As businesses continue to expand their operations, distributed workforces have become increasingly common. While there’s a big push to get employees back into the office, many organizations are eschewing brick-and-mortar and opting to find ways to enhance employee experience. SD-WAN for WFH seems like the best option for both maximizing productive, employee (and customer) network experience, and delivering an affordable Wide Area Network.
With employees working from different locations and using various devices, the need for efficient network connectivity has become more important than ever. This is where SD-WAN comes in.
SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Network, is a networking technology that enhances the management and operation of a wide area network (WAN) by separating the networking hardware from its control mechanism. It’s a new(ish) approach that allows for more flexible and efficient routing of traffic across WAN/Internet connections, which is particularly useful for businesses with multiple locations or those that require robust cloud service connectivity.
The core advantages of SD-WAN
By using SD-WAN, businesses can ensure optimal application performance through intelligent path selection and real-time traffic management, which adjusts to the current network conditions and application needs.
But where SD-WAN for WFH users really excels is in its less-granular features:
SD-WAN and Voice Quality:
SD-WAN also offers support for phone systems. It provides high-quality voice and video communication, even over low-bandwidth networks. This is especially important for distributed workforces that rely on voice and video communication to collaborate and conduct meetings. SD-WAN ensures that employees can communicate effectively with each other, no matter where they are located.
Backup Internet Connectivity:
Another key feature of SD-WAN is backup internet connectivity. In case of an internet outage, SD-WAN can automatically switch to a backup connection, such as a cellular network. This ensures that employees can continue to work without any interruptions, even if the primary connection fails.
Private Connectivity:
SD-WAN also provides private connectivity, which is important for distributed workforces that need to access sensitive information. It ensures that data is transmitted securely, without the risk of interception or data breaches. This is especially important for businesses that deal with sensitive customer information or financial data.
Network ACLs for Improved Security to Corporate Resources:
Sure, we’ll use a term like ACLs when we’re talking about SD-WAN, but for Work-from-home?
SD-WAN’s main “enterprise” feature is in its ability to route and filter traffic. Users/Groups of users get access to specific assets, workloads, and applications in the cloud. Well, that same functionality can be used to ensure that WFH users are only accessing what the org wants them to.
SD-WAN provides network access control lists (ACLs) to improve security. These ACLs ensure that only authorized users can access corporate resources. This means that employees can work securely, without the risk of unauthorized access to critical information. ACLs also help businesses to comply with data protection regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA.
SD-WAN: An affordable peace-of-mind and productivity tool
As prices for over-the-top connectivity solutions like SD-WAN continue to come down, SD-WAN becomes a more viable solution for businesses with distributed workforces. It simplifies network management and ensures that employees can access the resources they need, no matter where they are located. It offers many benefits, including file and resource sharing, QoS for remote workers, phone systems, backup internet connectivity, private connectivity, and improved security. With SD-WAN, businesses can optimize their network infrastructure and provide their employees with a seamless work experience.