older WAN devices. An administrator may utilise application and identity-driven rules to make intelligent judgments that correspond to corporate goals and objectives thanks to this optimization in application traffic flow.
Every Business Needs a Secure SD-WAN
Secure SD-WAN assures application security, dependability, and performance across all industries, verticals, and use cases, including healthcare records, banking systems, retail POS systems, airline bookings, transportation logistics, and more. Everything today is network related and can be enhanced by SD-WAN, whether it's for internal corporate processes, commerce, customer relationship management, industrial and utility systems.
Secure SD-WAN eliminates the requirement for specific hardware for each network purpose, freeing IT from single-function and proprietary gear. Virtual network services may be installed on a universal CPE (uCPE) with the help of an x86-based appliance that runs Secure SD-software WANs and supports third-party VNFs.
Enterprises may benefit from a software-only solution, which provides economic and operational flexibility while also ensuring that they have control over achieving their business goals. Organizations may also use an open-standards-based cloud-native, multi-stack solution for embedded and strong network and security capabilities that improve application speed while also improving security hygiene. Secure SD-Wan must be able to connect with current brownfield networks at the underlay level while also allowing for migration to full Software-Defined networking on-premises and in the cloud. Enterprises will be able to handle the demands of today's IT ecosystem if they do so.
Wrap-Up
The advantages of constructing an SD-WAN using open source software are numerous. Because open source makes it simple to mix and match industry-leading solutions from a wide range of vendors to add new network functions, features, and technologies, development teams can innovate quicker.
You can expand your application and security rules beyond traditional borders using SD-WAN. Improved visibility and analytics provide you with more control over people, devices, and apps, no matter where they are.
Read more about SD-WAN.
