There’s a lot of momentum moving enterprises to a migration into cloud solutions, which can significantly change network needs. The network configuration can be complicated by the launch of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and the need to remain competitive with both speed and performance of the network. As a result, discussion related to the enterprise network often comes around to the topic of whether it makes sense to invest in software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN).
Ask the right questions to determine whether SD-WAN is the right network for your client:
Do they plan to invest in cloud applications in the future? Cloud traffic interacts with the network in a different way than traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) or manufacturing software. Your client will quickly notice congestion and slow response times if their cloud traffic is forced to backhaul through the data center. SD-WAN allows for traffic from a particular branch to be segmented and then directly connected to the cloud via public Internet connections. This solution allows for end users to enjoy high speed and quality performance.
Are bandwidth limitations impacting remote users? The increased use of cloud applications and video conferencing are just two trends that cause increased bandwidth drain. SD-WAN provides a way for enterprises to use business policy to prioritize Internet traffic based on business goals, path quality and application type. Lower priority items can be directed to a lower-cost Internet broadband and improve the performance of critical applications.
Can your client keep up with expectations related to customer experience and digital transformation? Simply put, customers that are forced to wait for a page to load will leave the site. If the client doesn’t have the network support for cloud applications that deliver a high-quality experience, they may lose out to the competition. The centralized control and visibility of SD-WAN allow your client to efficiently troubleshoot any network issues and keep customers happy.
Do they have secure, direct Internet access? One of the major benefits of SD-WAN is the ability to segment branches, application traffic or IoT data exchanges. In the event of a security breach, network engineers are able to quickly address the problem and protect the rest of the traffic moving through the network.
Does your client have plans to expand or build new branches? SD-WAN allows for the efficient launch of new branch locations, without requiring a network technician to travel to the location to configure a router or complete other network-related tasks. Utilizing centralized policy rules, a branch location can be configured from headquarters, and then be up and running in a matter of minutes.
Helping your clients determine whether SD-WAN is a good fit is just one of the ways eXemplify equips you to be a better partner. Contact us for more information about the extensive resources we offer our partners.