SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking) has become a buzzword in networking circles, and much like other trending terms such as Cloud or AI, it tends to attract both hype and skepticism. The negativity surrounding SD-WAN, particularly from network professionals, often comes from the perception that it is a mysterious, over-marketed technology that lacks transparency. Let’s take a closer look at some common criticisms and address them with a balanced perspective.
Criticism 1 | SD-WAN is a Black Box with Proprietary Voodoo
One of the main points of frustration for network engineers is that SD-WAN solutions often appear as "black boxes" that magically establish tunnels between sites, load-balancing over multiple internet connections with little visibility into how it all works. The perception is that this is all powered by some combination of "voodoo" and "AI," hidden away behind proprietary technologies that the average engineer cannot access.
Response:
While it’s true that some SD-WAN solutions are proprietary and shield the underlying protocols from the user, it is inaccurate to lump all SD-WANs into this category. SD-WAN providers do provide detailed documentation on the protocols they use, from encrypted GRE tunnels to standard IPsec (with the preference being wireguard). Additionally, the underlying technologies are not all proprietary—standards-based approaches like BGP, OSPF, and even MPLS are often part of the SD-WAN solution.
Furthermore, the automation behind SD-WAN isn't necessarily a bad thing. One of SD-WAN’s primary goals is to abstract complexity, making network management simpler for those who don’t need to dive into every packet. That said, it doesn’t mean visibility is entirely lost. High-quality SD-WAN solutions such as the one from Fusion provide detailed traffic analytics and logs to give engineers insight into how traffic is routed, load balancing decisions, and link health metrics. You don't need a PhD to figure it out, but if you're curious, the information is often there.
Criticism 2 | SD-WAN is Just a Marketing Buzzword
A valid point often raised is that the term “SD-WAN” has been thrown around in the same way "AI" is today—becoming a catch-all phrase that doesn’t actually mean much in practice. The market is flooded with "SD-WAN" products, many of which range from excellent to absolute disasters. This has given SD-WAN a bit of a bad reputation.
Response:
The broad use of the term "SD-WAN" by marketing and sales teams is indeed a problem. Many vendors have labeled products as SD-WAN that don’t deliver the core capabilities the technology is supposed to provide—intelligent, automated traffic routing, real-time link quality analysis, and seamless failover between connections. Some firewall vendors, for example, tout “SD-WAN” just because they support basic WAN failover using a USB modem, which is clearly not the same thing.
True SD-WAN solutions, especially enterprise-grade ones, offer per-packet decisions based on real-time link quality, ensuring applications like VoIP or video conferencing are seamlessly handed off to the best available connection without user intervention or session resets. These real SD-WAN solutions solve real problems—eliminating downtime, optimizing performance, and reducing operational overhead. While bad products do exist, lumping all SD-WAN solutions together does a disservice to the truly innovative platforms out there.
Criticism 3 | SD-WAN is Too Complicated (Cisco Missed the Mark)
Another common complaint is that some SD-WAN solutions, notably Cisco’s, have too many components and are overly complex to manage. Engineers report having to juggle vManage, vBond, vSmart, and other similarly named components, leading to confusion and a steep learning curve.
Response:
Cisco’s SD-WAN offering, based on the Viptela acquisition, indeed has multiple components. However, this modular approach was designed to give enterprises flexibility, scalability, and granular control over their WANs. It’s worth noting that these components—vBond, vManage, and vSmart—each have distinct roles: vManage is for centralized management, vBond establishes connectivity between devices, and vSmart handles routing policies. Once understood, these components offer a robust, scalable solution for large enterprises.
However, it’s true that this approach might feel like overkill for smaller businesses or those seeking simpler setups. For businesses that don’t need that level of complexity, there are simpler, streamlined SD-WAN options available, such as Fusion’s SD-WAN, which provide an easier-to-manage solution without the need to handle multiple components.
Criticism 4 | SD-WAN’s Cloud Management Poses Security Risks
Security experts often raise concerns about cloud-managed SD-WAN solutions, particularly the potential for insider threats or misuse by bad actors. The idea is that with centralized cloud control, malicious individuals within a company or hackers who gain access could wreak havoc on the network.
Response:
This is a valid concern, but it’s not unique to SD-WAN. Any cloud-managed service—whether it's an SD-WAN platform or a cloud-based firewall—faces similar risks. The key is implementing proper security controls. High-quality SD-WAN solutions provide robust security features, including role-based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption, and regular security audits to ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot access or manipulate the system.
Cloud management has the advantage of centralized visibility, allowing security teams to monitor and react to potential issues more quickly. Additionally, with SD-WAN, the data plane (actual traffic) can remain encrypted and separate from the control plane (management). This means even if someone gains access to the control panel, they can’t intercept or manipulate the data flow without breaching the encryption.
Criticism 5 | SD-WAN Isn’t for Engineers—It’s for Management
Some network engineers express frustration that SD-WAN solutions seem built for non-technical users, with a focus on flashy web interfaces rather than powerful, engineer-friendly features. Engineers care about solving real network problems, while management wants the buzzwords.
Response:
SD-WAN doesn’t have to be either-or. Many SD-WAN solutions have intuitive GUIs that allow non-technical users to manage basic functions, but they also include advanced features for engineers who want more granular control. These features include APIs for automation, deep diagnostic tools, and access to raw network data for troubleshooting.
Yes, SD-WAN abstracts much of the complexity, but that’s not a bad thing—it reduces the day-to-day operational overhead. Engineers can still dig into the details when needed, but they don’t have to waste time on mundane configuration tasks.
Wrap | SD-WAN Is What You Make of It
There’s no denying that the SD-WAN space has some bad actors—solutions that overpromise and underdeliver, or products that slap the SD-WAN label on basic failover functionality. However, there are also industry-leading SD-WAN solutions that deliver on their promises, offering true automation, seamless failover, real-time traffic routing, and centralized management.
At its core, SD-WAN is about making WAN management simpler and more intelligent, whether you’re a network engineer looking for deep control or a business manager looking for high availability and cost savings. Understanding the technology behind SD-WAN, choosing the right vendor, and carefully evaluating features can make all the difference in harnessing the full potential of this transformative technology.
