Today, the mean-time-to-change is the business driver. Competitive advantage is being defined by an enterprise’s ability to pivot in response to the rapidly changing world. And the IT network drives speed-to-change. After all, network management capabilities dictate the rate at which a company can implement and deploy the latest cloud collaboration applications, new connections, and artificial intelligence technologies.
SD-WAN has recently redefined network management, making companies more responsive with software-defined service orchestration (SD-orchestration). But what benefits do investors get from SD-WAN, and how are the latest solutions contributing to more agility? Let’s take a deeper look at SD-orchestration.
SD-WAN’s network orchestration provides an alternative to the legacy operational support system (OSS), delivering a more agile environment for performance management. The OSS may require hardware and manual processes for management, which adds extra cost, introduces human configuration errors, reduces security, and slows the provisioning of new links and services. Alternatively, SD-orchestration uses software for management, separating the network services from the network components or hardware. This allows IT teams to reduce the time and effort required to integrate a new service or device. Moreover, it enables them to program the behavior of the network, so they can automatically configure it based on their service expectations and rule-based policies.
SD-WAN also makes real-time service provisioning possible. This is helpful particularly in situations when companies have an aggressive acquisition strategy that requires new sites to be up and running quickly. It can also be helpful in light of COVID-19, when companies need to transition to virtual models quickly and deploy unified communications and video conferencing for large numbers of remote employees or groups.
SD-orchestration is critical because it helps IT teams resolve some of their biggest challenges:
SD-orchestration provides capabilities across six general areas that encompass some of SD-WAN’s most desirable features. But before we can explain those, we should first cover what brings SD-orchestration features all under one roof: centralized management. SD-WAN offers centralized management from a single dashboard or online portal with a single pane of glass. This is where IT teams access the SD-orchestration features, configuring and managing the network exactly how they want it. The portal is also where you view network and application performance data for your entire WAN.
From one system, you can access these six elements of SD-orchestration:
Authorization: providing users different levels of administrative privileges, permissions and network access
Authentication: verifying identity and determining whether a user or device really is who or what they declare to be–this can help with Zero Trust strategies
Control: the power to add, modify, and restrict an action
Monitoring and Recording: observing or checking the status and progress of IT resources over a period of time–this also tracks what super-users or super-admins have done or not done
Auditing and Reporting: conducting a systematic review of the state and status of IT resources and providing an unbiased and secure account of the findings
Orchestration requires people, and one of the most important decisions enterprises make is the choice of SD-WAN deployment model. Do-it-yourself or self-managed SD-WAN approaches can be intimidating for those that may not have the experience or IT resources for implementation and ongoing management. Even with today’s modern application-based routing and a virtual network advisor inside the SD-WAN portal, orchestration is not a one-and-done effort. SD-WAN still requires ongoing performance management. And when SD-Branch strategies use broadband or public internet access, firewalls require additional people and 24/7 attention for security monitoring. Do you have the resources to do this alone or would you prefer a managed service to assist you?
There’s another reason orchestration success is affected by SD-WAN deployment. Orchestration is not immune to your deployment model decision, because the configuration and management portal runs on a server. If you go with a self-managed DIY solution, you’ll have to manage that server yourself, perform upgrades, and fix problems. Also, if you lose that server, you lose access to your data.
With a managed solution, the provider will likely host the server in their own data center or cloud. They’ll also have the responsibility of handling upgrades and ensuring that it stays available. Another advantage of using a managed SD-WAN service, such as Masergy’s, is that they can jump in and “see” your WAN if you want them to, which can aid in troubleshooting when necessary. This is especially true when your IT staff is impacted by events like COVID-19.
If you go with a managed solution, here are some things to consider:
Call us now to arrange a consultation (866) 588-5885.
Or arrange for a consultation through our request form.
CASB serves as of one of SASE’s fundamental purposes. Here’s how it works within a SASE framework to mitigate security risks.
Here’s a look at Masergy’s approach to SASE, the enhancements we have made, and how we’re leaning into network-security convergence.
Masergy, the software-defined network and cloud platform for the digital enterprise, announced that it is strengthening its SD-WAN Secure solution to offer Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) capabilities
Masergy Named Most Innovative Managed SD-WAN Service Provider by Frost & Sullivan
Do SASE solutions reach far enough? Here’s a look at what’s inside the SASE framework today, and where it could go in the future.
