What is SD-WAN - Presentation of software-defined WAN
(SDWAN)
Software-defined extensive area network
(SD-WAN or SDWAN) is a specific application of software-defined network
technology (SDN) applied to WAN connections, such as the broadband Internet,
4G, LTE or MPLS. Connect corporate networks, including branch offices and data
centers, over vast geographic distances.
A WAN can be used, for example, to
connect branch offices to a central corporate network or to connect data
centers separated by distance. In the past, WAN connections used technology
that required specialized patented hardware. SD-WAN, on the other hand, uses the
native Internet or private cloud networks. SD-WAN dissociates the system from
the management plan and separates the functions of management and monitoring of
equipment traffic. It is based on four main components:
- Edge Connectivity Abstraction
- WAN Virtualization
- Centralized policy-based management
- Elastic traffic management
SD-WAN
Enterprise Drivers (SDWAN)
Business customers demand more flexible,
open, and cloud-based WAN technologies, rather than installing patented or
specialized WAN technology, which generally involves expensive fixed circuits
or proprietary hardware.
Many new software-defined WAN offers,
for example, can be used to improve and protect Internet connectivity, making
it more competitive with more expensive legacy WAN technologies, such as T-1 or
MPLS. However, according to a Nemertes study, "78% of organizations that
implement SD-WAN have no plans to remove MPLS from the WAN completely." In
some cases, software-defined WAN technology uses broadband Internet connections
to replace more expensive solutions. Virtualization technology can apply
security and virtual private network (VPN) technology to broadband Internet
connections, making them more secure.
A notable trend in the area of
networks is the increasing adoption of multiple clouds in corporate networks.
The numerous cloud is a mixture of public and private clouds. Common
combinations are multiple public clouds or a public cloud and a private cloud,
each of which serves a specific commercial application. SD-WAN is often
integrated into a multi-cloud strategy because it improves connectivity and
strengthens security in multiple clouds. Its scalability across various sites
and its centralized administration for the public and private cloud facilitate
the administration of multiple clouds. Several SD-WAN products encrypt data
between connectivity points and provide security and application-based
firewalls. Learn more about the benefits of SD-WAN for multiple clouds in this
research dissertation, Networking for Multi-Cloud: an SD-WAN perspective.
Customer
Focus: Cost, Reliability, Security
A summary of SDxCentral's research,
Secure SD-WAN: Searching for the Holy Grail, points out that "in one
survey after another (including SDxCentral), businesses and service providers
rank security features among the top three SD-WAN requirements. " The main
objective of SD-WAN technology is to provide a secure, simple,
enterprise-class, cloud-compatible WAN connection with the maximum possible
open software technology. This can be used to provide basic connectivity to the
WAN or for high-end business services such as VPN, WAN optimization and
Application Distribution Control (ADC).
Many new companies are exploiting the
potential of the software-defined WAN market, and established companies are
also researching the market. According to IDC, the SD-WAN market "will
grow at a compound annual rate of 40.4% from 2017 to 2022 to reach $ 4.5
billion."
Gartner identifies critical players in
SD-WAN technology in its Magic Quadrant 2018 for the WAN Edge infrastructure
report. He appointed three officers: Silver Peak, Cisco and VMware. The company
also recognized that Riverbed, Citrix, Fortinet, Aryaka and Huawei are also
strong competitors in the market.
Many of these suppliers have slightly
different approaches to the market. For example, Silver Peak focuses on
accelerating software applications as a service (SaaS) in the cloud. VMware
integrated VeloCloud into its product line, VMware NSX SD-WAN from VeloCloud,
after the acquisition of VeloCloud in December 2017. The product contains
cutting-edge applications, orchestration and cloud-resident gateways. Aryaka
has created a global network so that companies can use the WAN as a network as
a service (NaaS) anywhere, even outside the point of presence (POP) area.
Established WAN providers, such as Cisco
and Riverbed, which manufacture specialized devices for WAN connectivity, are
now focusing more on WAN optimization and advanced WAN offerings.
Expect the trend to accelerate in the
coming years. What began as a solution for WAN connectivity in branches and
data centers that require less proprietary equipment seems to extend to a wide
range of SD-WAN (SDWAN) technologies and offers, including VPN, security, edge
optimization, WAN, NaaS and control Application policies.
