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Communication services in 2020 need powerful SD network solutions for unified communications. Learn more about the best SD-WAN solutions for your needs.

SD-WAN, or software-defined wide-area network, provides several benefits for communication service providers and communication systems. An SD network provides affordable transport independence across several connection types including 4G/5G LTE and MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching). It also improves the performance of applications and simplifies operations.

As the WAN functions as a way to connect users in the branch to applications on servers in the data center, there come some struggles. Some of these struggles include poor user experience due to high traffic and data vulnerability. This is where SD-WAN comes into play.

SD-WAN is the new approach to network connectivity that addresses these issues and more. However, there are several SD-WAN network solutions to choose from. How will you know what SD-WAN network for unified communications is right for you? The best SD-WAN network solutions possess a few similar qualities. Continue reading below to learn how to find the best SD-WAN network solution for you!

Reliable Cloud Connections

The purpose of your SD-WAN network solution is to allow multiple connections in the cloud with ease. If these cloud connections aren’t reliable, then the purpose of the SD-WAN network solution is lost. Find the right SD-WAN network solution means finding a reliable cloud connection. Cloud applications will not be able to run smoothly and reliably on the cloud and on user devices. Poor networks will cause this problem, but a good SD-WAN network solution will fix the problem. When a good SD-WAN network solution is at work, you’ll then be able to get the full experience of working on the cloud.

Easy Creations in the Cloud

The SD-WAN experience allows you to manage multiple WAN all in one place. This makes creating new WAN and adding a branch office much easier than ever before. In the past, if a change was needed or if technical problems came about, you would need to call a technician to come out and address the issue. Now, you can make these changes yourself in a secure management portal. With minimal network hardware plugged in, (Zero-touch) your SD-WAN solution can help you optimize resource performance. This can be done across several clouds and sites.

Saves You Money

The right SD-WAN solution will help you save money. This is one of the main reasons for working with a SD-WAN solution. If it’s not saving you money, then it’s not for you. Before choosing a SD-WAN solution, ensure that the provider has explained in detail how it’ll save you money. It’ll also help reduce costs in labor for technicians. SD-WAN solutions replace proprietary hardware appliances by integrating with 3rd party VNFs.

User-Friendly Experiences

Be sure to go over the SD-WAN solution’s zero-touch feature with the vendor. Ask the vendor how the SD-WAN solution allows for a user-friendly experience with the zero-touch feature. This is something that you should have full knowledge of before making a final decision. The zero-touch feature is what makes SD-WAN solutions so user-friendly. What this means is that the system is so easy to manage for anyone that you won’t have to rely on technicians to come out and get different tasks done for you. As mentioned before, this feature will save you money. It’ll also help make managing the system easier for everyone.

Built-In Firewall and Security

Your SD-WAN solution should have a security system embedded into it. The best SD-WAN solution will have different levels of heightened security throughout the system. This included both hardware and software levels of security. Not only should there be a firewall built into the solution, but it should also have malware protection and IPS. If there’s existing firewalls or 3rd party NG Firewall VNFs, then the solution should integrate these as well.

Be sure to ask your vendor about the different encryption technologies and Zero-Trust and security. You’ll want to receive a detailed description of how your SD-WAN provides different levels of security to your various internal user groups and departments. For example, in health services companies, patient billing requires a different level of confidentiality versus patient health records (HIPPA). Is there an alterative to VPN and transport tunnels? Keep in mind that VPN tunnels add a lot of overhead, which wastes bandwidth. Is there a more advanced technology which doesn’t use tunnels? For example, the type of security needed for the hardware appliance level, the cloud platform, and the application are all different. What is your user-access policy? How does the SD-WAN solution reflect your security policies for each level?

Segmentation Options

You should also be aware of the different network segmentation options available to you. This is an SD-WAN feature that’s essential for those who offer access to their network. This might be true for those needing to give customers, business partners, suppliers, or someone else access to their real-time network.

Segmentation helps control your different networks and isolates traffic as needed. This, in return, will help keep everything running smoothly and won’t let 3rd party networks to affect you. There are several different ways that you can use the segmentation feature of your SD-WAN solution. The best part about it is being able to segregate networks based on the type of business line. If this is something that your company would benefit from, then it’s best to ask your vendor about the segmentation options that they offer.

What Can Your SD Network Do for You?

After reading through our guide, we hope you now know how to find the right SD-WAN solution for you! What can your SD Network do for you? If you keep these tips in mind, your new SD Network should benefit you in many ways!