Leading Resolutions Consulting Director Pete Smyth examines the key differences between MPLS and SD Wan.
November 12 2019
Everywhere you go, you hear the same phrases
“SD-WAN is so much cheaper”
“MPLS is old hat”
“Tell me how to migrate to SD-WAN”
The problem is that SD-WAN isn’t a replacement for traditional MPLS circuits, it's just different.
SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is not a networking technology in itself, it is a way to overlay management of network links, which may be provided in many different ways. That might be internet links, 4G (or maybe 5G) connections, and it might also include MPLS!
The key thing at in any SD-WAN project is to consider the structure of your business. Are your applications mainly SaaS based? Are you mainly based in a few sites or do you have wide geographic spread? Are you UK based or do you work across the globe? Do you have applications that need extra security or have high latency issues?
Using SD-WAN you can create a network that utilises the best network solution for each part of your business. Do you have a big branch network accessing mainly cloud-based apps? Then an internet link (or even 4G) via an SD-WAN might be the cheapest and best solution. Have a major office running a high-intensity data application hosted in separate DC? An MPLS link within your SD-WAN might be the answer.
SD-WAN doesn’t replace or kill MPLS, it just gives you more choice. It’s likely that MPLS will decline as fewer circuits are required, but there is likely to be a place for it for years to come.
So then maybe we should be saying
“MPLS isn’t dead yet, it’s part of SD-WAN!”
Let me know your thoughts about MPLS and SD Wan and by all means get in touch with me on LinkedIn / email with your comments and any questions. I’d love to hear how you are responding and of course answer any questions you may have.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Read More
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.