What is SD WAN and how is it used in a network?

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If you own a business that runs a wide area network, you would be aware of the problems that potentially arise, targeting the budget and speed constraints. The WAN managers are always looking towards the solutions that would help them in acquiring better bandwidth and appropriate performance in a limited budget. This is what forced the growth of sd-wan.

What is SD WAN?

SD WAN refers to software-defined wide area network. It allows an organization in routing its traffic dynamically over a hybrid WAN, keeping in view the current status of the network that is established within the organization.

It works on the software defined networking principle which is embedded in the sd wan providers network. This helps in flexing the network and adding more capacity as well as speed to it. The SD WAN services basically help a company by optimizing the traffic flow that runs through its network and enhances its performance in a controlled budget.

How sd-wan works?

There are numerous different sd wan products that help you in operating over the network and these actually determine which features are included. Usually, it is about replacing your traditional router with a particular device provided to you by sd wan provider that helps in routing an immense amount of traffic coming to an organization’s network over services that are cost effective, like broadband.

Talking about the traffic and content routing, there are certain elements that require sensitive control. For instance, if there are problems with routing images and videos, the clients won’t be happy. So, the problem is dealt with by using the private multiprotocol label switching links, MPLS, which routes the premium traffic over the particular protocol.

In a global network, an SD WAN solution can be deployed as a solution that operates over software only or as a program which uses a combination of hardware and software to work appropriately. They are all managed by a central authority which takes care of routing and security and the operations are generally headed by a WAN manager who would update things on regular basis to assure that things are all up to the mark with the network.