SD-WAN vs. Traditional WAN: A Comparison

As businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based applications and services, traditional vast area network (WAN) architecture may not meet their connectivity needs. This has led to the rise of software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) technology, which promises improved performance, reliability, and security. This blog will compare sd wan as a service and traditional WAN to help you understand the benefits of each technology.

What is Traditional WAN?

A traditional WAN is a network infrastructure that connects multiple locations, such as branch offices, data centers, and headquarters. Typically, it uses leased lines, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), or virtual private networks (VPNs) to create a private network between these locations. It may also use Internet-based connections for public access.

The most significant advantage is its reliability and security. Private connections ensure that your data remains secure and protected from potential cyber threats. However, it can be expensive and inflexible, mainly as your organization grows and expands.

What is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN is a newer technology that has gained popularity in recent years. It uses software to dynamically manage and optimize network traffic across multiple connections, including MPLS, broadband, and cellular. This enables it to provide more bandwidth, faster performance, and better reliability than traditional WAN.

The key feature of SD-WAN is that it provides a centralized management system that allows you to control and monitor all network traffic across your entire organization. This makes it easy to optimize your network performance and minimize downtime, and secure your network from potential cyber threats.

SD-WAN vs. Traditional WAN: A Comparison

Now that you have a basic understanding of both technologies take a closer look at how they compare regarding their features and benefits.

Cost

One of the biggest advantages of SD-WAN is its cost-effectiveness. Because it uses multiple connections, including less expensive broadband and cellular, it can reduce your overall WAN costs by up to 50%. In contrast, traditional WAN typically relies on expensive leased lines and MPLS connections, which can be costly to maintain and upgrade.

Scalability

SD-WAN is highly scalable, making it an ideal choice for growing and expanding organizations. Because it uses a software-based approach, you can easily add or remove locations as needed and automatically adjust to changes in network traffic and usage.

Traditional WAN, on the other hand, can be more difficult to scale as your organization grows. It often requires significant upgrades and changes to the infrastructure, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

Performance

SD-WAN provides better performance and faster speeds than traditional WAN. Using multiple connections and a software-defined approach can optimize network traffic and ensure critical applications receive the bandwidth they need. It can also reduce latency and jitter, improving the user experience.

On the other hand, traditional WAN can suffer from congestion and network outages, mainly if you rely on a single connection or use an outdated infrastructure.

Security

Both sd wan as a service and traditional WAN provide high security for your network. However, SD-WAN offers more advanced security features like end-to-end encryption, intrusion detection and prevention, and network segmentation. It also provides a centralized management system that allows you to monitor and control network traffic from a single location.

Traditional WAN typically relies on firewalls and other security appliances to protect your network, which can be expensive and difficult to manage.

In conclusion, SD-WAN is a newer technology that offers several advantages over traditional WAN. It provides cost savings, scalability, improved performance, and advanced security features, making it an ideal choice for modern organizations. However, traditional WANs still have their place in certain situations, such as where security and reliability are the top priorities or the infrastructure is already in place.