This is a digital world that is growing fast and businesses also rely on fast, secure, and stable internet connections. This helps them to stay productive. Whether it’s video calls, cloud-based tools, or online customer support, everything depends on a strong network. So, there is a need to migrate to SD-WAN that comes into the picture when you are in need of digital transformation. SD-WAN, short for Software-Defined Wide Area Network, is helping companies manage their networks. It can manage more smartly and efficiently. With more companies moving to digital and remote work setups, there is a need to understand SD-WAN is more important than ever.
Know SD-WAN in Detail
SD-WAN is not just a tech upgrade. It’s a smarter way to connect your business locations. However, there are so many myths that you might have heard. By clearing up these common myths, you will see how SD-WAN can support your company’s growth and performance.
Despite its growing popularity, many people still misunderstand SD-WAN in many aspects. Let’s clear things up by understanding the top five myths about SD-WAN and its fact behind it.
Myth 1- SD-WAN is only for established and big enterprises
One of the biggest and oldest myths that many people must have heard about SD-WAN is that it is only for the big companies. The companies with huge IT teams and a lot of branch offices would need it. While large enterprises were among the first to use SD-WAN, it is now equally useful for small and medium businesses as well.
Fact
Now, it is important to understand the fact behind it. SD-WAN doesn’t only work well for the big companies. In fact, it scales well for any business size. SD-WAN is good for use by any company. If you have more than one location and remote teams or heavy cloud applications, SD-WAN can improve performance. It can help you save on costs. Many service providers have SD-WAN offerings targeted at smaller firms that are fairly affordable.
Myth 2: SD-WAN replaces security tools
Let’s discuss another myth that needs to be debunked. Some people think that SD-WAN is a replacement for firewalls, antivirus software, and other security tools. But, that’s not true. SD-WAN technology does have some built-in security features. But, it doesn’t cover all aspects of cybersecurity.
Fact
So, what is the fact behind this myth? SD-WAN supports security but doesn’t replace the need for other security tools. This solution can encrypt data, create secure tunnels between locations, and even identify threats. But it’s not a full security solution by itself. If you want to stay safe, your business still needs to use firewalls, anti-malware programs, and security policies.
Because of this, many SD-WAN solutions are now being packed with advanced security services. Some of them are Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) which combines networking and security.
Myth 3- SD-WAN is as equal as traditional WAN
Some IT professionals believe SD-WAN solution is just a newer name for traditional WANs. It is like MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching). But, this is again wrong.
Traditional WANs use private, expensive connections to link offices and data centers. But, this is not the case when you imply advanced technology of SD-WAN. Older WANs often rely on fixed routes and are hard to scale or change. But, SD-WAN on the other hand uses software to manage traffic across multiple connection types. They use broadband, LTE, and fiber. So, this technology chooses the best path for each type of data which ensures better speed, reliability, and lower cost.
Fact
One thing to understand is that SD-WAN is a smarter and a more flexible version of a WAN.
Along with this, SD-WAN also offers centralized control. That makes it easier to set rules, monitor performance, and troubleshoot issues. Because of this, you can do it all from a single dashboard.
Myth 4: SD-WAN is complicated
Another myth is that SD-WAN technology is complicated and hard to set up. Also, there are myths that only experts can install or manage it. The truth is, modern SD-WAN solutions are actually easier to deploy than traditional networks.
Fact
The fact is that SD-WAN is easy to set up and manage, especially with managed services and cloud tools. This is the reason why many SD-WAN services are cloud-based. It comes with simple dashboards that show all your locations, traffic stats, and connection quality. Most configurations can be done remotely, without the need for on-site IT staff. In addition to this, updates and policy changes can be pushed out to multiple locations in minutes.
Managed SD-WAN services are also available for businesses that don’t have an in-house IT team. These providers handle everything from setup and monitoring to troubleshooting.
Myth 5: SD-WAN is not for cloud application performance
There is a myth that SD-WAN doesn’t make much difference when using cloud services. But actually, one of SD-WAN’s biggest benefits is better performance for cloud apps.
Fact
It is important to know that SD-WAN improves cloud app performance. It does this by intelligently routing traffic in real-time. There are some SD-WAN platforms that even have partnerships with cloud service providers, which helps shorten the path between your device and the app’s data center.
Conclusion
Like any technology, it’s critical to distinguish fact from myths. SD-WAN is not limited to large enterprises. It is not the same as a conventional WAN and does not take the place of all your security equipment. Also, it’s easy to use and undoubtedly improves cloud performance. Businesses may choose their network more wisely if they know what SD-WAN can and cannot achieve.