In recent years, organizations have been increasingly adopting a multi-cloud approach to their IT infrastructure. The benefits of using multiple cloud providers include flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. However, managing multiple clouds can be a challenge, especially when it comes to performance and accessibility. This is where SD-WAN comes in as an effective solution for cloud management.
SD-WAN, or software-defined wide area networking, is a virtual network architecture that connects enterprises and cloud providers directly from a branch office or data center. It allows organizations to maximize the efficiency of their multi-cloud strategy and is easy to deploy and manage. In this article, we will discuss the basic SD-WAN requirements for efficient cloud management with a focus on the SEO keyword “cloud management.”
Choose Carefully
When choosing an SD-WAN platform for cloud management, organizations need to consider several factors. The SD-WAN should be flexible and supplier-agnostic to suit the multi-cloud environment. It should also be able to segregate data based on application or source, enabling policies to be set regarding the type of traffic that can traverse different WANs, such as private MPLS versus public internet.
SD-WAN platforms should enable transparency and provide total visibility into traffic sources. They should also be capable of providing complete security. Therefore, organizations should take their time to choose the right SD-WAN platform that fits their specific requirements. Alternatively, they can hire a consulting broker to help them with this task.
Ask the Right Questions
Organizations should make a note of all the necessary requirements for their SD-WAN platform. Here are some essential questions to ask before incorporating an SD-WAN platform into your multi-cloud environment:
- Where are the company sites and employees?
- What cloud platform do you need access to and where are they hosted?
- Which of the cloud-based applications in the organization are critical?
- Do your internet circuits have sufficient bandwidth?
- What issues are you aiming to solve with an SD-WAN platform?
Another critical question to ask is how an SD-WAN platform performs with the public internet. It is important to choose an SD-WAN platform that confirms to compression, shaping, and prioritization depending on the network performance, to manage the increase in latency, and to apply more bandwidth to critical applications while reducing non-essential traffic.
Enabling Dedicated Control
To meet expectations in a multi-cloud world, many SD-WAN suppliers have partnered with leading IaaS providers to enable dedicated control. Additionally, these platforms are capable of recognizing IP addresses to and from various SaaS providers, allowing them to recognize traffic easily. This way, appropriate security and compliance policies can be established. Organizations can also employ consulting brokers to determine the right type of SD-WAN platform to incorporate into their private or hybrid cloud environment.
Micro-Segmentation
Enforcing detailed micro-segmentation policies to enable security is primary to isolate specific traffic flows, network segments, and applications. The SD-WAN platform must have these necessary security capabilities when it comes to operating in a multi-cloud environment. Security is a critical factor in private or hybrid cloud environments, especially in today’s competitive business scenario.
Conclusion
Adopting a multi-cloud approach can provide many benefits to organizations, including flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. However, managing multiple clouds can be a challenge, especially when it comes to performance and accessibility. This is where SD-WAN becomes an effective solution for cloud management. Organizations need to choose an SD-WAN platform that is flexible, supplier-agnostic, provides total visibility into traffic sources, and is capable of providing complete security. By asking the right questions and enforcing detailed micro-segmentation policies, organizations can ensure the smooth functioning of their multi-cloud environment with the help of SD-WAN. With the right SD-WAN platform, organizations can maximize the efficiency of their multi-cloud strategy, improve performance and accessibility, and provide a secure and compliant environment for their critical applications. Choosing the right SD-WAN platform can be a daunting task, but with the help of consulting brokers, organizations can find the right fit for their specific requirements.