Network Edge Challenges
Branch, cloud, data center, mobile, and IoT are transforming with ubiquitous compute power, autonomous decision making, data gathering, and sensor data.
More Computing Power
There is an increasing need for network services, such as security and data processing at the branch office. More compute power is required.
The Rise of Cloud
As applications become more modular, workloads are distributed in a hybrid cloud model spanning multiple locations – but security and access speed are concerns.
More Devices, More Data
A branch office is no longer just an office—it contains many devices such as point of sale (POS) systems and IoT devices that generate and report data.
Security at the Edge
The rising use of IoT devices and more employees working from home on a variety of devices increases the number of entry points for cybersecurity threats.
More About Network Edge
SD-WAN as a Platform
Organizations want to reduce the number of devices that they must manage. SD-WAN is an integral platform for delivering services at remote locations and for users at the branch, home, or away. With its processing power and virtualization capability, any type of services can be deployed using SD-WAN. Integration with the SD-WAN management system provides policy control and performance metrics.
Edge Computing and IoT
Devices at the edge - including those with AI capabilities that require data processing - generate a tremendous amount of data. Sending raw data back to the data center consumes time and bandwidth. With edge computing, processing can be done locally. Only actionable data is transmitted. With local compute power and a service hosting capability, SD-WAN can provide the required processing power.
Hybrid Cloud
Workloads increasingly cross a multi-cloud environment, including public and private clouds. This provides elastic capacity for dynamic workloads and access to cloud provider services such as big data analytics, while ensuring security and integrity for components that must remain in the data center. SD-WAN can optimize performance and support the agile rollout of new enterprise services.
5G
5G provides an option for high bandwidth that is fast to provision. SD-WAN together with 5G brings intelligence from the transport layer to enable control using business policies. The transport layer offers status information, allowing unprecedented network self-management and self-healing. It’s perfect for locations requiring fast provisioning of high bandwidth with a high level of control.
Gateway Federation
A global workforce, more home-based and mobile enterprise workers, multiple network providers, clouds and data centers around the world – these all must be connected, with assured performance and availability. SD-WAN gateways can be federated into a global virtual network to connect disparate service provider and enterprise networks as well as the cloud.
Multi-Cloud
A multi-cloud strategy provides a combination of SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS and access to each cloud’s unique services. This avoids dependence on a single provider, mitigates risk of localized failure, and protects against attacks and disasters. Cloud-hosted SD-WAN gateways connect clouds to each other, and remote locations to clouds. gateways can be configured to steer traffic over the best routes.
Related Content
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2021 Gartner Critical Capabilities for WAN Edge Infrastructure
This research evaluates WAN edge solutions for expanding business requirements to connect to on premises and cloud-based workloads
Explore More Key Elements of SD-WAN
Learn more about the aspects of this technology that make it a strong choice for modern networks.
Branch Office
SD-WAN provides seamless branch office connectivity to any number of network edges, interconnected by a virtual network, orchestrated from a single point.
Hybrid WAN
Using SD-WAN to create a hybrid WAN is faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective than backhauling to the data center over private lines – and increases bandwidth.
Security Services
Segmentation in the data center and extended over the WAN enables a comprehensive, zero-trust model for applications.
Cloud-First Approach
SD-WAN delivers increased network agility and cost reduction for organizations embracing the cloud.