Secure SD-WAN
Geographically distributed enterprises are embracing Software-Defined WAN to lower costs and complexity while improving security and provisioning times
Introduction
Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) is a modern approach to building and operating Wide Area Networks. SD-WAN is the logical extension of virtualisation in the data center and Software Defined Networking in those data centers. Augmenting your existing WAN infrastructure with SD-WAN functionality reduces WAN cost, improves availability and application performance while also simplifying management and reducing Service Provider dependence. Our networking, cloud and SD-WAN experts can help you choose and design the best solution for your organisation, either as a managed service or as a solution that you operate yourself.
Our Secure SD-WAN Technology Partners
Why choose SR Cloud Solutions?
SR Cloud Solutions has a 25-year track record of supplying managed network services to many organisations in different industries.
- The best technology – highest levels of accreditation with the world’s leading vendors such as Cisco, Fortinet, and Silver Peak.
- Skills and expertise with a UK-based 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC)
- We are a Joscar accredited business which means we are certified to work with leading defense companies who require the highest standards of cyber security.
- We are experts in cloud infrastructures such as Microsoft Azure so we can provide advice to integrate your chosen Secure SD WAN solution with Azure
Book a meeting with one of our consultants to learn more about our Managed Secure SD WAN Services.
Why do I need Secure SD-WAN for my business?
Improve network and application performance.
Traditional WANs rely on a single link or path between locations. Forwarding decisions are made purely based on the destination and the “best” path to that destination. “Best” is usually a function of the number of hops that need to be traversed and the speed of the WAN-links. It doesn’t consider whether or not the link is congested, has high latency or is suffering brownouts. It also doesn’t consider whether the path is economical or expensive. High-availability in the WAN is achieved by provisioning a back-up link that is activated when the primary link fails completely.
SD-WAN routes the traffic based on the quality of a path and the SLA requirements defined for the applications and destinations. SD-WAN routers have a real-time view of the current state of all available paths, end-to-end. All available paths can be used in parallel, maximizing the available amount of bandwidth. Applications, such as VoIP, that suffer from line quality impairments (loss, latency and jitter) can be sent across paths with the highest quality. Some SD-WAN solutions can bond paths together to compensate for imperfections and improve end-to-end quality. Traffic that isn’t impacted by quality imperfections can be sent along low-cost paths to avoid impact on prioritised traffic.
Improved security
Using public networks to augment and expand the existing WAN has serious implications for the security footprint. SD-WAN addresses this by only using encrypted VPN tunnels across public networks. Use of the Internet connection for local break-out can be denied and eliminate the need of adding a local firewall. Application Intelligence allows SD-WAN routers to distinguish explicitly sanctioned applications from those which are not, and permits traffic to break-out with limited or no Firewall inspection while sending other traffic to the traditional security infrastructure in the data center, Firewalls in region or cloud-based security services.
Security can be streamlined with SD-WAN by allowing traffic to trusted destinations and applications to bypass in-depth scanning and analysis equipment, freeing it up to inspect suspicious traffic. SD-WAN therefore significantly improves the efficiency of existing security infrastructures.
Lower WAN costs
Studies show that up to 40% of total IT expenditure is spent on recurring costs from WAN service providers. Further costs are incurred to manage the infrastructure. WAN downtime and brownouts result in additional costs for an organization.
SD-WAN introduces a virtual network layer that allows organizations to transparently combine cost effective IPVPN services with traditional (and more expensive) private links, without incurring penalties for increased complexity or decreased user experience. Adding extra bandwidth capacity is as easy as adding an extra link and connecting it to the SD-WAN router. Replacing a provider is just as easy, giving you more leverage over existing suppliers to consistently provide value for money.
Increased flexibility and faster provisioning
IT departments are under increasing pressure to deliver fast connectivity at minimal cost. Traditionally provisioning a private connection takes weeks or even months. SD-WAN networks will use whatever is provisioned first (i.e. a 4G mobile internet connection) while other links can be connected as they become available without a negative impact to operations.
Reduced management complexity
An SD-WAN is managed through an Orchestrator that is the central point for network status visibility and configuration management. Application SLA requirements and policies are defined in the Orchestrator and pushed as configuration changes to the individual devices. Per device configuration is a thing of the past. The Orchestrator builds and manages the overlay topology as needed for applications. The complexities of traditional routing protocols in the WAN such as BGP and OSPF are pushed down to the providers of the different WAN-links, limiting them to the core of the network.
Link switchovers no longer require manual intervention and service changes no longer require many hours of CLI-based configuration and testing. They are reduced to a few mouse-clicks in the Orchestrator GUI.
Provisioning new sites is no longer a complex task requiring multiple operational and procedural steps. SD-WAN routers (as a requirement) support Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP). ZTP allows an appliance with a factory default configuration to be installed on-site and find the Orchestrator, at which point it will be given its configuration. Once configured it will become part of the SD-WAN fabric and provide connectivity to all sites in the SD-WAN.
