SD-WAN vs Traditional WAN: Pros and Cons

Networking technologies change over time, and ideally are supposed to change for the better. Case in point: SD-WAN (software-defined WAN) is often seen as a better version of a traditional WAN. However, is it?

In this blog, we’ll compare SD-WAN to traditional WAN (or, for the sake of this piece, just call it a “WAN”). Finally, we’re going to provide the pros and cons to both SD-WANs and WANs.

Which type of WAN will be more beneficial for you and your business? By the end of this article, you’ll be better prepared to make that decision. Let’s get started and define the two types first.

SD WAN vs WAN: What are They?

A WAN — wide area network — is simply a larger version of a LAN (local area network); that is to say, it’s a grouping or collection of LANs that communicate with each other. Think of the Internet: essentially the largest WAN of all.

An SD-WAN is also a wide area network; however, the “SD” — “software-defined” — is what sets it apart from a traditional WAN. A SD-WAN uses software to manage and optimize traffic across multiple connections to improve performance and flexibility.

SD-WANs and traditional WANs have their own set of characteristics that makes each unique.

The Pros and Cons of Traditional WANs

Is a traditional WAN right for you? We’re going to discuss:

• Reliability and performance
• Cost considerations
• Scalability and flexibility
• Security posture

Reliability and Performance of Traditional WANs

Reliability and performance are key factors when working on any computer. An unreliable network can result in a variety of pitfalls for a business. For example, if the network doesn’t operate properly, it will hamper work and eventually cost the business.

Luckily, WANs are known for their reliability. Here’s why: Traditional WANs rely on dedicated circuitry. That means latency will be low and information is able to flow freely. This is also tied into performance, which is also a key benefit of the WAN.

Cost Considerations of Traditional WANs

How much do WANs cost? This section is more of a con for WANs, since traditional WANs are expensive to maintain. Recall in the last section how we described that WANs use dedicated circuits. Well, that can get expensive. In addition to being expensive to maintain, WANs can be costly to implement as well.

Scalability and Flexibility of Traditional WANs

As a business grows, it requires additional resources. This holds true when we’re talking about the network infrastructure. Unfortunately, this section is another con for WANs.

Traditional WANs, when they grow, require more bandwidth and possibly new sites. This can get expensive depending on how much scaling is required. Remember, since you’re needing to physically add infrastructure, the more connections you add, the more expensive this will be.

Security Challenges of Traditional WANs

Security is an ever-growing factor for organizations in the digital age. Are traditional WANs secure? The answer is yes — since they use dedicated circuits, they are very secure.

The Pros and Cons of SD-WANs

Let’s switch gears and circuits (pun intended) and explore our SD-WAN comparison. In this section, we’re going to focus on:

• Agility and simplified management
• Performance and optimization
• Cost considerations
• Security

SD-WANs: Agility and Simplified Management

With SD-WANs, when we use the term agility, we’re not necessarily talking about speed; instead, we focus on the ease with which traffic can be routed over numerous network paths. This section is a major benefit to SD-WANs.

SD-WANs also feature simplified management. This means that SD-WANs are easier to manage than traditional WANs. How? SD-WANs have the capability of being managed and configured from a central location, with no need to go out and physically change circuits and cables.

SD-WANs: Performance and Optimization

Recall that traditional WANs have dedicated lines and circuitry, one of the key reasons WANs can be so reliable. What about SD-WANs?

SD-WANs can be less reliable than WANs since they don’t use dedicated lines. Additionally, SD-WANs work over the public Internet, which can slow traffic down if not properly managed.

However, it’s possible to have the way SD-WANs connect to work in your favor. Specifically, we’re talking about intelligent traffic routing, application prioritization and dynamic path selection in improving network performance. If these are configured correctly, you’ll experience high performance and great reliability.

SD-WANs: Cost Considerations

Simply put: SD-WANs are more cost-effective than traditional WANs. Because they use public Internet lines, this method is cheaper than implementing dedicated lines.

SD-WANs: Security

Are SD-WANs more secure than traditional WANs? You might guess “no” because SD-WANs operate over the public Internet; however, SD-WANs have a variety of secure features — if they are configured correctly.

When we talk about the security features of SD-WANs, we’re referring to encryption capabilities and centralized security policies. So, the answer is that SD-WANs can be highly secure. You just need to set them up correctly. Alternatively, you should find the right managed IT services company to set them up correctly for you.

Choosing Between SD-WAN and Traditional WAN

Have you made your choice yet? If not, this section should help you decide. There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing between an SD-WAN and a WAN, many of which we’ve covered above. Additionally, you may be interested in:

• Business requirements
• Network complexity
• Budget and ROI
• Security and compliance

When determining if an SD-WAN is right for you, consider the complexity and growth needs of your organization. For larger businesses, SD-WANs are far more scalable, for instance. For network complexity, think about the ease with which you’d be able to switch over to an SD-WAN, if you’re interested in that option.

Ongoing operational costs are a large consideration when choosing between a WAN or SD-WAN. Recall: WANs may cost more to maintain simply because they use dedicated lines instead of connecting over the public Internet.

Your business or organization may be beholden to certain compliance requirements (if you offer services to the government, etc.). In that case, you’ll want to ensure you abide by the rules when it comes to those security requirements.

Red River: Managed SD-WAN Services

At Red River, we provide managed SD-WAN services. For more information about our services, visit our managed SD-WAN page and read our managed SD-WAN ebook.

If you have questions about SD-WANs vs. WANs, it’s best to get in touch with us. You can do that through our contact page.