SD-WAN is a game-changer in networking, touted for its ability to reduce costs, increase performance, and simplify management. However, as the hype around SD-WAN continues to grow, firewall vendors are eager to repackage their existing solutions as âSD-WAN.â But does their version deliver on the promises, or is it just VPNs in a new wrapper? Hereâs what businesses need to know before selecting an SD-WAN solution that provides freedom from Silicon Valley lock-ins.
The Evolution of SD-WAN
Traditionally, cloud-based applications and Internet traffic were routed through MPLS or private IP networks before reaching remote locations. While effective, this approach was expensive and inflexible.
SD-WAN revolutionised this by creating intelligent overlay networks that use Internet broadband connections instead of relying solely on private WAN or MPLS links. This shift allows businesses to be more agile, leveraging real-time traffic management, dynamic routing, and better cost control.
Firewall vendors have jumped on this bandwagon, offering what they call "SD-WAN." But their solutions fall short of true SD-WAN capabilities.
The Problem with Firewall-Based SD-WAN
Firewall vendors have taken their legacy VPN technology, slapped an SD-WAN label on it, and called it a day. While these solutions offer basic hybrid connectivity, they fail to deliver on the true potential of SD-WAN.
Lack of QoS
Firewall-based SD-WAN struggles to provide true Quality of Service (QoS) over Internet broadband circuits. Without effective QoS, businesses must supplement broadband connections with MPLS or private WAN links to maintain reliability, negating the cost savings SD-WAN promises.
Legacy Limitations
These solutions are hamstrung by the same architectural limitations that plagued VPNs:
No elastic IP capabilities to manage bandwidth fluctuations dynamically.
Limited redundancy options, as they often fail to recover sessions quickly when connections are lost.
Poor integration with cloud applications, as theyâre not designed with cloud-first architectures in mind.
Hybrid Mode | A Half-Measure
Firewall-based SD-WAN often operates in hybrid mode, combining Internet broadband with legacy MPLS links. While this improves agility slightly, it doesnât deliver the full benefits of SD-WAN because businesses remain tied to costly private connections.
Fusion SD-WAN | The Real Deal
Unlike the hamstrung offerings from firewall vendors, Fusion SD-WAN is built from the ground up to deliver on the promises of true SD-WAN:
Cost Savings with Pure Broadband Connections
Fusionâs SD-WAN allows businesses to eliminate MPLS entirely, relying exclusively on multiple broadband circuits. With advanced QoS capabilities, it ensures excellent performance and reliability even over the last mile.
Fusionâs SD-WAN excels in:
Dynamic Path Selection: It continuously monitors the status of overlay connections and reroutes traffic intelligently in the event of network failures.
Elastic IP and Bandwidth Adaptation: These features ensure seamless performance during peak usage and network congestion.
Reliable Cloud Integration: Fusionâs solution is optimised for cloud migrations, enabling smooth access to SaaS applications and cloud workloads.
Ease of Deployment & Management
Fusionâs SD-WAN is easy to deploy and manage, avoiding the complicated configurations and tedious processes associated with firewall-based solutions. Itâs designed to "just work," allowing businesses to focus on their operations rather than wrestling with their network.
The True Benefits of SD-WAN
A true SD-WAN solution like Fusionâs offers a range of benefits:
Network Redundancy: By leveraging multiple broadband links, Fusionâs SD-WAN ensures high availability and resilience against outages.
Improved Cloud Support: It enhances connectivity to cloud platforms, accelerating digital transformation.
Long-Term Cost Savings: By replacing MPLS and reducing manual management, businesses can save significantly over time.
Fewer Dropped Sessions and Calls: With its advanced QoS and traffic management, Fusionâs SD-WAN minimises disruptions, ensuring smooth communication and productivity.
Why Firewall SD-WAN Falls Short
Firewall-based SD-WAN may appear cheaper upfront, but the hidden costs of maintaining legacy MPLS connections and dealing with performance issues make it a poor choice in the long run. These solutions lack the architecture, features, and reliability needed to deliver on the promise of SD-WAN.
Wrap
Businesses should be cautious about the "SD-WAN" offerings from firewall vendors. These solutions are often little more than rebranded VPNs, failing to deliver the cost savings, performance, and simplicity that true SD-WAN provides.
Fusionâs SD-WAN, on the other hand, is a modern solution that empowers businesses to harness the full potential of broadband Internet, improve network performance, and future-proof their operations.
Donât fall for fake SD-WAN. Choose a solution that truly worksâchoose Fusion SD-WAN.
Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Fusion Broadband South Africa - the leading specialized SD-WAN Last Mile provider in South Africa. Learn more about the best SD-WAN in the world: đContact Fusionâïž