ZTP also makes it easy to replace a defective appliance with on-site or in-region spares, shortening the Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) incident cost and having little or no impact on stress levels within the organisation.
Cloud integration
As the traditional IT architecture is replaced with elastic computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) the network is struggling to keep up with the changing traffic patterns. Resources and applications can move on a daily basis. Connections over public infrastructures are difficult to manage and provide no SLA guarantees. Direct connections between locations and cloud datacenters can provides these guarantees but are subject to similar cost, flexibility and complexity issues as existing MPLS connections. A well-designed SD-WAN solution can provide SLA guarantees without sacrificing the flexibility and cost benefits of the public Internet.
Secure SD-WAN Benefits Summary
Our secure SD-WAN solutions represent a simplified, cost-effective, and flexible alternative to traditional WAN solutions, improving the security and performance of applications both on-premises and in the cloud.
Top of the line security
An integrated security portfolio that features advanced networking functionalities and a single-pane-of-glass view enables organisations to achieve full visibility across all of their enterprise locations. By deploying enterprise-grade security with consolidated networking functionality, comprehensive SSL inspection, and dynamic VPN tunneling at branch locations, customers will be able to attain their digital transformation goals without compromising on security.
Reduced expenses
Being cost-effective is an essential goal for most organisations. This can be achieved by replacing low-bandwidth, high-cost WANs with high-bandwidth, low-cost broadband connections. With an integrated solution, IT teams can create and automate site-to-site VPNs that form a meshed interconnected overlay between branch offices, the cloud, and corporate data centers. Additionally, they can ensure consistent, policy-based enforcement and protection across the distributed network, and even inspect traffic between offices as well as all application traffic in real time – a positive shift away from the deployment of isolated security practices.
Improved performance
One survey found that enterprise organizations that deploy SD-WAN use 50% more bandwidth than those that depend on traditional WAN connections. This bandwidth provides more effective application accessibility, more robust workflow support, and enhanced productivity, resulting in a distinct competitive advantage for these organizations. And as these bandwidth needs grow, an integrated SD-WAN solution can enable customers to dynamically scale bandwidth capacity based on their specific requirements through the use of advanced networking functionality. Through this practice, customers can tick all the boxes for high-application performance without leaving gaps in security or having to play catch up to protect their networks.
Centralised management
With an integrated SD-WAN solution in place, enterprise customers can enjoy zero-touch provisioning and centralized management capabilities that span the entire SD-WAN deployment, from configurations to connectivity to security. By having the ability to manage and orchestrate a unified security solution across multiple branch locations, cloud environments, and devices, IT teams can ensure automated control of branch office WAN connectivity. At the same time, customers will achieve single-pane-of-glass visibility across their distributed organizations, spanning all users and applications to identify potential threats.
Reduced complexity
When security and networking are managed through a single interface, organizations will avoid the complexities often associated with WAN management, configuration, and orchestration. This single-pane-of-glass view will not only help to improve control and visibility, but it will also lessen the amount of time needed to provision leased lines and MPLS and then implement an effective security strategy. With faster recognition of locations, customers will also be able to quickly troubleshoot challenges with ease.
Enable a cloud architecture
Organizations are migrating their applications to the cloud and use software as a service (SaaS) cloud-hosted business applications such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Box, Dropbox, ServiceNow and many more instead of hosting them in the data center. However, organizations with traditional router-based WAN architectures continue to backhaul cloud-destined traffic from branch locations to the data center, mainly for security reasons, severely impacting the performance of cloud applications at the branch. Secure SD-WAN solutions use local internet breakout to intelligently steer traffic to its destination. It can identify the application on the first packet and intelligently route it back to the data center, or directly to the cloud destination, or first to a cloud security enforcement point, depending on the application and its security policy enforcement requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
As the landscape of IT continues to change rapidly, SD-WAN uses a combination of hardware, software and cloud‐based technologies to simplify the delivery of network services to different physical sites.
The result is ultimate and seamless network accessibility for all team members, regardless of location.
No, SD-WAN is not a replacement for MPLS.
In fact, it can be seamlessly integrated with your existing network.
Put quite simply, depending on what purpose an employee is using your network for, it might make more sense from them to use MPLS at one time, while at other times a traditional internet connection.
SD-WAN offers all of these options bundled together, and has the ability to intuitively switch between them.
No you do not. SD-WAN is not a replacement for your current internet set up, but an enhancement of it.
It provides an entire pool of connectivity options for your business.
Think of SD-WAN as your overriding network, giving multiple choices for network access, allowing for boosted efficiency in operations, and the levels of connectivity required to meet the IT demands of a modern, multi-site business.
