With the growth of software-defined networking solutions, it might be tempting to toll the death knell for Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). But that would be a mistake.
It’s easy to understand the attraction of the latest network innovations promised by SD-WAN. As more applications move to the cloud and the number of applications used to run the business multiplies, increased bandwidth becomes more important. While MPLS is a proven technology for creating reliable, secure, private networks, it is not always the best option for greatly expanding bandwidth with a limited budget.
On the other hand, SD-WAN promises to make it easier and more cost-effective to add and manage low cost bandwidth via integrating broadband into the WAN. Businesses are caught in the middle trying to decide how to take advantage of the latest technology and wanting to make the most of their existing IT investments, all while ensuring security across the enterprise.
The good news is that it isn’t necessary to sacrifice one for the other. A hybrid model that layers SD-WAN over the top of MPLS integrated with low-cost broadband is the perfect solution that enables enterprises to combine the best of both technologies. While MPLS provides a predictable, reliable backbone, SD-WAN augments the existing WAN and can help reduce operational costs by consolidating network management and leveraging more cost-effective broadband capabilities.
*Content compliments of ThinkGig.
