SD-WAN or Software Defined Wide Area Network is a specific application of SDN or Software-Defined Networking technology that is applied to wide area network, which are then used in connecting enterprise networks including data centers and branch offices over big geographic distances. A WAN can be used like connecting branch offices to central corporate network or in connecting data centers that are separated by distance.

 

Back before, WAN connections are often using technology that requires special proprietary hardware. To move a bigger portion of network over the cloud via software approach is what SD WAN movement seeks.

 

As a matter of fact, this just makes sense given the fact that there are many more customers who are demanding for open, cloud-based and flexible WAN technologies than installing specialized or proprietary WAN technology that involves fixed, expensive or proprietary hardware. Majority of the SD WAN offerings for instance may be used in securing and improving internet connectivity, which makes it more competitive with the most costly legacy WAN technologies like MPLS or T-1. Most of the time, software defined WAN is using internet broadband connection to replace these expensive solutions. Virtualization technology also applies security and VPN or Virtual Private Network technology to broadband connections in an effort to make it more secure.

 

In addition to that, SD WAN has the benefit of removing potentially costly routing hardware by provisioning services and connectivity through the cloud. Customers are able to scale up or burst connectivity during peak demands since the emerging SD WAN technology is a lot more flexible and can be controlled over the cloud. Click here to know about sd wan vs mpls!

 

The end goal of SD WAN technology is for it to deliver a secure, simple cloud and business class enabled wide area network connection with as much software-based and open technology as possible. As a matter of fact, this can be used to provide basic WAN connectivity or it may be used for more premium business services similar to WAN optimization, VPN as well as application delivery control or ADC.

 

Most of the new startups are actually after the potential in SD WAN market, which is quite likely billions of dollars. Many startups are not the same though as they are varying in their market approach like for example, some focused more on accelerating SaaS or Software as a Service applications over the cloud, some on the other hand are after branch office connectivity using SD WN while others have built a global network so by that, companies may make use of WAN as NaaS or Network as a Service. According to research, there are more than 360 million dollars that have already been invested to software defined WAN startups. Know more about sd wan vs mpls!