Building an effective digital strategy requires a deep understanding of the technology of today and tomorrow. The right technology can really propel your business toward success, but how do you know what’s right for your business? That’s where a little help from the technology experts comes into play. An independent IT consulting firm can help you pinpoint the right solution for your business needs while considering existing assets, network infrastructure, applications and security. Let’s take a deep dive into what SD-WAN and SASE can do for your business.
What Is SD-WAN?
A software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) is a virtual WAN architecture, in which any blend of network transport types—broadband internet, cellular and satellite—can be virtualized and bonded, then centrally managed in software to securely connect users to applications and desktops.
This next generation of wide area network uses intelligent control engines to manage public and private network connectivity, resulting in secure, reliable WANs. SD-WAN optimizes IT infrastructure to connect multiple locations, users and applications over disparate networks and technologies in real-time, taking the fastest, most stable route at any given moment. It can combine DIA, public broadband with private MPLS and 5G LTE to make one efficient, secure and self-healing network.
How Can My Business Win With SD-WAN?
If you are currently challenged by increases in any of the areas listed below, SD-WAN is the right solution for your business:
- Bandwidth demands
- Use of VPN and voice and video applications
- Migration of apps and functions to the cloud
- Growth and expansion of sites and data centers
- Increased remote worker population
- Concerns about security
SD-WAN is ideal for any growing organization that needs high-quality voice or those that have bandwidth limits and need reliability and stability for both their VoIP and standard data centers. Optimizing the existing bandwidth of your VOIP and data systems allows mission-critical applications to always have access to network resources – even in remote locations. Wouldn’t you want the day-to-day operations and management of your IT infrastructure to be made easier, more efficient and worry-free?
Additionally, if you are currently benefiting from cloud computing or cloud technology, SD-WAN plays a vital part in IT for your business. SD-WAN is the ideal solution for deploying, managing and monitoring a cloud wide area network (WAN). Delivering network and security services within a cloud WAN enables your IT to better support the underlying network functions of your business using a cloud-native software overlay. This leads us to SASE, a cloud-native service that combines SD-WAN capabilities with network security functions.
What Is SASE?
The secure access service edge (SASE) combines SD-WAN capabilities with network security functions such as secure web gateway, CASB and SDP to support the digital needs of an organization.
SASE creates a single network that secures and connects all of your endpoints – mobile devices, offices, IoT devices (and more) – into one global network.
Think of it like this: If SD-WAN is the little brother with tons of potential to go far in life, SASE is the older, more experienced brother with the connections to get the little brother to where he’s going safely and securely.
How Can My Business Win With SASE?
With the digital transformation of businesses, security is moving to the cloud. This is driving a need for converged services to do the following:
- Reduce complexity
- Improve speed and agility
- Enable cloud networking
- Secure newer SD-WAN-enabled architecture
That’s what SASE does for businesses: It connects and secures sites, as well as the newer tenants of enterprise – IoT devices, mobile devices and the cloud.
Let ATC Help Transform Your Business
Learn more about how your business can win with SD-WAN and SASE. Successful digital transformations start with a phone call to ATC. We provide highly regarded technical expertise to our clients and access to an extensive portfolio of technology providers. Call today!
