Explanation
A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment is a model of delivering SD-WAN services from the cloud, rather than from on-premises hardware or software appliances. A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment has several benefits, such as:
Instant scale: A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can scale up or down the network resources and bandwidth on demand, without requiring additional hardware or manual configuration. This enables the network to adapt to the changing traffic patterns and user demands, while optimizing the network performance and efficiency12.
Reduced costs: A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can lower the capital and operational expenses of the network, by eliminating the need for expensive and complex WAN infrastructure, such as MPLS circuits, routers, firewalls, and WAN optimization devices. A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can also leverage the economies of scale and the pay-as-you-go model of the cloud, which can reduce the network costs per megabit12.
Simplified management: A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can simplify the network management and operation, by providing a centralized and unified dashboard that can monitor, configure, and troubleshoot the network across multiple sites and regions. A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can also automate the network provisioning, orchestration, and optimization, by applying intelligent policies and analytics based on the business intent and network conditions12.
Enhanced security: A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can enhance the network security and compliance, by providing built-in and integrated security features, such as encryption, firewall, VPN, IPS, and antivirus. A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can also leverage the cloud security services, such as SASE, to provide secure and direct access to the cloud applications and platforms, without compromising the network performance and user experience123.
Improved cloud readiness: A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can improve the cloud readiness and agility of the network, by enabling seamless and optimized connectivity to the public cloud, SaaS, and cloud interconnect providers. A cloud-based SD-WAN deployment can also support the multicloud and hybrid-cloud strategies, by allowing the network to operate as a cloud-native WAN overlay, using software-defined automation and orchestration tools123.
References:
What Is SD-WAN? - Software-Defined WAN (SDWAN) - Cisco
SD-WAN Benefits: 5 Business Advantages of SD-WAN - Fortinet
What are the Benefits of SD-WAN? - Cisco
What are the Benefits of SD-WAN?
SD-WAN and SASE: The new landscape of networking