How to Get the Best SD-WAN Security Standards

Before SD-WAN Security, Let’s Review the Basics

If your company is migrating to SD-WAN technology, getting the best SD-WAN security may be of concern. However, before digging into what you need to consider, let’s briefly review the basics.

Software-Defined Wide Area Network or SD-WAN aggregates multiple internet connections and dynamically determines the most effective path for traffic based on the current conditions of such connections. SD-WAN can provide organizations with rapid, reliable and secure access to cloud-based applications without the need for dedicated pathways to enterprise data centers. Additionally, it’s much more affordable than multi-protocol label switching (MPLS).

Even though SD-WAN may seem complicated, it’s simply a way for companies to support everyday digital connections in a more natural and scalable way. A network’s role is to transfer information (such as voice, video and data) from one user to another. SD-WAN ensures these transmissions are uninterrupted and fast, so users have a high-quality, reliable connection.

Businesses have experienced an increase in bandwidth requirements due to cloud applications, streaming, AI and big data. Typically, all traffic goes to one destination along the same path, with a high-cost link and backup. 

What the proper SD-WAN deployment does is prioritize and intelligently direct network traffic to meet modern bandwidth requirements. Overall, when companies adopt SD-WAN, their application performance and costs improve.

In particular, managed SD-WAN vendors can help your company set up and install this technology for you, especially if you don’t have in-house IT expertise. The best providers will comply with the highest SD-WAN security standards, plus improve reduced packet loss, mostly or completely avoiding outages and considerably reducing latency.

Your business will experience a series of benefits when migrating to SD-WAN. It enables organizations to more confidently embrace the growth of cloud applications. Regardless of how your employees connect to the internet (whether on a mobile device, in a branch office or anywhere else), SD-WAN will provide you with the proper connectivity.

Related: How Can SD-WAN Cloud Empower Digital Transformation

How do Businesses Benefit from Leading SD-WAN Partners?

SD-WAN can cater to the needs of different applications when deployed in your company’s network, with the proper management and monitoring. Additionally, it optimizes network bandwidth, bolsters network security and scales smoothly as your business grows. 

A recent IDC survey revealed almost 95% of companies polled expected to use SD-WAN within 24 months. This fact emphasizes how technology adoption is growing and may justify just how many business owners and network managers prioritize SD-WAN security.

Here’s a series of SD-WAN benefits an industry leader can provide for your business:

Custom implementation

SD-WAN and SD-WAN security are not plug-and-play services. Choosing the right provider will help you avoid high project costs and failures due to mistakes in network design. In addition to this, you may receive extra services such as carrier and connectivity circuit management.

Specialized network engineers

It is essential to choose a company with certified network engineers to select leading SD-WAN providers for you carefully. Based on your business’s technical and budgetary needs, they will assess your network’s requirements and recommend the best SD-WAN security solution. These engineers can also deploy your SD-WAN solution right the first time. 

Monitoring

You could receive up to a 24-7 proactive monitoring tool to ensure network performance by choosing a leading SD-WAN partner. You can manage all networked applications with precise control and monitor their status whenever you need it. No matter how many locations you manage, you can control all devices through a single portal.

Transport and carrier agnosticism

Having to use a vendor’s internet provider can be inconvenient and more expensive than what you may already be using. The best partners will allow you to choose any internet provider you want, including keeping your existing one, for the best price and a high level of bandwidth at each of your locations.

Intelligent path control

For a great user experience, the best SD-WAN deployment will ensure application flows travel along the most optimal path.

Secure connectivity

With the greatest SD-WAN security, your company gets the latest encryption technologies with overlay tunnels and the ability to add firewalls—more on this in the following section.

Related: Understanding SD-WAN and SD-WAN Vendors

How to Ensure SD-WAN Security Standards

Now that you have more information about SD-WAN, how it works and the multiple benefits an excellent provider can give your business; it’s time to check on a series of security items. 

Companies that rely heavily on cloud applications often believe internet issues are simple to fix. You may think you just need to add a few new backup circuits to complete the process, however, this is not how it works. 

A comprehensive network evaluation may reveal deficiencies within the existing network infrastructure. For example, misdirected traffic or misconfigured firewalls without redundancy can increase response times, decrease uptimes and put the network at much greater risk.

It is often the case that many internet problems result from more complex network conditions requiring precise and customized SD-WAN security and implementations. The technology uses software to control application management, connectivity and services between data centers and remote branches or cloud servers. Therefore, its structure can be complex and intricate.

Custom implementation

The first step to ensuring SD-WAN security is acknowledging its implementation cannot be universal. The solution needs to be deployed by highly-trained experts who learn your network’s configuration and design first. 

An ideal SD-WAN provider spends considerable time mapping your current network before even bringing or updating the SD-WAN technology. With their expert guidance, you will have guaranteed customer satisfaction, significantly lower costs, an optimally configured network and project deployment success. 

Verify that your SD-WAN provider carefully evaluates your business requirements and your network topology from a high level first. This will increase SD-WAN security levels from day one. 

Thoughtful planning

A second variable to consider for a secure SD-WAN is planning. Developing a customized network design to meet both your current and future needs is critical. For SD-WAN to work effectively, it must be set up correctly the first time, considering all the factors that affect your company. Other approaches could put your operation at risk. You must rely on your network from the very start to be secure and reliable.

Reputable SD-WAN background

Last, but not least, verified SD-WAN provider credentials are essential for security. It can be quite challenging to secure SD-WAN networks in time due to the complexity of the network and the need for integrated security solutions. 

The only way to overcome this challenge is to make sure your company chooses an SD-WAN provider offering top-notch security expertise and technology. Their comprehensive knowledge of the most modern and robust security options will give you peace of mind.

Stress-Free SD-WAN Security 

Data security depends on the technology you use to process and transport it. You must be aware that modern SD-WAN solutions are no exception. Leading systems use encryption and optional firewall functions; such as zone-based firewalls, next-generation firewalls and service chaining.

Your business should choose an SD-WAN provider with extensive security expertise, credentials and knowledge. Boosting your network to accommodate the variety of ways people work is crucial as your business moves into a more digital world. Consider partnering with an experienced Managed SD-WAN vendor, such as BCM One. 

Our experts can evaluate your existing network and requirements before creating a tailored solution that can grow with your business. BCM One provides expert assistance and implements a wide range of managed technology solutions. If you want to simplify and optimize your communications networks with the best security standards, BCM One can help. Contact us now.