According to a new report by P&S Market Research, the software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) market is expected to see a CAGR of 54.1% from now through 2023. While there are many factors driving this growth, the motivation to implement the technology is most often due to a need to accommodate cloud solutions, improve network security, simplify architecture, or enhance network visibility.
The report provides an analysis on physical, hybrid and virtual SD-WAN segments, noting that virtual sd wan showed the largest revenue share of the market in 2017. Virtual SD-WAN is often employed as a solution for complex software stacks at a relatively low cost and with centralized visibility and management.
Leading the industries implementing fully managed SD-WAN is the IT and telecom segment of the market, accounting for 40% of the revenue generated. The report cited a greater demand for bandwidth and evolving telecommunications needs as two of the reasons SD-WAN use is expanding in this industry.
Geographically, it is expected that there will be significant growth in the Asia-Pacific region, owing to the improvement of internet connections in terms of speed and quality. Companies are looking for cost-effective ways to reduce their reliance on multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) links. While highly reliable, MPLS can be a costly solution for low-priority data transmissions.
The benefits of SD-WAN make it a common discussion point among enterprises needing to make changes to their network infrastructure:
Improved visibility: Through a virtual overlay, network technicians are able to see the various components of the network in a single control panel. For organizations with increasing endpoints because of the Internet of Things (IoT) or rapidly expanding branch locations, SD-WAN offers a solution for diagnostics and troubleshooting.
Pathway optimization: Network administrators are able to set business policy to direct traffic according to transmission type, user id, location and a number of other designations in order to reduce congestion, optimize costs and eliminate security threats.
Reduced travel: When there’s a network problem at a branch, a member of the IT team must either travel out to the location or attempt to walk a non-technical employee through a troubleshooting exercise over the phone. With SD-WAN, all configuration and troubleshooting can be done from headquarters, and a new branch can be brought online in a matter of minutes.
Improved security: The ability to segment network traffic means that any suspected breach can be identified, isolated and kept separate from other areas of the network. As enterprises invest in IoT, open new branches and adopt bring your own device (BYOD) programs, this feature prevents a lost or stolen device from compromising the entire network.
To find out more about how the SD-WAN market is growing, or how an SD-WAN solution might look in a particular business setting, contact us at Wanify. We look forward to hearing more about your business goals.