What is Software-Defined Wide Area Network?
The internet has proven to be the global fabric that interconnects all things, as a result, networks need to provide more value than simply raw bandwidth. The ultimate goal is to eliminate or reduce the need for private WAN technologies like MPLS by making the WAN more responsive and less complex. Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) proposes exactly this.
SD-WAN is an alternative and more dynamic approach to designing and deploying enterprise WAN solutions - providing greater network visibility and control. It aims to replace traditional branch routers with appliances that use virtualisation, application-level policies and network overlays to make several broadband internet links behave like a dedicated managed circuit.
Key benefits of Software Defined Wide Area Network
Integrates with existing WAN
Merges with existing WAN architecture to improve network efficiency, agility and flexibility.
Improved network visibility
Provides better network visibility and control of apps. It's fully scalable, configurable and cost-efficient.
Service-centric WAN
Makes the WAN more service-centric with monitoring and management of traffic focusing on delivery of apps.
3 Types of SDWan deployments available
SDWAN Express
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Limited to BI access Wireless and Fibre over Meraki OEM (no SLA available) Bandwidth limitation in line with BI speeds. Available for large small - corporates looking for a more affordable solution with a smaller bandwidth requirement.
SDWAN Pro
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Any access medium used (Wireless/FTTB/Metro E/Fibre/Microwave) with various SLA’s using VeloCloud, Meraki, Fortinet etc. Back-up over LTW is standard. Bandwidth from 10Mbps to 1Gbps+. Available for corporate customers who would like fully managed services with the SLA’s and expertise from experts in the tech space.
SDWAN Managed Access
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SDWAN Pro excluding the Overlay as customers BYOD. Available for corporte customers who can manage & install the service on their own but just needs the product.
Executive Summaries
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SDWAN
SD-WAN is an alternative and more dynamic approach to designing and deploying enterprise WAN solutions - providing greater network visibility and control. It aims to replace traditional branch routers with appliances that use virtualisation, application-level policies and network overlays to make several broadband internet links behave like a dedicated managed circuit.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SDWAN Express
- SD-WAN Express provides customers with future proof networking capabilities leveraging broadband Connectivity to establish a wide area network (WAN).
- Customers have a self-help portal to view their network performance and do port and protocol prioritization, they can steer traffic over the different access circuits as they wish offering full redundancy over broadband internet.
- The SDWAN Express product is built on the Cisco Meraki product range, which is a stackable product range, which allows for future upsell and cross sell opportunities.
- Provides security for local sites, supports Auto VPN to enable light touch provisioning and there is a lower installation and setup charge
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SDWAN MANAGED ACCESS
SDWAN Managed Access addresses the need for customers who have the means to procure and manage their own SDWAN equipment and services but require a reliable access service with guaranteed uptime from a reputable service provider. It is a best-in-class, managed underlay solution provisioned over the most feasible, uncontended access mediums for a customer’s own SDWAN implementations. The standard offering is provided up to 1Gbps, however Vodacom also offers higher bandwidths on a customer specific basis that is priced accordingly.
What’s the difference
| SDWAN Pro | SDWAN Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay | Various OEM's | Specific devices i.e Meraki |
| Underlay | Broadband / dedicated | Broadband only (FTTB/Wireless) |
| Internet | Dedicated internet | Broadband Internet |
| Licences | Advanced Security/ Enterprise | Advanced Security / Enterprise |
| #Sites | 1 to many | 1 to 100 |
| Speeds | 10Mbps to 1Gbps | 10Mbps to 100Mbps |
| VAS | LTE 100GB p/m | LTE 100GB p/m |
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