Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is a revolutionary way to approach the simplification of branch office networking and assure optimal application performance by using centrally controlled and managed WAN virtualization.
Unlike traditional WANs, SD-WAN delivers increased network agility and cost reduction. Software-Defined WAN has its roots in Software-Defined Networking (SDN), the underlying principle of which is to abstract the network hardware and transport characteristics from the applications that use the network.
SD-WAN is WAN Virtualization
In the same way server virtualization abstracts the underlying physical hardware from the logical virtual servers that run on it, WAN virtualization is where a logical WAN connection (to either the Internet or between branch offices) can use multiple underlying connectivity technologies (like xDSL, MPLS, cellular and fiber) at the same time but presents this connectivity to users and applications as a single direct to Internet or secure site to site connection.
SD-WAN is Intelligent
SD-WAN enabled networks are capable of monitoring WAN health and quality, then using these measurements to make intelligent decisions on application traffic flow. This arrangement has several key benefits:
Real time services like VoIP and video can be sent via the lowest latency link.
Intelligent failover and active/active configurations can be used to guarantee reliability even when a WAN link fails.
WAN connectivity can be added as and when required to provide agility.
Best of all, once configured, all traffic is managed automatically by the software defined rules set on the device – no human interaction is required.
SD-WAN is Centrally Managed and Monitored
Branch offices can be provisioned, monitored and managed centrally using a SD-WAN controller that gives network administrators full control over their wide area networks and remote devices using a single interface.
Complex VPN configurations connecting thousands of branch offices together securely (using whatever connectivity is available at each location) can be created and deployed automatically, with centralized WAN monitoring and notifications providing a real time view of WAN health and globally branch office availability.
SD-WAN is Secure VPN
By using encrypted VPN, branch offices gain secure, local network access to cloud resources. SD-WAN makes these branch office VPN faster and more affordable by combining the bandwidth of multiple connections into a single logical WAN connection.
In addition, SD-WAN provides the ability to offload public Internet traffic at the network edge, reducing traffic sent through the VPN.
The Peplink SD-WAN Advantage
Over the years, we have developed a potent combination of products and technologies that can help you build SD-WAN networks with unbreakable connection resilience, unmatched deployment flexibility, and intuitive ease of use.
Vast Array of Mobile Products
Do more with Peplink SD-WAN – not just fixed branch office and datacenter connectivity, but mobile, outdoor, and body worn applications too.
Extend your enterprise WAN into company vehicles, temporary locations without fixed line connectivity, and create body worn personal area networks over cellular and Wi-Fi as WAN connectivity, all monitored, managed and controlled centrally and capable of using multiple WAN links at the same time.