The nature of disruptive technologies is that on the one hand, they can open new vistas to the enterprise – like AI, or legions of smart IoT devices – yet with the other hand appear to raise objections as to why ideas X or Y simply can’t fly.

Running a modern enterprise means, of course, adopting an agile stance, ready to scale, change direction or push into new markets at little or no notice.

In the case of networking, the underpinning connectivity of business transformation, the ability to scale and deploy quickly is paramount. It’s an ability that already exists in virtualized servers: a new service can be designed and allocated storage from the collective disk pool in a heartbeat. But spinning up connectivity in a conventional way to a new remote office, branch outpost, or new facility usually means ordering new hardware and connection contracts from an MPLS provider, then technicians onsite manually connecting cables, and a few more days manually configuring the new WAN and up to 5 separate device brands.

Every sysadmin has his or her favorite tools to get this sort of rapid deployment done, and a series of familiar steps that are run through even when undertaking something complex, like creating site-to-site tunnels, configuring firewalls at gateways or for protecting access to cloud assets, hooking up to SSO, and so forth.

But like virtualized servers and storage, SD-WAN provides an overlay on every interconnection: wherever the enterprise’s resources touch the internet, traffic can be shaped and prioritized, bandwidth allocated, and security policies determined from a central point.

In short, that means once the network is connected, all the granular configuration will fall into place, just as it has for every other edge deployment, remote or branch office opening, or new facility coming online. That’s great for IT staff; labor-saving, sure, but also it removes the danger of errors creeping into what can become a repetitive series of activities and tests.

In quick-moving business-centric environments, manually configuring traffic management devices slows down the perimeter network, and service prioritization has meant that the IT department has had to jump from a GUI for one tool, to a command line for another, a script here and a hack there. That’s always been viable (and sometimes even well-paid), but in larger contexts, and with a massive emphasis now put on security and data governance, it’s no longer an option. Here, SD-WAN can provide the type of safe and agile topology that’s suitable for multi-cloud and hybrid environments that enable the business’ overall aims.

SD-WAN is not something only for the globe-straddling multinationals, but today, with technology from Versa Networks, even the smallest partnership or startup can benefit from the type of technology that only a few years ago was unforeseen.

Rather than wait for a new MPLS circuit for a new venture to be installed and configured, companies can simply deploy, for example, a traditional broadband connection and an accompanying 4G hub. The SD-WAN platform then manages the connections actively, letting centralized control allocate traffic to business-critical applications, irrespective of connection type.

The Versa Networks SD-WAN intelligently controls all connections right across a global network of offices, branches, edge installations and remote facilities, placing centralized control over all aspects of the network, including security.

There are significant savings to be realized in terms of time saved, of course: no more waiting for sophisticated connectivity to be installed, but also in the age of “always on”, and “right now”, prioritizing customer-facing connections can make the difference between a lost sale, and the creation of a new “brand advocate” or enhanced customer experience.

And because the software overlay continually monitors the entire network, problems with early indicators like potential packet loss can be cured by automated systems, preventing loss of connectivity and the wait for a manual switch to failover connections; all done by software, all automatically.

Overall connectivity is also managed according to best routes. In IT terms, that means fewer “hops” across the public internet, and to the everyday employee or customer, a quicker connection that’s more reliable. Plus, the same technology can see bottlenecks, where resources are being stretched or underused, meaning a more strategic approach to technology procurement and deployment.

For SD-WAN reliability and efficiency for businesses and organizations of any size, global provider Versa Networks brings its intercontinental network and experience to the APAC & Australasia. With hundreds of customers and dozens of service-provider partners across the globe, Versa is ready to help power your company to interconnect intelligently and become a data-driven business. To request a demo, follow the link here.