SD-WAN Advantages over MPLS: A Modern Approach to Networking 11/04/2023 – Posted in: Network – Tags: , , , , , ,

Time to read: 5 minutes

In today’s fast-paced business environment, reliable and efficient networking is crucial for success. As companies continue to embrace digital transformation and cloud-based applications, traditional networking technologies such as Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) are being challenged by newer, more agile solutions like Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN). In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of SD-WAN over MPLS and why it is becoming the preferred choice for many businesses.

Cost-Effective Solution

One of the primary advantages of SD-WAN over MPLS is cost-effectiveness. MPLS is known for being expensive, with high setup costs and recurring charges based on bandwidth usage. On the other hand, SD-WAN leverages affordable internet connections, allowing businesses to reduce their networking costs significantly. SD-WAN also enables dynamic path selection, which means it can choose the most cost-effective path for each application or data flow in real-time, optimizing the utilization of available resources and reducing unnecessary expenses.

Increased Flexibility and Agility

SD-WAN offers increased flexibility and agility compared to MPLS. MPLS typically requires lengthy setup times and can be challenging to scale up or down based on business needs. SD-WAN, on the other hand, provides a more agile approach to networking, allowing businesses to easily add or remove branches, change network configurations, and adapt to changing business requirements quickly. SD-WAN also offers centralized management and monitoring, providing businesses with a holistic view of their entire network and enabling faster troubleshooting and issue resolution.

Enhanced Performance and User Experience

Another significant advantage of SD-WAN over MPLS is improved performance and user experience. MPLS typically relies on a single connection, which can result in bottlenecks and performance degradation, especially for bandwidth-intensive applications like video conferencing or data backups. SD-WAN, on the other hand, can leverage multiple connections, including broadband internet, 4G/5G, and MPLS, to create a more resilient and optimized network. SD-WAN can dynamically route traffic over the most optimal path based on real-time performance metrics, ensuring that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) for optimal performance. This can lead to better user experience, increased productivity, and improved customer satisfaction.

Simplified Management and Security

SD-WAN offers simplified management and enhanced security compared to MPLS. MPLS typically requires complex configurations and manual provisioning, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error. SD-WAN, on the other hand, provides centralized management and automation capabilities, making it easier to deploy, configure, and manage network resources. SD-WAN also offers built-in security features such as encryption, authentication, and segmentation, which can help protect data and applications from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

In conclusion, SD-WAN offers several advantages over MPLS, including cost-effectiveness, increased flexibility and agility, enhanced performance and user experience, and simplified management and security. As businesses continue to evolve and embrace digital transformation, SD-WAN is becoming the preferred choice for many organizations looking for a modern, efficient, and scalable networking solution.