The simple answer is yes.
Switching to an SD-WAN solution offers ultimate control over your network, leading to increased efficiencies and cost savings.
Picture SD-WAN as a physical box, containing all the hardware and software required for ultimate redundancy, eliminating downtime and thus increasing productivity.
The fact it is a virtualised option reduces the need for pricey hardware upgrades and the hefty equipment costs associated with traditional networks.
What’s more, by bundling together all the different means of accessing your network, you’ll receive greater bandwidth at lower costs.
Today, many IT organizations are deploying SD-WAN technologies with hybrid WAN architectures. These may or may not maintain existing MPLS connections for secure connectivity from the branch to the data centre. By adding one or more Internet circuits (and or 4G LTE links) they can provide additional bandwidth along with direct connectivity to cloud-based applications.
It’s important that you carefully evaluate the wealth of SD-WAN solutions available in the market. Each solution (managed or do-it-yourself) will offer its own specific advantages and disadvantages.
Here are some questions you should ask as you evaluate which SD-WAN capabilities you require:
- What are the critical applications at your branch locations?
- What are your most important SaaS or cloud-based applications
- Have you deployed latency-sensitive voice or video applications at the branch?
- What is your current branch security architecture? What are its security requirements?
- Do you frequently change branch locations or spin up new branch sites (e.g. pop up stores)?
Application performance is a core requirement for just about every distributed organization. The WAN needs to be highly reliable, secure, and of course, low latency. It must also be agile to deploy, simple to operate, and built for cloud-based applications. To ensure ongoing high performance, the network should be continually monitored and adapted for optimal application delivery and security.
Traffic prioritization
SD-WAN allows for traffic prioritization for critical applications. For example, it identifies real-time traffic (e.g. VoIP and video) and provides prioritized transport to ensure high-quality communications. It constantly monitors the status of each WAN link and can intelligently steer traffic according to WAN traffic conditions, link status, and application priority. SD-WAN management consoles can provide excellent visibility into the status and health of WAN traffic and application performance.
SD-WAN also enables you to set prioritization policies for quality of service for mission-critical or latency-sensitive (e.g. voice and video) applications. It identifies the traffic type (coming to or from the branch) and routes it over the best WAN link to meet its associated policy.
Multi-cloud flexibility
Today’s organizations are adopting a multi-cloud architecture in which applications run on the best platform, regardless of location. SD-WAN technology facilitates this with secure, reliable, and high-quality connectivity to the leading IaaS cloud platforms. To achieve this, it must seamlessly connect users to private cloud, IaaS, and SaaS platforms based on defined business policies and with proactive traffic steering and prioritization.
Numerous SD-WAN technology providers also partner with leading IaaS providers, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, to make sure remote traffic headed for the cloud receives priority access. Many now offer direct access to local, edge cloud on-ramps – which accelerates traffic over the cloud providers’ private network.
The reliability of your network is of course a key factor in business continuity. Many organizations lose significant revenues when their network is down. SD-WAN enables traffic to flow over 2 or more independent WAN links. A typical configuration would feature a combination of MPLS, Internet, and wireless 4G services to provide link and path diversity. This provides the redundancy to provide highly available communications for remote branch offices.
Many organizations have implemented dual Internet architectures – which when delivered over diverse circuits – provides highly reliable WAN services. A combination of wired (Internet) links and wireless (4G LTE) can be particularly effective in offering a dependable architecture for smaller branch sites.
Security at the branch presents a challenge for many organizations due to the increased number of devices that must be managed. PCs, tablets, phones, point of sale devices, and IoT endpoints must all be considered. These devices offer opportunities for malware to infect the corporate network and for hackers to access sensitive data. The lack of trained staff at remote locations and the complexity of managing multiple security appliances (e.g. VPNs, IPS, and firewalls) exacerbates branch network security challenges.
SD-WAN provides enhanced security for branch locations and for traffic coming to and from the Internet. It uses packet-based identification to look into traffic flows and to analyze traffic patterns. For example, where is the traffic going to (public cloud or private data centre)? Is this a trusted location and what data is being sent? Its security includes advanced firewalls, VPNs and encryption, data loss prevention, content filtering, endpoint identification and management, and policy enforcement capabilities.
Leveraging cloud-based security intelligence
Security integrated with SD-WAN technology enables you to safely leverage (potentially insecure) Internet links. Increasingly, SD-WAN platforms employ cloud-based intelligence to address direct security threats and identify changes in traffic flows that can indicate potential data loss.
Security and networking technology are converging in the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) – a term coined by Gartner. Over time, SASE will provide an architecture for comprehensive cloud-based networking/security at the edge. In the near term, effective SD-WAN implementation requires additional security within the enterprise infrastructure. This ensures that your corporate security policy is enforced throughout the organization.
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