Today’s businesses and organizations cannot survive without global connectivity. Businesses are more spread out now, with employees, applications, and customers all over the world. But getting everything to connect smoothly and properly is still that hurdle.
Cloud-first, work-from-anywhere demands can strain legacy Statewide Area Network architectures. Next-gen WAN solutions are a new way of doing things that will finally deliver on the promise of connecting the people, applications, and data that make up the enterprise. This blog discusses the why of businesses wanting Next-Gen WAN solutions features, while also sharing how such services as Google Cloud WAN are seen as cutting-edge innovations.
Understanding the Need for Next-Gen WAN
The Limitations of Traditional WAN
Legacy WAN offerings were developed with deprecated technologies, such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), which were designed to form private, predictable network links. These outdated frameworks have limitations, though:
- High Costs: Setting up and maintaining MPLS networks can be prohibitively expensive, especially as bandwidth needs grow.
- Low Flexibility: Legacy WANs cannot easily scale or adapt to rapid workforce and network expansion.
- Lack of Cloud Optimization: Traditional WANs were built in a pre-cloud era, making them inefficient for connecting to cloud-hosted applications.
Why Modern Enterprises Need Next-Gen WAN
With cloud and remote workforces being so ubiquitous in today’s IT environment, the needs of the WAN have changed. Among the challenges are connecting remote teams, maintaining uptime for critical business apps, and reducing cloud connection latency. Next-Gen WAN solutions are solving those problems in a head-on manner and through the use of advanced technologies, such as software-defined networking (SD-WAN) and cloud readiness.
Key Features of Next-Gen WAN Solutions
Next-gen WAN solutions extend much further than legacy infrastructure by incorporating advanced tools and technologies for a more efficient solution. Some of the main functions include:
1. SD-WAN Technology
At the core of today¹s WAN solutions is SD-WAN. SD-WAN dynamically routes traffic based on performance measurements, which means faster, more reliable connections.
- Dynamically optimizes application traffic.
- Cuts down costs by using internet-based connections alongside private infrastructure.
2. Cloud Integration
A direct on-ramp to the most extensive cloud services has become a necessity for enterprises with workloads deployed to platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. Next-gen WANs support the same performance from the cloud with reduced latency.
3. Advanced Sebcurity Features
WAN solutions that possess in-built threat detection, secure tunnels, and adaptive firewalls are your baseline today. Organizations don’t have to depend on external security tools any longer because these are the networks that have strong, integrated security against cyber dangers.
4. Performance Optimization
Features such as traffic shaping, WAN acceleration, and caching guarantee that applications, even ones that are heavy on data, perform well. That degree of optimization is necessary to provide a first-rate user experience.
Google Cloud WAN: A Comprehensive Solution
Google Cloud WAN is among the modern solutions available today. Built as a fully managed enterprise backbone, this offering addresses global connectivity requirements through a novel and scalable implementation.
Key Highlights of Google Cloud WAN:
- Extensive Infrastructure
Google’s unrivaled global network includes:
- Over 2 million miles of fiber.
- 33 subsea cables.
- 202 points of presence worldwide.
- Unified Connectivity
Integrating site, application, and user connectivity, Google Cloud WAN offers a holistic solution for enterprise networking, whether it’s within a single region or globally dispersed sites.
- Reliability
With a 99.99% service level agreement (SLA), Google Cloud WAN ensures robust connectivity and uptime.
- Faster Performance & Lower Costs
Compared to public internet connections, Google Cloud WAN offers up to 40% faster performance and reduces costs by 40% over customer-managed WAN setups.
- Connectivity Options
Options include Cloud Interconnect for direct low-latency links from on-premises to the Google Cloud and Cross-Cloud Interconnect for seamless multi-cloud operations.
- Centralized Network Management
Google’s Network Connectivity Center enables enterprises to manage VPNs, SD-WAN technologies, and third-party integrations all from one hub.
Applications of Next-Gen WAN Solutions
Next-generation WANs aren’t just technical jargon; they solve real problems in diverse industries. Here’s how they are applied:
- Remote Workforce Enablement: Effortlessly connect employees and remote teams to resources from anywhere in the world without compromising security or performance.
- Enhanced Data Transfer for Media Companies: Transfer high-resolution video files quickly using WAN acceleration techniques.
- Healthcare Application Performance: Modern WANs can improve responsiveness for telemedicine platforms that depend on low-latency connections.
- Complex Supply Chains and IoT: Support for IoT devices and trackable inventory within global supply chains keeps businesses running smoothly.
Furthermore, vRealize Infrastructure Navigator and other comparable technologies are also helpful in the integration of Next-Gen WAN capabilities into already virtualized environments, which identify application dependencies and map them for better performance.
Is It Time to Transform Your Network?
Next-Gen WAN Solutions Are No Longer Optional for Companies That Want to Compete in the Cloud-First Age! With offerings like Google Cloud WAN, companies can:
- Optimize their network performance.
- Cut costs on infrastructure.
- Gain unparalleled visibility and control over their global connectivity.
At the same time, it can provide these cross-cloud and on-prem capabilities. Google Cloud WAN is created for IT professionals and technology leaders who want the ability to receive highly scalable, secure, and performant connectivity.
Want to see what modern enterprise WAN can do for your business? Get in touch to find out how Google Cloud WAN can help your global connection.