What We Understand
WAN optimization (AKA WAN Acceleration) is a set of techs that maximize the data flow across the Wide Area Network. The goal is to increase the speed of information to the end user. It has been a subject of curiosity for many researchers since the early 2000s. These researches helped a lot in enhancing the end-to-end throughput of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).
Two of the most common business WAN models are Branch to Headquarters and Data Center to Data Center (DC2DC). Typically, “Branch” WAN links are in proximity, meaning they use less bandwidth, support more simultaneous, smaller and short-lived connections, and can juggle a greater variety of protocols. They are used for business apps such as email, content management systems, database application, and Web delivery. While “DC2DC” WAN links are exact opposite. They tend to use more bandwidth, are more distant, and involve fewer connections, but those connections are bigger (100 Mbit/s to 1 Gbit/s flows) and of longer duration.
Whether the network covers one location or many, the output is affected by the 3 factors. These 3 always at play.
Why do we need to optimize WAN?
Internet is an economic medium and apps are getting smarter by the day. Then why is it that we still optimize our WANs and does it even help?
Well, for starters, it does help and there are a number of reasons why WAN optimization is still relevant in today’s market despite more recent technologies.
To begin with, WAN optimization technologies tackle the performance issues in TCP. Also considering that as of now the enterprises are widely opting for Hybrid Wide Area Network services, optimized WANs and accelerated apps are only helping the traffic to move across the network smoother.
Ways of WAN Optimization
Optimal WAN can be achieved by many techniques like deduplication, latency optimization, compression, caching, proxy, protocol spoofing, QoS (Quality of Service) tagging, and so on.
How SD-WAN can enhance WAN optimization
In the age of digital, it is paramount for IT managers to ensure a stable, reliable, and high performing WAN Infrastructure which would ensure zero latency in critical application performance over the cloud. WAN optimization unified with SD-WAN has become a norm for IT to deliver seamless application experience throughout Enterprise, Branch Offices and in remote locations. Using SD-WAN, it is easier to incorporate traffic specific optimization techniques and the efficiency of the techniques can be monitored and altered on-demand.
As desktop virtualization increase and applications further migrate to Cloud, traditional WAN is what is going to anchor enterprises down from sprinting at light year speed. SD-WAN focuses on optimizing application delivery across the WAN by reducing the bandwidth requirement to minimal, yet ensuring improved user experience, higher security and reliability while accessing heavy SaaS-based Applications.
This has allowed service providers to offer WAN optimization- as – a service which in turn ensures enterprise customers get a seamless user experience through additional performance benefits for enterprise WAN. SD-WAN combines intelligence with WAN optimization to empower your enterprise WAN with capabilities to meet the demands of the digital economy. Both SD-WAN and WAN optimization are homogeneous to each other and nowadays, they are used in unison.
Not sure of what technology is best for your enterprise? Get in touch with us here. At Lavelle Networks, our experts will assist you in getting the absolute best for your enterprise within most competitive pricing.
