A virtual WAN architecture which will help the enterprises to leverage any combination of WAN connections including LTE, 4G, broadband internet and MPLS is known as Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN). In other words, SD-WAN is a specific application of software-defined networking (SDN) technology applied to a WAN. An SD-WAN can be used to connect enterprise networks including branch offices and data-centres span over large geographic locations.
Unlike traditional WAN, the SD-WAN model is designed to fully support applications hosted in on-premise data centres, public or private cloud-native networks and SaaS solutions. Other difference from WAN architecture is that SD-WAN decouples network from management plane, and it detached the traffic management and monitoring from the hardware.
Advantages of SD-WAN
- Delivering the highest levels of application performance
- Reducing transport costs across MPLS, 3G/4G LTE, etc.
- Helps to increase agility.
- Highest level of the user experience for SaaS and public cloud applications.
- With its automated programs and cloud-based management system, operations are simplified.
