The software-defined WAN remains a strategic technology for enhancing the user experience, improving security and providing connectivity for cloud-based applications.
As the SD-WAN matures, its scope is broadening to provide companies with remote access options, support for IoT connectivity, link to Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architectures and offer software-defined branching (SD-branch) functionality.
It continues to improve its ability to connect to major IaaS and SaaS applications and in general management and orchestration capabilities - specifically cloud-based intelligence, automation, ease of installation and troubleshooting.
SD-WAN trends for companies to watch out for
Below are seven key areas for corporate network teams developing SD-WAN to watch out for.
1. Integrated remote access is now a requirement
The events of 2020 proved that most knowledge workers can work productively from home. In the future, tens of millions of workers are expected to continue to work remotely for at least half of the working week - to eliminate the daily commute, fit in better with their schedules or get real work done.
Many IT organizations are now prioritizing the need to provide secure and simplified access for these employees. Current VPN technology is not a good long-term strategy. IT organizations are looking for remote connectivity options integrated with continuous security, such as SASE architectures.
SD-WAN offers comprehensive, albeit expensive, technology to deal with the reliability, latency and performance challenges of the home office. It also offers the security to prevent malware and phishing attacks that can lead to the loss of confidential data.
Many SD-WAN providers are incorporating zero-trust network access to further enhance their remote access capabilities.
2. SD-WAN meets SASE
The term SASE - denoting the convergence of network and security functionality in the cloud - was all the rage in 2020. Dozens of network and security vendors, including most of the leading SD-WAN vendors, now claim to offer SASE functionality.
At this point, SASE is more an architecture of the future than a product, with most existing offerings lacking in some aspects of SASE's long list of features.
Most IT and security organizations continue to rely on their existing strategy of layering a range of security products - for example, next-generation firewall, application delivery controller, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker (CASB), identity, security information and event management (SIEM) and ZTNA - to provide protection for networks, applications and data.
For 2021, SD-WAN vendors will continue to enhance and extend their network security offerings to include remote access, ZTNA, CASB and SIEM functionality. They must also improve their ability to define uniform security policies across remote connectivity, branch office, LAN and WAN access.
These offers will probably be added to the network security strategies in place - rather than replacing them - especially in large organizations.
3. Growth for SD-branch
SD-branch simplifies network operations by consolidating WAN connectivity - i.e. SD-WAN and routing - with network security and LAN / Wi-Fi in a unified platform that is easy to deploy and manage.
Some SD-WAN providers have been aggressive in their investments in the technology while others have opted to wait and see. As SD-WAN vendors continue to innovate their platforms, they will add more and more SD-branch features to their offerings.
SD-branch technology makes significant economic sense as an all-in-one option for business operations. Doyle Research expects the global SD-branch market to grow from several hundred million dollars in 2021 to several billion dollars by 2025.
4. 5G becomes a viable WAN link
5G cellular networks will offer connectivity speeds equivalent to many broadband Internet services. They are easy to provision and allow for the rapid turnover of new branches.
During 2021, organizations will increasingly use 5G as one of their SD-WAN connectivity circuits for backup and reliability, at the very least. As 5G competition increases, the cost of unlimited data plans will fall, making 5G WAN connections even more attractive.
5. Automation and AI
SD-WAN vendors have been talking about how AI and machine learning should automate their networks, but actual implementations have been disappointing.
During 2021, suppliers will begin to fulfill their promises of improved automation for their SD-WAN products and services.
Its aim is to present a unified platform for centralized control of security policies, quality of service, applications, users and devices; to give IT operators the ability to guarantee end-to-end QoS; and to quickly identify and correct application slowdowns.
6. Multi-cloud connectivity improves
As more and more applications move to IaaS and SaaS platforms, it is essential for companies to provide simplified Internet access from the branch to specific cloud-based services.
SD-WAN providers have partnered with leading IaaS providers and some SaaS platforms to simplify access and speed up connectivity.
SD-WAN providers will continue to improve the depth of their cloud partnerships, providing more granular access control and improving QoS reliability.
As IaaS providers create local points of presence as part of their edge computing strategies, SD-WAN vendors offer traffic management to ensure that traffic flows to the best PoP to guarantee consistent QoS.
7. Growth of managed services
The first wave of SD-WAN adoption was driven by top companies implementing the technology with their in-house IT teams. The second wave of adoption will be enhanced by the popularity of SD-WAN sold as a managed service.
Managed network services are a popular method for IT organizations to outsource the challenges of providing connectivity to their branches and data centers.
Implementing and integrating SD-WAN remains complex, especially for SMBs and those adopting a lean IT philosophy. SD-WAN delivered as a managed service eliminates many deployment barriers and fits well with an IT outsourcing strategy.
About Conversys
Conversys IT Solutions is a provider of Information and Communication Technology services and solutions operating throughout Brazil.
With a highly qualified technical and commercial team and a network of partners that includes the main global technology manufacturers, Conversys IT Solutions is able to deliver customized IT and Telecom Infrastructure solutions to clients.
We invest in our employees and partners and strive for a long-lasting relationship with our clients, because we believe that this is how we gain the skills and knowledge we need to innovate and generate value for the businesses in which we operate.
