The Role of SD-WAN in the Era of Remote Working
2022-11-08 14:34:41
Statistics show that about 24% of people use VPNs for business, but what if we told you there was a better option for remote workers?
After all, there's no denying that we're in the midst of a remote working revolution, and businesses everywhere are taking advantage of the flexible, productive environment it provides. But with this shift comes some new considerations for networking infrastructure.
In particular, how can you make sure your remote workers have a smooth, productive experience? One option is SD-WAN. SD-WAN uses software-defined networking to manage traffic across multiple WAN links, providing more flexibility and reliability than traditional VPNs.
Let's look closely at how SD-WAN can help your business overcome remote working challenges.
Business Connectivity: What you need to Know in the Era of Remote Work
In the remote work era, business connectivity is more critical than ever. A multi-cloud environment can provide the flexibility and scalability needed to keep employees connected and productive, regardless of location.
However, remember a few things when designing a business connectivity solution. First, security is paramount. Make sure robust security measures protect all data and applications.
Second, consider bandwidth needs carefully. With more and more employees working remotely, there comes an increased demand for the network. Lastly, ensure that the solution is reliable and disaster-proof, as business connectivity is essential to business success.
We've researched for you, and we believe that SD-WAN is a scalable, highly secure solution for businesses operating on multiple clouds (as is typically the case with most remote-based companies today).
What Is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN stands for software-defined networking in a wide area network. It is a type of network that allows for easier management and increased flexibility compared to a traditional network.
SD-WANs are growing in popularity due to their many benefits to remote workers and the businesses that employ them. Namely, they allow you to connect to different networks, such as private networks and the public internet.
Another benefit? One can deploy SD-WANs quickly and easily, allowing real-time monitoring. You can also make changes to the network without any disruption. In addition, SD-WANs can improve application performance, reduce bandwidth costs, and increase network security.
As a result, they are becoming favoured for remote-based businesses interested in business growth as part of the modern workforce.
SD-WAN vs VPN: Which is Better?
When it comes down to it, SD-WANs are a more advanced, comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes as they provide many benefits compared to VPN, such as increased bandwidth and reduced latency. In some complex cases, VPN might be more widely compatible with existing infrastructure, but it can also be slower than SD-WAN.
If you need the highest possible performance, SD-WAN is the better choice. It also offers unique features, such as dynamically routing traffic based on application needs, and integrated security and compliance are additional perks.
As a result, SD-WAN is, in most cases, a better option than VPN for organisations across South Africa and the rest of the world.
How SD-WAN Helps Remote Workers
While the business connectivity benefits abound, what about how your remote workers benefit from this type of technology? Is it the future of work?
Namely, SD-WAN includes built-in security features that protect data against interception or tampering, which is especially important for remote workers because, as you know, they often use public Wi-Fi networks that are vulnerable to attack.
SD-WAN uses intelligent routing to direct traffic over the best path available. Critical data is always transmitted quickly and reliably, even over long distances, for your and your workers' safety.
And because SD-WAN uses software to manage the network, it provides greater flexibility and agility than hardware-based solutions, which means that you can easily add new users. You can make changes quickly and effortlessly without expensive hardware upgrades.
While this isn't necessarily a direct benefit to your workers, it allows you to reduce operating costs and focus on business growth and other critical tasks, freeing up more of your profits to re-invest those back into your employees or other remote work benefits.
And finally, depending on your SD-WAN provider, you can benefit from 24/7 customer support, so remote workers always have access to help if they encounter problems.
Should You Switch to SD-WAN?
Many businesses are switching to SD-WAN as a post-pandemic measure (as part of the remote work revolution), but is it right for your business? Ask yourself the following questions:
- How much bandwidth do you need?
- How critical is uptime?
SD-WAN can provide more bandwidth than a traditional WAN connection, so switching to SD-WAN could be a good option if you frequently exceed your current bandwidth limit.
Additionally, because SD-WAN uses multiple internet connections, it can provide more reliable uptime than a traditional WAN connection. If your business relies heavily on online applications, switching to SD-WAN could help reduce the risk of disruptions.
When it comes down to it, if yours is a remote-based business or one that works under a hybrid business model, then SD-WAN is likely an excellent solution for you. Such is the case, too, if you're focusing on business growth in the forthcoming year. Why? SD-WAN is highly scalable and easily expandable as your business grows.
Overall, SD-WAN has many benefits for businesses with remote workers, including a significant increase in bandwidth and performance. At the same time, as mentioned, it can help you reduce costs and increase security.
Get a Quote for SD-WAN Services
Overall, the benefits of SD-WAN make it an ideal solution for businesses with remote workers. If you're looking for a way to improve the performance and security of your network, SD-WAN is a worthy consideration.
Get in touch if you'd like to work alongside a team of qualified professionals with experience in business solutions and managed SD-WAN services. Click here to learn more about our SD-WAN services and to request a quote.
