SD-WAN
What is SD-Wan?
Optimize Your Network with Scalable and Reliable SD-WAN Solutions
The basic premise behind SD-WAN is the elimination of private WAN link in favor of multiple inexpensive internet links. Link performance is evaluated to determine the quality of the link (latency, jitter, packet loss, etc), and then route the appropriate traffic over the appropriate link, sending real-time traffic over the higher quality link, and bulk traffic over the lower quality link. In the event one link fails, the remaining link(s) will take over forwarding its traffic.
BENEFITS
Choose the Right SD-WAN Solution for Your Business Needs
Crossconnect offers a range of SD-WAN solutions from leading providers to fit the diverse needs of businesses, from small organizations to large enterprises. Whether you’re looking for a scalable enterprise solution like Cisco SD-WAN, a simplified and quick-to-deploy option like Meraki SD-WAN, or a robust, feature-rich choice like Palo Alto’s Prisma SD-WAN, we have the expertise to guide you. Each solution provides unique benefits, from advanced security capabilities to easy cloud-based management, ensuring your network is optimized for performance, security, and scalability.
Cisco SD-WAN (Formerly Viptela)
Cisco offers a product that runs directly on traditional Cisco Routers (ISR 4000 or Catalyst 8000 series). The software is included in the Universal IOS image, and allows the system to boot either into traditional IOS or SDWAN mode. The controller software (vManage, vBond, vSmart) can be run on a virtual appliance, or more commonly run as a dedicated instance in the Cisco cloud.
One of the most compelling reasons to use Cisco SD-WAN is that most organizations already have Cisco routers for other purposes, and in many cases, are already buying the licensing level required (DNA-A) for other functionality. For Crossconnect, in a recent quoting exercise, the software ended up as a completely free add-on to the client.
Cisco SDWAN also offers firewalling and IPS capabilities, allowing for inter-site segmentation and security.
Cisco SDWAN is an enterprise product and scales to meet Fortune 500 criteria, but makes sense as small as three sites.
Cisco Meraki SD-WAN
Much like the rest of the Meraki product line, Meraki SD-WAN was designed to be an “easy button”. It can be setup in minutes instead of hours or days like enterprise SD-WAN solutions can, but maintaining the core principles of SD-WAN, allowing two inexpensive internet links in replacement of costly private WAN links.
Meraki SD-WAN is a great solution for smaller organizations with less complex requirements, that want something running quickly.
Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN (Formerly CloudGenix)
Prisma SD-WAN uses the ION (Instant On Network) edge devices. These devices are managed by the Prisma SD-WAN cloud service and have a simple installation procedure. Simply plug an internet link into their WAN port and they automatically connect to the cloud dashboard for configuration and upgrades.
Competitors that focus on ease-of-installation do not have a robust SD-WAN feature set. Prisma SD-WAN is a truly enterprise SD-WAN system with: Application based routing, Policy Based Routing, Load Balancing, Zone Based Firewall, Network Analytics for full visibility, and native integration into Prisma SASE (Prisma Access).
For internet services, Prisma SD-WAN Instant-On (ION) devices can also act as a site firewall for internet protection or tunnel internet traffic back to a main site to use a central firewall.
Why work with Crossconnect for SD-WAN?
Crossconnect has certified, expert-level engineers on staff for support and installation of all its SD-WAN offerings.
For the more complex offerings, Cisco SD-WAN and Prisma SD-WAN, these solutions offer a myriad of different topologies and features, and tend to require a training class to perform initial setup on due to complexity. Crossconnect can design, build, and template your installs to allow for an easy implementation for the customer.
Regardless of the solution chosen, application identification and classification is a key requirement of any robust SD-WAN deployment. Generally speaking, one WAN link, even if internet-based, is considered superior to the other. Making sure traffic for real-time applications utilizes the best link, and bulk traffic such as backups, camera feeds, etc, utilizes the alternative link(s) is important for a great experience. Identification and classification, as well as testing of failover, can be complicated, and we recommend receiving appropriate professional installation to ensure an optimal outcome.
In addition, not many networks go from a legacy solution (MPLS, DMVPN, etc) to SD-WAN in a single implementation window. Most of the time, the legacy solution and SD-WAN must co-exist for some period of time, sometimes several months. Ensuring that full reachability is maintained during this window when both solutions are in place requires planning and a well-executed deployment.