What Is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking) is the intelligent way to connect your branches, no matter where they are. Forget expensive, rigid MPLS links. Just drop in a smart router, connect it to your local internet (like business internet fibre), and you’re securely linked to your network—fully virtual and managed from one central place. No trenches. No delays. Just plug in, switch on, and scale up.
Why SD-WAN?
For modern enterprises, connectivity needs to be fast, flexible, and fail-proof. SD-WAN gives you:
- The ability to expand your network quickly and affordably
- Tools to handle growing bandwidth needs without lag
- Built-in features that improve application performance
- Secure, direct internet access at every branch
- Lower total cost of ownership, with higher returns
Whether you’re a hospital group, retail chain, university, or logistics network, SD-WAN is the flexible foundation you need to grow and adapt.
Service Components of SD-WAN
Edge
SD-WAN Edge creates and terminates secured and encrypted tunnels over different types of wired or wireless underlay networks such as broadband internet, WiFi and LTE, as well as DIA and MPLS core networks.
The SD-WAN Edge also performs application-based QoS and security policy enforcement, application forwarding over one or more WAN connections, and QoS performance measurements over each WAN to determine optimal path selection.
Gateway
The SD-WAN Gateway is a special instance of an SD WAN Edge that also enables sites interconnected via the SD-WAN to connect to other sites interconnected via alternative VPN technologies.
Controller
This provides physical or virtual device management for all SD-WAN Edges and SD-WAN Gateways associated with the controller.
The controller is used for configuration and activation, IP address management and pushing down policies onto SD-WAN Edges and SD-WAN Gateways.
Service Orchestrator
The Service Orchestrator provides the service management of the SD-WAN service lifecycle including service fulfilment, performance, control, assurance, usage, analytics, and security and policy.
Software-Defined WAN to Digitally Transform Your Business
SD-WAN Articles of Interest
Propelling digitisation in mining with SD-WAN
The disadvantage of the many opportunities that come with digital is additional pressure...
The future of retail
The customer's desire for valuable and unique experiences is seen as the new gold to attract and retain market share.
Tomorrow’s network
As businesses prepare for digital evolution, having the right solution and infrastructure in place becomes key.
SD-WAN explained
As business communications and technology evolve rapidly and enterprises look to fully leverage cloud services, the network need...
Key Features
It’s Time to Rethink Your Network
With Vodacom Business SD-WAN, your network becomes an asset, not an obstacle.
Whether you’re scaling across provinces or continents, or expanding into new markets, we’ll help you do it with speed, security, and confidence.
Together, let’s build the extraordinary
GET IN TOUCH
Get in touch to get connected
____
Get Software Defined Wide Area Network
