SD-WAN Architecture.
Lumos Consulting, Inc. offers Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) services to efficiently maximize broadband internet services and other transport services.
Features & Benefits
Unlike traditional Wide Area Network (WAN), you can expect the following upgrades from SD-WAN:
- Automatically configure changes in real-time, reducing time consumption and room for human errors
- Automatically detects network conditions for a more optimized WAN
- Conserve bandwidth for applications that most require it
- Built-in zero-touch deployment disaster recovery and load balancing
- Instantly replicate policies throughout multiple edge devices
Additional benefits include:
Cost Effectiveness
Accommodate high amounts of data while keeping your operating costs manageable. It supplies direct cloud access and lessens traffic on the WAN’s backbone.
Built-In Security Features
This includes encryption, Audiovisual (AV), Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), and Next Generation Firewall (NGFW). It also allows you to maximize its sandboxing capabilities that help you avoid downtime, violations and liabilities, and data loss.
Cloud Services
SD-WAN strategically gives higher priority to business applications to connect to the Internet from its remote branch.
Architecture
The SD-WAN operates through an abstract network composed of two components.
- Control Plane – a central location wherein the IT department can remotely control WAN resources.
- Forwarding Plane – configures network resources and controls traffic according to instructions from the control plane.
How Does It Work?
The SD-WAN comes in three types:
- On-Premises – solely connects to your company site. This type works best for companies who don’t use cloud applications.
- Cloud-Enabled – uses an onsite SD-WAN box and a virtual gateway directly linked to major cloud service providers. This type works best for companies that host select applications in-house while simultaneously running public cloud applications.
- Cloud-Enabled plus Backbone – uses an onsite SD-WAN box to connect your company website to the closest network point of presence (POP). This type works best for companies that prefer connecting to a private network to minimize exposure to security risks and high latency rates.
SD-WAN vs. VPN
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are simpler than SD-WANs. However, they are not centralized, requiring you to manually monitor each one.
The lack of a general overview of all your VPNs makes it a time-consuming process. SD-WANs use a dual-layer network with an underlay and overlay layer. This combination enables you to run a much smoother network.
Additionally, given that SD-WANs are centralized, they are easy to update, need little to no infrastructure changes, and hardware programming.
SD-WAN vs. MPLS
While reliable, Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) offers a fixed bandwidth which may not be able to accommodate high fluctuations in traffic. On the other hand, an SD-WAN creates multiple parallel connections at once and allocates your bandwidth accordingly.
MPLS solutions require traffic (data, transactions, workflows) to return to its data center before being processed and redistributed. SD-WAN provides a more economical alternative with the use of private data traffic exchanges in multiple points. Each point allows clients to securely access their required services and resources from the cloud or network.
Acquire the SD-WAN that best fits your business needs and operations. Consult a Lumos representative today for more information.