Windstream has introduced its software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) solution designed to transform how businesses design and manage their networks. Powered by VeloCloud, Windstream's SD-WAN solution gives customers increased network agility, seamless scalability and optimized performance, all while also reducing costs.
"SD-WAN is another example of Windstream partnering with enterprise customers to deliver reliable, secure communications solutions that fuel productivity and growth," said Joe Harding, enterprise chief marketing officer at Windstream. "By including SD-WAN as another solution in our portfolio of managed WAN services, Windstream offers mid- to large-sized enterprise customers the same technology advantages that large enterprises enjoy, which include custom-designed networks and services, as well as a highly responsive support team."
Traditional WAN technology has long been the cornerstone of IT for voice and data networking infrastructure, but the expectation for less downtime and latency challenges, as well as the advent of hybrid/cloud architectures and the higher cost of adding locations, are causing many companies to rethink their WAN strategy. Windstream's SD-WAN solution offers businesses, including middle market customers, a more tailored, flexible and controllable WAN experience.
Windstream's solution utilizes software-defined networking (SDN) to dynamically route traffic over a combination of private and public access types to reach multiple locations. Customers maintain control over their network from a convenient centralized location rather than requiring them to manage various routers, firewalls and switches. It also simplifies management and monitoring by presenting comprehensive information to the customer in a unified management console - a "single pane of glass."
"Businesses in every industry, including ours, are looking for competitive advantages such as increased agility and cost efficiencies that come from software-defined networks," said Glen Holroyd, director of IT, Kona Grill. "We chose Windstream's SD-WAN solution because it integrates a hybrid network, leading technology from VeloCloud, and a full suite of voice and data solutions. Together, they are an attractive solution for Kona Grill, our fast-growing American Grill and Sushi Bar concept with 45 locations across 25 states."
Windstream's SD-WAN solution is available immediately to customers in Windstream's nationwide service area, and Windstream is seeing strong interest from customers in the retail, banking, professional services, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services industries. Among the benefits of Windstream's SD-WAN solution are:
· Simplified Network Management. By converging voice, data and video applications on the same IP backbone, customers can use existing hardware and available access types to connect locations—reducing capital investment, lowering provisioning time and simplifying technology migration. There are no manual switches to engage or monitor, and automatic updates and upgrades protect against downtime or business interruptions.
· Increased Efficiency and Resiliency. Business policies dynamically prioritize and de-prioritize traffic, making better use of available bandwidth to enhance performance and overall user experience. And dual active links provide redundant and/or diverse connections at each site, increasing network resiliency.
· The Ability to Scale Easily. Standardized low-touch provisioning allows Windstream SD-WAN to scale quickly and seamlessly to accommodate new sites with easily activated circuits.
· Keeping Critical Data Safe. A secure abstracted overlay creates a virtual private network on top of existing connection points. All network traffic is encrypted, for security in a borderless environment.
Many leading industry analysts expect that emerging technologies such as SDN and SD-WAN will fundamentally change how businesses design and manage their networks. Andre Kindness, principal analyst at Forrester Research, wrote in his October 2016 research report titled "Five Tenets Define Virtual Network Infrastructure, A Bold New Business Network" that traditional networking is taking a backseat as new technologies such as these advance:
"More flexible models now prevail that democratize usage, allow mobility of people and devices, and empower everyone, not just networking pros, to exercise the right level of control of network resource consumption."
