AT&T SD-WAN

AT&T SD-WAN solutions can improve your network's agility
 

SD-WAN is the ideal networking solution for small businesses primed for growth

Technology can be a great equalizer. Small businesses in every industry embrace digital transformation practices to automate processes, create efficiencies, improve service, and deliver quality customer experiences that inform and delight—a recipe for being able to compete against much larger, well-established rivals. The key to this transformation is getting data and digital tools in the hands of a distributed workforce.

AT&T SD-WAN is an ideal networking solution for small businesses—giving them an agile and cost-effective network that empowers remote users with the applications and data they need without compromising reliability or security.

This guide will discuss:

 

What is SD-WAN?

Computer motherboard in 3d resembling the city building structureComputer motherboard in 3d resembling the city building structure
AT&T SD-WAN is a software-defined networking solution that moves network traffic management away from on-premise hardware to next-generation software in the cloud.

AT&T SD-WAN uses path selection, WAN aggregation, near real-time performance monitoring, and dynamic routing to improve network performance to dozens or even thousands of business locations. Organizations can define policies based on business needs and apply them across traffic types, locations, or users from a central management console in the cloud. This level of control allows for optimal delivery paths across any combination of network transport type—providing flexible deployment options and improved total cost of ownership without compromising security. In effect, AT&T SD-WAN defends against “worst case scenarios” in data performance and security.

How does SD-WAN enable agility for small businesses?

AT&T SD-WAN improves network performance in a cost-effective manner, giving distributed users seamless, fingertip access to data, large files, and SaaS platforms so they can make quick, informed decisions. With just a few clicks, organizations can add bandwidth and network services for new applications, scale existing applications, throttle down capacity during times of low demand, and quickly expand to new locations. While the traditional process for upgrading WAN capabilities requires adding equipment, people and expenses, SD-WAN gives small businesses the flexibility to expand capacity at individual locations in near real time.

AT&T SD-WAN also makes it easy to scale network capacity in line with business growth. Setting up a new branch office or remote work site can be managed from a central management console in the cloud. Users can establish and configure VPNs, WAN optimization, VoIP, and firewalls to new locations through software without having to procure, ship, configure, and manage hardware.

How can SD-WAN reduce networking costs for small businesses?

Windmills located in an open areaWindmills located in an open area
Disconnecting traffic from proprietary hardware provides deployment flexibility. AT&T SD-WAN helps ensure that network traffic flows across the shortest or fastest path regardless of network transport type—including internet broadband, Ethernet, serial, WiFi, MPLS, or even LTE. This is especially critical when it comes to last mile connectivity that is traditionally built on expensive MPLS circuits.

Since SD-WAN is hardware agnostic, it can route traffic across any network transport type that is available without sacrificing security or reliability, eliminating the need for small businesses to build out their own proprietary MPLS network—an expensive proposition.

How does SD-WAN enable business continuity for small businesses?

Business continuity is critical for small businesses competing against larger competitors with more resources. Quality customer service builds loyalty, brand equity, repeat business, and, eventually, growth. AT&T SD-WAN uses software-defined path selection and dynamic routing to utilize the most optimal connection between two locations.

If a circuit fails, there are multiple paths in place to provide full coverage. AT&T SD-WAN also enhances security, making it less likely that malicious attacks are able to disrupt operations. Pre-defined security policies are applied across the network based on rules, and users can drill down to roll out security services such as web filtering and malware protection to individual locations, users, or traffic types.

The bottom line

  • AT&T SD-WAN gives small businesses a flexible, cost-effective network architecture that enables business agility while reducing networking costs and enable business continuity.
  • Small businesses can add bandwidth and network services for new applications, scale existing applications and throttle down capacity during times of low demand—all from a central web-based console in near real time.
  • This allows small businesses to expand operations easily and efficiently—making it possible to scale and compete against larger rivals with more resources.