As digital demands surge, businesses are under pressure to ensure their networks are both adaptable and robust. Many are finding that traditional technologies like MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) struggle to keep up with modern, cloud-driven environments. Designed for a time of predictable, centralized data traffic, MPLS now faces challenges in supporting today’s decentralized enterprises. This is where SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) steps in. By using software to manage network traffic, SD-WAN enables businesses to adapt more easily to changing needs while reducing costs. As digital transformation accelerates, SD-WAN is quickly becoming the preferred solution for building smarter, more efficient networks. However, this shift requires careful planning and strategic consideration.
MPLS is a protocol designed to accelerate data transmission across wide area networks (WAN) by routing traffic based on short path labels rather than long network addresses. While MPLS offers reliability and the ability to prioritize traffic types, it also has limitations, especially when it comes to meeting the demands of modern, cloud-first business environments.
On the other hand, SD-WAN is a technology that decouples network control from hardware, using software to intelligently route traffic across multiple WAN connections. This approach offers dynamic path selection, which is crucial for businesses that rely heavily on cloud applications, mobile workforces, and IoT devices.
While MPLS has long been a trusted solution for secure and reliable networking, it struggles to keep up with the demands of modern, cloud-first operations and widespread remote workforces. Today’s business environment requires a network that can adapt quickly to change, scale with growing needs, and do so cost-effectively. SD-WAN emerges as the preferred solution, offering the flexibility and scalability that contemporary enterprises require. By seamlessly integrating with cloud-based applications and optimizing network performance, SD-WAN not only enhances operational efficiency but also reduces costs, making it an attractive choice for forward-thinking organizations.
SD-WAN offers several key advantages that make it a compelling alternative to MPLS:
While the benefits of SD-WAN are clear, transitioning from MPLS presents several challenges that enterprises must carefully navigate to ensure a successful migration:
InterCloud simplifies the shift from MPLS to SD-WAN by providing seamless, secure, and flexible connectivity across diverse cloud environments. Its data center and Cloud Service Provider (CSP)-agnostic operations offer businesses unmatched flexibility to work across various cloud platforms and on-premises locations.
By taking a neutral approach toward data centers, carriers, and CSPs, InterCloud ensures broad coverage and compatibility, essential for integrating multiple cloud resources while maintaining high performance and security. InterCloud’s private connectivity solutions bypass traditional ISPs, guaranteeing consistent, low-latency connections for cloud applications.
Additionally, InterCloud makes it easier to integrate remote locations into the network by offering various connectivity options, including private last-mile connections and IPsec for smaller branches or as backups. With advanced routing and optimization techniques, InterCloud ensures that SD-WAN deployments are efficient, scalable, and resilient. This helps organizations overcome WAN connectivity challenges, providing a reliable and secure network that drives modern digital transformation.
Last but not least, InterCloud provides flexible services that fit into any complex transition and migration plan, helping to better manage costs while maintaining service quality and availability.