Source: http://www.btc.co.uk/Articles/index.php?mag=Network&page=compDetails&link=9114
SD-WAN is now making its case. Allan Paton, Director of UK
and Ireland at Silver Peak explores the evolution of SD-WAN and how it will
replace the complexity of router-centric WAN architectures.
In recent years, the software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) market
has experienced significant growth around the world, with new SD-WAN
acquisitions, partnerships and investments gaining momentum. As the benefits of
SD-WAN become increasingly apparent, Gartner has predicted that in 2019,
companies that have deployed SD-WAN will rise from less than one per cent,
where the market is today, to 30 per cent. SD-WAN offerings are fast evolving
to address the changing requirements of enterprises as they embrace cloud and
digitally transform.
Underpinning this evolution is the mass migration of
applications and services to the cloud. Organisations are realising that their
existing router-centric WAN architectures can't keep up with the changes in
network and application traffic. As such, businesses are turning to SD-WANs,
which promise the flexibility to use any combination of transport to connect
users to applications and intelligently route traffic across the network
efficiently and securely. It's therefore not surprising that, according to the
Frost & Sullivan global SD-WAN survey, 94 per cent of businesses report
that they have deployed, are deploying, or will deploy SD-WAN over the next two
years: demand will surely continue to increase.
The
business-first networking model
Increasingly, enterprises are moving beyond the constraints
and complexity of router-centric WAN architectures. Routers are burdened by
decades of complexity and still retain a lengthy and arduous device-by-device
configuration process using an inconvenient and arcane Command Line Interface
(CLI). Now, businesses are seeking more efficient and secure access to SaaS and
cloud applications. There's a greater need to connect users directly and
securely to the cloud and this requires a software-driven WAN edge architecture
that can intelligently steer traffic based on application-driven policies. As
such, SD-WAN solutions are increasingly evolving to empower highly-distributed
enterprises with a new business first networking model that yields consistent
application performance, robust security and operational efficiencies.
Less:
the new more
In its first WAN edge report published in 2017, Gartner
considered the future of enterprise networking as a consolidation of
"several branch-office WAN edge functions, including routing, SD-WAN, WAN
path control, security and WAN optimisation". By deploying a thin branch
SD-WAN solution, distributed enterprises would be able to dramatically improve
business agility and lower costs, and improve network and application
performance, availability and security, while aligning their networks to ever changing
business requirements.
In the Frost & Sullivan survey, respondents indicated
that network managers are looking to embrace SD-WAN appliances with integrated
routing and WAN optimisation functions, while keeping existing CPE-based
solutions at other sites until maintenance contracts expire. Indeed,
interoperability with existing WAN edge infrastructure will be critical when
migrating to a business-driven WAN edge until organisations completely replace
traditional routers. A flexible deployment model, fully compatible with
routers, firewalls or other pre-existing devices at the branch, will enable
enterprises to complete the transition at their own pace.
Utilising
intelligence
Through advancements in artificial intelligence and
self-learning, a unified SD-WAN Edge platform will also go beyond today's
automation and templates to reach a self-driving wide area network that gets
smarter every day. A self-driving wide area network with centralised and
adaptive orchestration enables self-learning and continuous control to ensure
ongoing alignment with business intent.
Ultimately, the consolidation of network functions - such as SD-WAN, WAN optimisation, routing and more - into a single, centrally orchestrated software instance is the final stage of evolution for SD-WAN technology. In the next 18 months, SD-WAN will become a priority for businesses, particularly in the banking and financial services space. We will also see an increasing need for integrated network functions at the WAN edge, as well as a demand from enterprises for centralised cloud-based network management from their SD-WAN vendor.
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