SD-WAN vs. VPN: How Do They Differ?

When it comes to comparing SD-WAN vs. VPN services, enterprises should consider factors such as cost, cloud usage, and applications when choosing between the technologies.

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Because software-defined WANs are sometimes touted as an upgraded version of virtual private networks on the internet, many IT teams wonder about the fundamental differences and similarities between choosing an SD-WAN and a VPN service.

While the preferred connectivity option for SD-WAN platforms is in fact based on the Internet -- or public IP -- the technology is specifically connection agnostic. SD-WAN marketing teams may want users to believe that Internet connectivity is the primary option for SD-WAN, but the original concept of software-based networks was -- and still is -- to support multiple interfaces.

Considering future options for their company, enterprise IT teams wanted to dispel misconceptions about SD-WAN by comparing the benefits of SD-WAN and VPN.

Take a look at VPNs

For decades, the basic task of IPsec VPN has been to remove data packets from authenticated endpoints. All communications between endpoints are encrypted at the highest level, which forms the basis of VPN on the Internet. VPN can be said to be simple and cost-effective, but it can have problems in guaranteeing network performance.

At its most basic, a VPN can prioritize applications and communications before encrypting them. However, the value of this is limited because once the communication is in an encrypted channel, it cannot be prioritized from the perspective of the network provider because the message headers are encrypted and cannot be viewed. The next step is to build an optimal network to support the communication at a reasonable performance level.

A typical VPN runs some operations over a single IP backbone and is fine for small businesses. However, for large enterprises with multiple locations, IPsec VPNs often cause problems for voice and video applications due to high latency or congestion on the network.

Even though WAN can be the savior of these large networks, enterprises still face end-to-end communication issues, especially when communicating internationally. So why would an enterprise choose IPsec VPN over SD-WAN?

Essentially, enterprises comparing SD-WAN vs. VPN should make their decision based on the right combination of business processes, applications, and policies. Basically, they should consider the following questions:

• Does your business require guaranteed application performance, or simply optimal performance in every aspect?
• Does your business use the cloud and support remote, insecure networks?
• Does your business want to manage its own WAN?

For enterprises that want to implement a cost-effective, best-performing VPN service, using traditional VPN equipment and a simplified feature set, a simple router or client with IPsec capabilities is acceptable. The cost of deploying such a service is usually minimal. Some companies use broadband to deploy VPN services for less than $100 per month.

When it comes to SD-WAN

Once an enterprise adopts and relies on cloud services, or requires application awareness, remote access, and granular security, SD-WAN technology starts to make sense. While SD-WAN does not have end-to-end quality of service (QoS) like a Layer 3 MPLS VPN, SD-WAN addresses the challenge by providing the ability to sense network conditions and prioritize applications locally. SD-WAN's local QoS is much more advanced than basic Internet VPN services because it provides granular support, as well as technologies such as caching or application acceleration.

When organizations require cloud services, they should consider security and application awareness. SD-WAN devices and clients are often more robust in feature sets when aligned with current work environments, such as at home, a coffee shop, or a hotel. With the added control of SD-WAN, IT teams or providers can control traffic and protect communications based on user profiles and traffic types.

In many cases, simplified self-management and easy-to-use GUIs are driving SD-WAN adoption. Traditional Cisco IOS VPN configuration requires technical expertise and certification, while SD-WAN configuration is point-and-click based.

The promise of SD-WAN is to support any type of network connection, from MPLS to Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) and, of course, Internet VPN. Currently, it is still relatively inexpensive to deploy a simple IPsec device with SD-WAN to create a standard VPN connection.

The original promise of SD-WAN will begin to become a reality when each device or client only needs a fast track to a centrally managed server. In other words, enterprises can choose the most basic SD-WAN services or more complex elements - depending on their overall needs or branch site requirements - essentially using cloud network function virtualization capabilities.

How to choose between SD-WAN and VPN

While it is difficult to predict the future, there is no doubt that enterprises will seek out the best network performance, security and flexibility at a relatively low cost.

The goal of SD-WAN is to leverage business elements and map them into business support. With SD-WAN, the network becomes more granular and more secure. Unlike standard Internet VPNs, SD-WAN can sense network conditions to ensure predictable performance levels regardless of where the client is connecting.

Comparing SD-WAN to VPN over the Internet, SD-WAN is much more comprehensive. SD-WAN technology has the potential to support basic Internet VPNs and end global MPLS and VPLS networks.

As IT teams move forward, technology accelerates and product features continue to diversify, this trend will eventually make simple VPNs a thing of the past. Enterprises will need to use a more centralized approach to protect and handle application communications to avoid hacker threats or poor business performance - all of which can affect business success.

Original link;

https://searchsdn.techtarget.com/tip/SD-WAN-vs-VPN-How-do-they-compare