Meraki SD-WAN compare to traditional WAN architectures

Meraki SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) represents a modern, cloud-based approach to WAN management, significantly differing from traditional WAN architectures in several key aspects. Here's a comparison of the two:

1. Architecture & Management

• Traditional WAN:
  • Typically uses dedicated physical devices (routers, firewalls, etc.) and private leased lines (e.g., MPLS, dedicated circuits) for connecting branch offices or remote locations.
  • Configuration and management are often manual and require specialized network engineers.
  • Control is centralized at a data center or network operations center, with each device configured individually.
  • VPNs, routing, and security policies must be set up and maintained across various sites.
• Meraki SD-WAN:
  • Cloud-based, with centralized management through the Meraki Dashboard. This allows for easy, remote management of network devices across all locations.
  • Configuration is simplified through an intuitive, web-based interface that doesn't require specialized expertise to deploy or maintain.
  • SD-WAN functionality is built into Meraki devices, enabling automated routing, traffic management, and optimization across different types of connections (MPLS, broadband, LTE, etc.).
  • Meraki’s cloud dashboard offers real-time monitoring, analytics, and policy adjustments, reducing the complexity involved in WAN management.

2. Network Connectivity & Flexibility

• Traditional WAN:

  • Often relies on expensive, fixed-point-to-point connections like MPLS, which can be both costly and less flexible.
  • Changes to the WAN (e.g., adding new locations or adjusting traffic flow) can be slow and require physical interventions or long provisioning times.
  • Typically limited by the capacity of the leased line and the inherent rigidity of physical connections.

• Meraki SD-WAN:

  • Uses broadband Internet connections (DSL, cable, fiber) or LTE as the primary network links, providing more cost-effective and flexible connectivity options.
  • Automatically adjusts traffic routes based on performance metrics (latency, jitter, packet loss) in real-time.
  • SD-WAN enables automatic path selection and failover, providing a more resilient and dynamic network with lower downtime.
  • Allows for easy integration of multiple types of WAN connections, including broadband Internet, MPLS, and even wireless connections.

3. Performance Optimization & Traffic Management

• Traditional WAN:

  • Traffic management is often static and manually configured, with limited flexibility for real-time optimization.
  • Any changes to performance or prioritization (e.g., prioritizing VoIP or video) usually require manual adjustments and complex configurations.
  • Failover is often manual or reliant on external tools, which may increase downtime.

• Meraki SD-WAN:

  • Built-in traffic shaping and policy-based routing to optimize application performance. It can dynamically adjust routing based on real-time network performance (e.g., prioritize critical business applications like VoIP or video conferencing).
  • Provides deep visibility into network usage and application performance via the Meraki Dashboard.
  • Automatic failover and path optimization to ensure minimal disruption in case of link failure, with intelligent load balancing across available WAN links.
  • Meraki’s SD-WAN can aggregate multiple connections for higher throughput and ensure more consistent performance across sites.

4. Security

• Traditional WAN:
  • Security features like firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion prevention systems are typically implemented separately and require manual configuration.
  • MPLS can offer some inherent security advantages, but additional security tools (e.g., firewalls, encryption) must be configured and managed separately.
  • Complex configurations are often needed for secure inter-site communication.
• Meraki SD-WAN:
  • Built-in security features, including integrated firewalls, VPNs, and secure web gateways, which are automatically configured and easier to manage.
  • Meraki offers encrypted traffic across all WAN links by default, with no need for separate encryption configurations.
  • The SD-WAN automatically applies security policies and VPN tunnels, ensuring secure communication between branch offices and data centers without requiring manual intervention.

5. Cost Efficiency

• Traditional WAN:
  • Often more expensive due to reliance on private lines (MPLS), dedicated hardware, and ongoing maintenance costs.
  • Scaling the network (e.g., adding new sites or increasing bandwidth) typically involves substantial cost increases.
  • Requires skilled personnel to manage and maintain the network, adding to operational costs.
• Meraki SD-WAN:
  • Can significantly reduce costs by using cheaper Internet connections (such as broadband or LTE) instead of expensive MPLS lines.
  • Simplified management through a centralized cloud dashboard reduces the need for specialized network engineers and manual interventions.
  • Scalability is more cost-effective; new sites can be added quickly and easily without substantial additional hardware or complex configurations.
  • Reduced operational and maintenance costs due to the automation and ease of use.

6. Deployment Time

• Traditional WAN:
  • Can take weeks or even months to deploy, especially if new leased lines or dedicated hardware are required.
  • Requires manual configuration of devices, including routers, firewalls, and VPNs.
• Meraki SD-WAN:
  • Can be deployed in a matter of days or even hours, thanks to the plug-and-play nature of Meraki devices and centralized cloud-based management.
  • Configuration is often minimal, and the cloud dashboard allows for automated configuration of network devices and policies.
  • Branch offices can be set up and connected to the network almost immediately without requiring on-site visits by IT personnel.

7. Visibility & Reporting

• Traditional WAN:
  • Visibility into network performance and traffic flow is often siloed across multiple devices (routers, firewalls, switches) and requires complex monitoring setups.
  • Troubleshooting network issues can be time-consuming, and there may be a lack of centralized analytics.
• Meraki SD-WAN:
  • Provides real-time visibility into the entire network, including traffic usage, application performance, and WAN health, through the Meraki Dashboard.
  • Analytics and detailed reports help IT teams quickly identify and troubleshoot issues, ensuring better proactive management of network performance.
  • Deep visibility into application-level performance, allowing for optimization of specific applications across the WAN.

8. Resilience & Redundancy

• Traditional WAN:
  • Redundancy is typically set up manually, often requiring multiple WAN links or failover configurations that can be costly and complex.
  • Failover typically requires external hardware or configuration and can lead to downtime while the system reroutes traffic.
• Meraki SD-WAN:
  • Built-in failover and path optimization capabilities ensure that network traffic is automatically rerouted based on real-time conditions without manual intervention.
  • Can utilize multiple WAN links (e.g., broadband, LTE) for redundancy, automatically switching between links in the event of failure or poor performance.

Summary:

Meraki SD-WAN provides a more flexible, cost-effective, and easily managed alternative to traditional WAN architectures. By leveraging the power of cloud-based management, automation, and real-time traffic optimization, it simplifies WAN deployments, improves performance, and enhances security while significantly lowering operational costs.

Traditional WAN, while often more reliable for large enterprises with heavy MPLS reliance, can be more complex, expensive, and slower to adapt to changing needs. Meraki SD-WAN excels in scenarios where speed of deployment, agility, and cost efficiency are critical, while traditional WANs may still be preferred for businesses with legacy infrastructure or those requiring very specific performance characteristics that are best supported by private, dedicated connections like MPLS.