What does this mean for connectivity? Well, as more businesses are moving to a cloud-based model, essential, software defined networks allow this infrastructure to be controlled centrally, meaning bandwidth can be better utilized, made more secure and this means the potential for large savings. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that reviewing SD-WAN is on every CTO and IT Director's hit list for 2019. All new technologies hit the market with a boom, leading to widespread discussion, opposition, excitement, and in some cases, disappointment. Early adopters tout the benefits, but many are sceptical about the impact or reliability of the technology. SD-WAN is no exception.

Knowing the amount of hype, naysayers and potential misinformation, we wanted to put together a guide that cuts through the noise, making sure you are asking the right questions and have the right expectations of what SD-WAN can do for your business. Very simply, SD WAN (of software defined wide area network) moves all the intelligence from the hardware (such as the routers) and to the software. Think of it like a new thermostat in your house. Previously, you needed to walk to the thermostat and change the temperature on the hardware (as you need to do with MPLS). However, with new technologies like Google’s Nest, you can change the temperature or build and set off planned timings programs remotely.
The cost savings by moving to SD-WAN from an MPLS estate are made by not needing very complex routers at every site. Since the programming on the network is all done at the software layer, you don’t need to spend on every site.

As there is still a cost implication for the software, the cost savings are maximised on larger multi-sites where high bandwidth, complex deployments (like running QoS or prioritising traffic) meant expensive routers were needed. For smaller businesses, there should still be a cost savings, but it will not be as significant. As with any service, you pay for what you get. If you get a 100Mbps line, it will be the same capacity whether in an MPLS or SD-WAN deployment.

More info: it support engineer