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Introduction
In today’s interconnected world, businesses depend mainly on strong and effective network solutions to guarantee flawless data transfer and clear communication. Many companies are looking for SD-WAN providers to satisfy the growing complexity of their networking needs as they expand. Choosing the correct provider, meanwhile, might be intimidating.
Businesses spend a lot of resources and time on telecommunication services, and global telecom spending is expected to reach $1.45 trillion in the future. In the past few years, SD-WAN has added agility and cost-effectiveness to WAN services. As it has the potential to save companies money and time, its popularity has grown significantly in recent years, and its market is expected to grow by 26.5% this year.
This guide will help you find one of the best-managed SD-WAN solution providers for your business. So, let’s get started!
What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN, or Software Defined-Wide Area Network, is a technology that separates the networking hardware from its control mechanism. This makes it easier to manage and run a WAN. This results in improved performance, increased network agility, and lower expenses.
Let’s understand the term SD-WAN with an example scenario:
Consider yourself running a retail chain with outlets throughout several cities. To access inventory information, handle sales transactions, and apply for different business programs, every store must link to the central headquarters' data centre.
Traditionally, you might depend on MPLS (Multi-protocol Label Switching) lines to link every store to the headquarters, which can be costly and rigid.
SD-WAN allows businesses to:
- Optimise application performance by smartly routing traffic based on real-time conditions.
- Improve security with encryption and integrated firewalls.
- Simplify WAN management using centralised control.
What is “Managed” SD-WAN?
Managed SD-WAN is the term for SD-WAN services supplied by a third-party vendor. By handling deployment, configuration, monitoring, and maintenance of the SD-WAN infrastructure, managed SD-WAN services allow companies to concentrate on their main operations.
Following are the benefits of hiring managed SD-WAN providers:
- Expert deployment: SD-WAN service providers offer installation and configuration customised to your specific needs.
- Ongoing monitoring: Continuous monitoring to detect and resolve issues promptly.
- Proactive maintenance: Managed SD-WAN providers, regularly updated and maintained to keep the network running smoothly.
- Scalability: Easy adjustments to the network as business needs evolve.
SD-WAN Ingress and Egress Traffic
Understanding SD-WAN ingress and egress traffic is essential for optimising network performance:
- Ingress Traffic: Data entering the network from external sources. Based on application needs and network conditions, SD-WAN may route and prioritise this traffic.
- Egress Traffic: Data exiting the network to external destinations. SD-WAN guarantees that this traffic is effectively and securely directed to reduce latency and maximise performance.
Factors to consider when choosing the SD-WAN providers
Here is a table outlining the factors to consider when selecting SD-WAN providers:
| Factors to Consider | Description |
| Performance and Reliability | Evaluate the provider's track record for network uptime, ensuring high availability for your business.Look for low latency and minimal jitter, which is crucial for real-time applications.Assess redundancy options for failover mechanisms. |
| Security Features | Examine the provider's encryption methods to ensure end-to-end data protection.Look for integrated next-generation firewalls and real-time threat detection capabilities to safeguard your network. |
| Scalability | Determine the provider's ability to scale bandwidth and services to accommodate your business growth.Ensure global reach for coverage in all regions where your business operates. |
| Management and Orchestration | Seek a provider with a centralised management console for unified network visibility.Look for automation features to streamline configuration and policy enforcement.Consider providers offering detailed analytics and reporting features for insights into network performance. |
| Customer Support | Assess the availability of 24/7 technical support to address any issues promptly.Evaluate response times for quick resolution of network issues.Consider SD-WAN vendors that offer proactive network monitoring for enhanced support. |
Comparison of the top managed SD-WAN providers
Here is a comparison table highlighting some of the top SD-WAN providers:
| Points to Compare | SD-WAN Providers | ||||
| Cisco Meraki | VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud | Fortinet Secure SD-WAN | Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect | Aryaka SmartConnect | |
| Performance and Reliability | Offers high network uptime with redundant connections and low-latency routing. | Optimises application performance through dynamic multi-path optimisation and application-aware routing. | Ensures high availability with active-active and active-passive configurations and real-time traffic steering. | Delivers high network uptime with sub-millisecond failover and dynamic path control to optimise application performance. | Guarantees high availability with redundant connectivity and dynamic traffic steering to optimise application performance. |
| Security Features | Provides advanced security features including stateful firewall, intrusion prevention, and content filtering. | Implements end-to-end encryption, application segmentation, and threat detection for comprehensive security. | Integrates advanced security features such as NGFW, IPS, antivirus, and SSL inspection to protect against threats. | Incorporates encryption, segmentation, and application-based policies for secure connectivity across the network. | Provides comprehensive security features including encryption, DDoS protection, and secure web gateways. |
| Scalability | Scalable solutions are suitable for small to enterprise-level deployments. | Flexible scalability with the ability to easily add or remove locations and increase bandwidth as needed. | Scalable architecture capable of supporting thousands of sites and high-bandwidth applications. | Scales easily to support thousands of sites and hundreds of gigabits per second of WAN capacity. | Offers flexible scalability with the ability to add new sites or increase bandwidth as needed. |
| Management and Orchestration | Centralised cloud management platform for simplified network administration. | Offers a centralised orchestrator for policy configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. | Features a single-pane-of-glass management console for centralised control and visibility. | Provides centralised orchestration with real-time tracking and analytics for proactive management. | Features a centralised management platform with real-time insights and analytics for network optimisation. |
| Customer Support | 24/7 technical support with extensive documentation and online community forums. | Provides various support options, including 24/7 phone support and an online knowledge base. | Offers 24/7 technical support with remote assistance and access to Fortinet's customer portal. | Offers 24/7 technical support with access to Silver Peak's customer portal and knowledge base. | Offers 24/7 support with access to a dedicated customer success team and global NOC. |
These are the top 5 SD-WAN Companies. You can opt for any of the above vendors as per your requirements. SD-WAN should be part of every service provider's portfolio. It enables the creation of a virtual network that is not dependent on proprietary hardware. Tata Communication emerged as a leading SD-WAN solution provider because of its proven track record of excellence, and it has been recognised as a leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant several times.
Conclusion
There are several SD-WAN providers available. Selecting the appropriate vendor is a crucial choice that will significantly affect your company's overall operational efficiency and network performance. Knowing what SD-WAN is, the advantages of a managed solution, and the key factors to consider will help you decide. Whether your priorities are cost-effectiveness, security features, or top SD-WAN vendors, this guide offers a thorough structure to help you with the selection process.
