Gartner Research

Technology Insight for SD-WAN

Published: 14 September 2018

ID: G00369080

Analyst(s): Jonathan Forest , Neil Rickard , Ted Corbett , Andrew Lerner

Summary

SD-WAN is a mainstream technology that offers several benefits compared to traditional, router-based WANs. I&O leaders responsible for planning, sourcing and managing WANs can reduce costs and improve agility and uptime by using SD-WAN products.

Table Of Contents

Analysis

  • Definition
  • Description
  • Benefits and Uses
    • Agility via Improved Management
    • Cost Reduction
    • Improved Branch Availability
    • SD-WAN Uses
    • Adoption Rate
  • Risks
    • Market Confusion
    • Market Fragmentation
    • Feature Limitations
    • Vendor Lock-In
  • Evaluation Factors
    • Scale and Architecture
    • Management and Orchestration
    • Form Factors and Deployment
    • Application Centricity
    • Price
    • Visibility and Security
  • Price/Performance
  • SD-WAN Alternatives
    • Traditional WAN Architectures
    • Network Automation and/or Orchestration Tools
    • Virtualized CPE Platforms
  • Recommendations
  • Representative Vendors

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