CIO OPINION
2 . Increase security and seamlessly transition to a SASE architecture
Organisations with an MPLS router-based architecture are not able to easily enforce security policies in branches due to the rigidity and the complexity of their network , especially in hybrid cloud environments . The security perimeter is dissolving as users and devices now connect from anywhere . Traditional security measures such as VPNs are limited as a VPN doesn ’ t support enforcement of granular security policies . Indeed , once a user has been identified and authenticated with a VPN connection , they can access critical resources inside the network even if they shouldn ’ t .
SD-WAN is the foundational component to implement a robust SASE architecture . By choosing best-ofbreed security capabilities with a tight SD-WAN integration , organisations ensure maximum protection to their employees and other stakeholders accessing the network .
3 . Enable a cloud architecture
Organisations are migrating their applications to the cloud and are using software- as-a-service ( SaaS ) cloud-hosted business applications such as Microsoft 365 , Salesforce , Box , Dropbox , ServiceNow and many more instead of hosting them in the data centre . However , organisations with traditional router-based
WAN architectures continue to backhaul clouddestined traffic from branch locations to the data centre , mainly for security reasons , severely impacting the performance of cloud applications at the branch .
SD-WAN enables organisations to embrace the flexibility of a cloud architecture while improving cloud application performance by steering traffic directly to the cloud using local Internet breakout .
4 . Simplify WAN infrastructure
Over the years , organisations have built their network infrastructure as their business grows . Branch offices often ended up with a stack of appliances in their facilities including routers ,
Organisations are migrating their applications to the cloud and are using software-as-a-service cloud-hosted business applications such as Microsoft 365 , Salesforce , Box , Dropbox , ServiceNow and many more instead of hosting them in the data centre .
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