Ask the WAN Expert

Opinion

What's wrong with Cisco running SD-WAN on your routers?

The upsides and downsides enterprises should expect when Cisco is running SD-WAN on your routers.

Opinion

4 considerations when replacing managed WAN services with SD-WAN

There are several implications to choosing to outsource SD-WAN to your carrier.

Opinion

3 providers fixing the middle mile problems of internet-based SD-WANs

The shift away from MPLS to SD-WAN is more than just a move to a less expensive networking service. It’s a change in how enterprises think about their networks.

Opinion

Internet testing results: why fixing the internet middle mile is essential for SD-WAN performance

Can you trust an SD-WAN to deliver a predictable user experience if the basis of that SD-WAN is the unpredictable public Internet? Based on our testing, the answer is a qualified “yes.”

Opinion

3 generations of secure SD-WAN services

Secure SD-WAN services are becoming increasingly popular, but not all services are the same.

Opinion

WAN Summit recap: challenges facing SD-WAN services

The WAN Summit show just finished up in New York. Here’s a look at one of the major trends—the growth of secure, SD-WAN services.

Opinion

Carrier SD-WAN: SD-WAN should be more than just an MPLS complement

Simply put, enterprises should be able to abandon MPLS when they have a better approach.

Opinion

Comparing global internet access services for SD-WAN: huge differences in pricing and quality

For enterprises deploying a global SD-WAN solution, selecting the right ISP is important.

Opinion

Choosing ISPs for SD-WAN: don’t be pound foolish

I was in the local Best Buy the other day and overheard a conversation between a saleswoman and a father looking to buy a computer for his daughter. Apparently, the daughter is a designer, which of course requires lots of heavy...

Will China start blocking SD-WAN traffic…today?

The mystery should start clearing up very soon, so you should sit tight for now before racing off for a technology decision that might constrain you going forward.

China to block SD-WAN and VPN traffic by Jan. 11

If you have facilities in China, you're going to need to address this VPN registration issue, if it hasn’t been addressed already.

Opinion

Warning: security vulnerabilities found in SD-WAN appliances

Our branch appliances are often exposed to “innocent” threats, such as being inadvertently disabled by third-party sales engineer. And even worse, they can be exposed to truly sensitive data.

Opinion

Why your company can be sued for using SD-WAN

And a lawsuit is the last thing you want to factor into your IT budgets.

Opinion

VMware’s VeloCloud acquisition: an argument for SD-WAN services?

The VeloCloud acquisition should help VMware compete with Cisco, who acquired SD-WAN provider Viptela for $610 million in May.

Opinion

The 4 SD-WAN architectures for network security

SD-WAN’s future lies in security.

Opinion

How will you connect AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to your SD-WAN?

How will SD-WAN connect to the cloud? SD-WAN technologies have different approaches to their ease of implementation with AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.

Opinion

Office 365: What’s your network deployment architecture?

Selecting the correct architecture for your Office 365 implementation affects whether your users have good performance or not. Here are some important tips to consider whether you are using SD-WAN or not.

Opinion

When evaluating SD-WAN, look beyond the features table

It's easy to think that you should select an SD-WAN technology bases on a list of features. But there are many other factors to consider as you "peel the onion."

Opinion

Can SD-WANs meet standards requirements?

When it comes to security standards, the newness of SD-WAN technologies might raise questions among security professionals when it comes to HIPAA, CFATS, PCI and other compliance regulations.

Opinion

When SD-WAN is more than SD-WAN

SD-WAN has the potential to offer much more than a more manageable network using any choice of connectivity. Is security the next big opportunity for SD-WAN?