How to get started with an SD-WAN solution

SD-WAN solutions are a powerful addition to any network operator's arsenal, especially when combined with artificial intelligence. The standard benefits are still there: improved traffic prioritization, lower network overhead, and greater visibility into and control over network operations. The difference is that it is all backed by intelligent automation and analytics.

For many organizations, getting the buy-in to deploy SD-WAN is the hardest part. Follow these steps to get your first deployment off the ground.

Who can use SD-WAN?

The short answer is that any organization looking to improve its network performance, efficiency, or security can benefit. The longer answer is that there are scenarios where the technology shines. SD-WAN is best suited to larger, more complex network environments, and it is an excellent fit for any organization building its own network.

• Retail: managing network congestion to improve the customer experience and avoid lost sales during periods of high demand.
• Finance: improving network efficiency and security while protecting against sophisticated threats.
• Professional services: deploying infrastructure that supports scaling into new markets.
• Healthcare: building a secure, resilient network that ensures optimal performance for critical applications.
• Large data centers: ensuring optimal traffic routing and resource utilization.
• Manufacturing: increasing the flexibility and scalability of industrial networks.

A step-by-step guide to getting started

1. Define your objective

Start by identifying why you want to deploy SD-WAN. The most common drivers are network performance, scalability, cost reduction, operational agility, and operational resilience.

2. Assess your needs

Determine whether SD-WAN is the best choice for your objective, or whether another technology fits better. Consider:

• Size, scope, and complexity of your network. For smaller, less complex networks, SD-WAN may be overkill.
• Latency and QoS. If you have applications that require ultra-low latency or guaranteed QoS, MPLS may be a better bet.
• Technology ecosystem. If you rely heavily on legacy technology incompatible with SD-WAN, integration costs might outweigh the benefit.
• IT resources. Can you deploy, configure, and manage the solution internally, or will you need a third party?
• Requirements. What do you need in terms of configuration, functionality, and compatibility?

3. Choose a vendor

Shortlist vendors whose offerings fit your requirements and compare them on price, level of support, reputation, experience in your industry, partnerships, and responsiveness. Narrow the list to two or three, then schedule a proof of concept or demonstration with each. Use the POC to test functionality and surface compatibility issues.

4. Create a roadmap

Work with your vendor on the specifics of deployment. Establish a general timeframe, then break it into milestones. Leave time to train your people and test the solution.

5. Educate your team

If you are not working with a managed service provider, make sure you have the knowledge and expertise to manage and maintain the deployment. Most vendors provide training resources directly or through a partner.

6. Perform pre-deployment testing

Before going live, run the SD-WAN through tests that evaluate:

• Connection speed and quality under packet loss, jitter, and latency.
• Failover capabilities.
• Configuration and enforcement of network policies.
• How effectively the security features address threats.
• Compliance with relevant industry regulations.
• Monitoring and optimization.

Most of these can be performed with network emulation software or a virtual test network.

7. Deploy and iterate

Once you have validated security, performance, and functionality, go live and integrate with your existing ecosystem. From there, monitor regularly for bottlenecks, configuration issues, and opportunities to improve.

Transform your approach to network management with Momentum

SD-WAN can be a game-changer in the right circumstances, but you need the right partner to guide you. Momentum designs, deploys, and manages SD-WAN across Cisco Meraki, Juniper Networks, and Arista Networks, and delivers converged SASE through Cato Networks. Book a meeting and see how we can optimize your network for performance and security.