Reports indicate that at least 85% of companies are now considering investing in SD-WAN, a massive rise from 68% in 2016.
Investing in SD-WAN is more than just a trend, however. It’s a wise business decision that can improve your entire network’s security, performance, and availability at a reasonable price.
No matter what type of business you run, working to get the best possible network is always worth the time and money it requires. Read on for 5 reasons why the number of businesses investing in SD-WAN is growing so quickly.
1: Investing in SD-WAN is Financially Responsible
Investing in SD-WAN may seem like an intimidating, expensive process at first. A lack of technical knowledge and qualified experts is one of the main obstacles blocking those who haven’t already made the switch.
The truth is that the process requires low operational costs and brings significant savings in return. It’s not difficult or expensive to begin investing in SD-WAN, and you won’t regret it when it starts to improve several aspects of the daily operations of your business.
The process has so many benefits that it eventually begins to pay for itself. Studies show that the savings in reduced configuration errors alone will recoup your investment in a mere 5 years.
Any investment that can provide such a high return so quickly is at least worth considering. A network is one of a business’s most important tools, especially if they provide technology as a service, and it’s only right to get the best one possible.
2: Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a critical consideration for any business that uses technology, especially those that handle a large amount of data. It determines how much your network can handle and how well it will perform.
Investing in SD-WAN allows you to combine several WAN connections. You’ll get the power and bandwidth of all of them at once. This is something that traditional network options are unable to provide.
The only thing better than providing more bandwidth is being able to decide how much each application and/or traffic source uses. An SD-WAN solution ensures that your most critical, time-sensitive operations get completed first so that you don’t waste time or money.
The bandwidth of SD-WAN is also highly scalable. It’s easy to combine, add, or reduce as your business needs change. Setting up a new connection at a remote site won’t even require an additional IT team.
3: Better Security
The increasing threat of cyberattacks means that all businesses must work to improve digital security. It’s a necessity rather than an option and begins with the type of network you choose.
Investing in SD-WAN is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to do this. It does a better job of protecting your data than almost all other network options.
SD-WAN solutions utilize several security measures, the most basic of which is built-in encryption. It’s also a great supplement to any security measures you’re already using, and your provider can help ensure all your exchanges are as safe as possible.
4: Network and Application Availability
Nothing frustrates staff or customers more than when a network or the application that runs on it goes down. The average organization suffers 4 hours of downtime each year, but investing in SD-WAN makes sure this happens as rarely as possible.
SD-WAN can handle a heavy load of data, including everything from high-quality video to multi-person video calls This allows your business to attend to several customers at once and provide them with a wide range of services.
Thanks to improved performance from traffic routing and other essential features, SD-WAN can shoulder a heavy load with no loss in quality or signal.
Investing in SD-WAN also makes it easier for all your customers and employees to access your network from wherever they are. This allows you to expand your reach, use more remote workers, and more.
5: Various Options
There are several different SD-WAN equipment types you could choose from. It’s important to know the differences between them to choose the best one for your business.
Companies that want a high level of control over their SD-WAN can choose to run the server in their own location. This is known as an on-premise solution.
Controller-based solutions offer an SD-WAN as a service. The business pays the supplier a subscription fee to house and manage the controller that regulates the network.
A gateway-solution is like a symbiotic relationship between a business and an SD-WAN supplier. They create a global meshed architecture and you connect your network to the closest available gateway.
Another strategy the provider may use is to create on-demand tunnels to your cloud providers. This allows for quick, easy adoption spread out across a wide number of locations. This is an especially attractive option for large corporations that do business in a wide area of operation.
This variety of options is another benefit to investing in SD-WAN. You can ensure your money is going to a solution that benefits you now and can be easily adapted later as your needs evolve.
Where to Invest in SD-WAN
Investing in SD-WAN is a decision that will benefit your business for years to come. The various benefits are attracting a rising number of businesses.
SD-WAN networks are affordable, reliable, powerful, and secure. There are several options to choose from, and it’s easy to customize the network to the needs of your business. Overall it is a smart financial choice with a high return on investment.
It’s important to choose the right provider before deciding where to place your money. If you make the wrong choice, you can end up with faulty connections, a low return on investment, and a host of other issues.
We provide a variety of highly effective network solutions for businesses of all sizes and types. Find out more about the benefits of investing in SD-WAN with us and contact us today for more information.