2022 SD-WAN Buyers Guide For Businesses In Atlanta

SD-WAN Buyers Guide For Businesses In Atlanta

Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is a technology that connects users to applications hosted on servers in a central location. The WAN is configured and managed programmatically, making it easy to meet the changing needs of an organization.

With multiple SD-WAN vendors in the industry today, it can be challenging to choose the right vendor. Below are several questions to ask vendors when shopping for an SD-WAN network.

Questions to Ask Vendors When Shopping for SD-WAN

What are the features of your SD-WAN Network?

While you have many vendor options to choose an SD-WAN network, it is imperative to consider the features. Check for features such as path control, transport independence, application optimization, encryption, security, zero-touch deployment, automation and orchestration, micro-segmentation, and service chaining. Choose an SD-WAN network with quality features that meet your organization’s needs.

What needs does your SD-WAN network solve?

This question should guide you in choosing a network based on your organization’s needs and expectations. For instance, if you want a network with high security, it is best to ask the vendor if their network has high-tech security features. An IT service and technology provider such as 360 Smart Networks has effective network solutions to meet your business needs with ease.

How reliable is the SD-WAN? 

This is a critical question because some networks often experience outages, causing distractions and inconveniences. Choose a vendor with a reliable network and a strong connection for effective business operations and continuity. To test the network’s reliability, ask the vendor to run a proof of concept to be sure you’re investing in the right network. This test gives you a real-world scenario of network reliability before you invest in it.

What are the available pricing options? 

SD-WAN requires a budget for the implementation, licensing, and continuous maintenance. You will also need to produce several WAN connections for all your branch locations, thus, increasing your budget. The best way to save costs is by looking for a vendor that offers managed or co-managed options. These options enable you to predict costs easily and quickly adjust to the changing business conditions.

An SD-WAN from the right vendor doesn’t require tech personnel to manage and support the system. You can also save costs via cheaper circuits or by function consolidation.

Does your product easily integrate with the existing infrastructure? 

If you plan to upgrade your current infrastructure to intent-based or software-defined networking, it is best to consider an SD-WAN that can quickly integrate with other systems.

Ask the vendor how well the network can integrate with the existing infrastructure such as application management and networking systems and find out if there are any pricing implications. Is the network an all-in-one purchase, has an add-on firewall, and how well does it integrate with my current systems?

Is the SD-WAN solution easy to use? 

User experience is another crucial consideration when looking for an SD-WAN vendor. The network you choose should have an easy user interface so that your team easily adapts to your environmental changes. You might have limited time to train your staff on how to use the network. This is why it is best to choose a network you can easily use and manage, whether you have technical skills or not.

While good networks may come with complex designs in the cloud or data centers, you should be able to use the networks without many hitches to allow for efficiency, management flow, and delivery of optimized experiences for each user.

SD-WAN Solutions For Atlanta Businesses

Using the above guide can help you choose the right SD-WAN vendor with effective solutions to meet your business needs. At 360 Smart Networks, we provide IT services and technology that suit your organization’s needs. Contact us today to discuss the best technology options to achieve your organization’s tech needs.

Thanks to our friend Guy Baroan who offers IT support in New Jersey with Baroan Technologies.