What is SD-WAN and why do Australian businesses need it?

Written by Samantha Cordell | September 24, 2019

In the mid 80's, Wide Area Networks (WAN) were introduced as a revolutionary technology solution for multi-site organisations. WANs allowed businesses to communicate and transfer data seamlessly across multiple locations.

In more recent times, an increase in fast and affordable access service types (such as NBN, business grade fibre, 4G) has sparked a new technology called Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN). But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s start at the beginning.

What is a WAN?

By definition, WAN is a network that exists over a large-scale geographical area, ensuring that users and their devices can connect across multiple locations. Historically, WANs have typically been one of two types:

Two or more Internet-based services, connected together (via the network hardware) by a Virtual Private Network (VPN), or
A private connection using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) delivered directly by a telecommunications provider

SD-WAN blurs these lines in two ways - giving the control of the connections to the customer and allowing seamless switching between traditionally separate, private and Internet-based networks.

So, what exactly is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN is a software defined approach to managing the WAN.¹SD-WAN simplifies the management and ongoing operations of the WAN by providing a software management layer over the top of the network hardware.

Key benefits of SD-WAN

There are multiple benefits for businesses utilising SD-WAN, including:

Reducing costs by using more cost effective Internet based services over more expensive MPLS based services
Improving operations with automation and cloud-based management
Increased agility for business application performance
The flexibility of SD-WAN allows blended service delivery with a minimum of fuss

Get involved in your own WAN with SD-WAN

SD-WAN has the ability to separate itself from the physical layers of wide area networking.

While a traditional end-point would be controlled by the telecoms provider, SD-WAN allows the customer to monitor, report on and modify the configuration of their wide area networking. If your business is spread over a number of locations, this is especially helpful in that you can monitor and report on all of your sites in real-time.

Should I get SD-WAN and if so, how?

Diamond IT works with a number of providers and manufacturers on networking products including SD-WAN.

Speak to our Business Technology Managers (BTMs) to find out how we can assist you on whether SD-WAN is the right product for you, and how you can go about it.

Give us a call on 1300 307 907 or contact us via the form below.