Healthcare IT leaders are reducing the complexity of digital transformation by addressing UC, the network, and security in one unified strategy.
Want to switch from SD-WAN to SASE midstream? These RFP questions can help you roll your IT modernization project into a larger investment.
While IT leaders are enabling the remote workforce, they are also building an autonomous network. Leverage your investments today for innovation tomorrow.
Why do businesses need SASE and more importantly does it help with work from home? Here’s how SASE solutions deliver real value.
Masergy Launches SD-WAN Work From Anywhere Solutions, which extend the value of Masergy SD-WAN Secure to Home and Mobile Users
Planning a move toward SASE? Here are three ways to make apples-to-apples comparisons, teasing out the differences in solutions.
SASE is consolidating best-of-breed technologies into one cloud service, and it’s here where the Masergy-Fortinet offering stands above the rest.
Are firewalls becoming a dividing line between SASE strategies? Why some IT leaders choose a cloud-managed approach over a cloud-native one.
When it comes to SASE validity, there are lots of opinions. Here’s a look from all sides and tips for how to evaluate SASE architecture.
What’s the difference between a fully managed SD-WAN service and a co-managed service? Here’s how to get the best out of shared responsibilities.
Ask people what SASE is and you’ll likely get 10 answers. While the newness of SASE is a factor in the confusion, here’s what SASE is and what it’s not.
Data shows remote work has triggered a modernization of business operations and the network. Explore the highlights from the new IDG study.
Masergy’s new SD-WAN portfolio gives companies of every size unrivaled application performance along with more flexibility and choice.
ZK Research data shows IT spending is up, and the value of the network has increased. Don’t miss the latest SD-WAN strategies in this online event.
Networks are on their way to becoming “self-driving.” Understand the current state of networking automation and what’s needed to reach full autonomy.
SD-WAN solutions are now platforms, but what does that mean? Moreover, what differentiates platforms from solution sets? Here’s the hidden secret.
With SD-WAN’s many connectivity options, when do you deploy 4G and 5G links and when should you avoid them? Here’s how Masergy advises its clients.
The idea of converting all your private network connections into public ones is being challenged. Attitudes are shifting. Here’s what it shows us.
Research from European enterprises surveyed as the pandemic lockdown began helps IT leaders identify new trends and what businesses need now.
SD-WAN is giving way for terms like SD-Branch. Understand the benefits and how SD-Branch is addressing security challenges at the network edge.
Here’s a guide to understanding the value of user identity analytics and why these details are increasingly important for security today and network automation tomorrow.
SD-WAN management portals typically track only IP traffic for entire sites, but Masergy’s SD-WAN gives you per-user analytics as a standard offering.
Masergy's CTO, Chris MacFarland, teaches you how to reach the milestone of true autonomy. This article originally appeared in Forbes.
See how Masergy’s network is changing in light of Coronavirus. Get tips for fast VPNs and understand shifts in digital transformation priorities.
Learn how Masergy is acting with urgency to protect employees, clients, and business continuity. We explain how Masergy helps clients respond and how he virtualized the company.
With 20 years of history, Masergy is full of fun factoids. Explore the pioneering moments, pivotal transformations, and tales from the startup days.
Get a free copy of Gartner's report. Learn how Masergy pioneered software-defined networks and is building the autonomous networks of tomorrow.
Many technologies are uniting under SD-WAN. Learn what’s changed and why new additions are starting to look like autonomous networking.
2020 marks Masergy’s 20th anniversary. The celebration starts with our top innovation landmarks and where we’re going next.
In celebration of Masergy’s 20th anniversary, we’re honoring our greatest leaders and key players. Here’s the story of Terry Traina, Masergy’s Chief Digital Officer.
AIOps puts a virtual network engineer on your team, but it’s also paving the way for autonomous networking. Get the requirements and four next steps.
Here’s a fully managed SD-WAN solution that helps organizations truly transform the WAN edge with a security-driven approach.
Think you only have 30-40 apps running on your network? It’s probably more like 900+. Here’s a quick guide to handling the blind spots of shadow IT.
By