Cisco SD-WAN

Cisco SD-WAN is a software-defined WAN solution that manages the wide area network between branch, data centre and cloud from a single point, with application-aware routing and integrated security. It uses MPLS, broadband and mobile links together, carrying traffic over the most suitable link according to how sensitive the application is to latency and packet loss. Traffic between branches runs over encrypted tunnels, and segmentation keeps different business units isolated from one another on the same infrastructure.

Central management defines policy in one place and distributes it to every branch; a new branch is brought online with zero-touch provisioning and needs no configuration specialist on site. Access to SaaS and cloud applications is served from the nearest point rather than backhauled to headquarters. The organisation can therefore reduce expensive private-line capacity, measure application performance link by link, and resolve connectivity problems faster with central visibility.