SD-WAN solutions, or Software Defined Wide Area Network solutions, can deliver some powerful benefits to your business if you decide to implement them.
sd-wan implementations allow you to connect your locations in new ways that weren’t possible before by combining several different types of networks into one cohesive network with greater reliability and performance.
Implementing an SD-WAN solution can be challenging, as it requires getting all the right players on board with the technology and ensuring that they implement it properly. Here are some key factors to consider that will help you in implementing an SD-WAN solution successfully.
Know Your Needs
To start, you need to know your needs. To do this, ask yourself these three questions: What is the target ROI? What is the service level agreement (SLA)? How many sites are there?
If you’re not sure what your needs are, contact a technology consultant. They will work with you and give recommendations based on your business size and industry. This can help set realistic expectations for cost and timelines.
Do Your Research
While implementing a solution, it is important to know your needs and understand the benefits of the various solutions. It is also important to understand which solution will be the best fit for your current infrastructure. You may need an onsite or offsite solution, or a hybrid solution that meets your needs.
Additionally, you should take into account what other systems are in place and how they will interact with each other as well as if there are any regulatory constraints such as network security requirements or data privacy laws. You should also conduct a cost/benefit analysis of existing services to determine if there is any potential cost savings with implementing an SD-WAN solution.
Work With a Reputable Provider
A lot of small businesses don’t know what they need in order to implement an SD-WAN solution. For example, they may not know the difference between a WAN and a LAN.
A business consultant or IT professional can help you figure out your needs so that you can work with a reputable provider who specializes in SD-WAN networks. Plus, when it comes time for implementation, it will be easier because you’ll have someone on your team who has done it before and knows what questions to ask the provider.
Deploy in Phases
When deploying a new SD-WAN solution, it is important to deploy in phases. This will ensure that you have the ability to test and validate the solution before fully committing. It can also help you identify which phases are more critical than others. In general, we recommend deploying in these phases:
- Deploying the management plane first;
- Deploying the data plane;
- Testing the network with your applications and services;
- Deploying remote sites.