It has been six months since the global health crisis invoked government-mandated “shelter-in-place.” Yet many organizations that scrambled to standup hundreds of work-from-home offices are…
The relationship between MPLS and Managed SD-WAN is complex. Both are QoS (quality of service) technologies that manage data traffic to reduce packet loss.
But unlike most traditional, out-of-date technologies, MPLS was not made obsolete by SD-WAN, the next-generation of network technology.
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is still relevant and effectively used by many businesses. But with new modern business practices like cloud-based applications, the limitations of MPLS necessitated a newer, more robust technology.
SD-WAN – a software-defined wide area network – provides a way to use cloud-based software to increase network performance while also optimizing bandwidth in a way that helps cloud-based applications perform optimally when you need them to.
SD-WAN has replaced MPLS for some businesses but not others. And sometimes the two are used in conjunction. So instead of asking if SD-WAN is an MPLS replacement, you should ask: “does it make sense for SD-WAN to replace MPLS in my business?”
Here’s a few factors to consider.
MPLS was created in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional IP routing. Organizations used MPLS for dedicated and private networks that could connect data centers and offices. It works by directing data throughout the network using short path labels instead of long network addresses. This speeds up traffic and streamlines network connectivity solutions.
As a QoS technology, MPLS is a mechanism for routing traffic, allowing for some prioritization of traffic through different service levels. It offers a more sophisticated control over networks than Ethernet but is less granular than SD-WAN.
The main benefit of MPLS is its consistency. It offers extremely high packet deliverability at 99.99%, making it great for businesses that needed consistent uptime. Additionally, with MPLS, QoS is honored across the entire network, which offers more predictability of traffic prioritization.
However, the hardware-based nature of MPLS services typically makes them more difficult to manage and expensive to implement than SD-WAN. This means capacity and network bandwidth is constrained by budget and can be overwhelmed by a growing business with new application and bandwidth demands. In addition, as the hardware ages, it gets more expensive to service and replace.
With the widespread adoption of cloud applications further increasing bandwidth demands, MPLS was struggling to deliver high QoS on mission-critical software.
WAN and then SD-WAN emerged as alternatives that could increase network agility and reduce costs. SD-WAN differentiates itself by using cloud-based software to control network traffic.
SD-WAN lets your business leverage the cloud, the bandwidth of broadband, LTE and existing infrastructure you already have to more efficiently transmit data.
And the operational benefits are staggering.
SD-WAN gives you the control to prioritize necessary bandwidth for cloud-based applications and voice, optimizing performance for the tools your organization uses the most.
SD-WAN also offers ease of deployment. You can choose between on-premises, hybrid or cloud application. This ensures you can find the right fit for your data connectivity and routing needs.
Beyond application prioritization, SD-WAN can also reduce downtime through proactive bandwidth usage monitoring and the use of failover to respond to outages or volume spikes.
As far as implementation, you generally have two options: DIY SD-WAN or managed SD-WAN. DIY SD-WAN involves businesses that have in-house IT expertise implementing and managing the solution.
In contrast, managed SD-WAN involves outsourcing the entire SD-WAN solution – from design to management to monitoring – to a managed services provider (MSP). Managed SD-WAN is quickly becoming the preferred choice for its ease of use and the ability to move internal operations to revenue generating tasks.
Aside from the key features and benefits, there are two additional areas of differentiation that need to be considered between SD-WAN and MPLS.
MPLS usually has a single access link, while SD-WAN can support multiple links. This impacts network performance and how you should approach installation.
While MPLS as a technology is reliable, its single point of failure makes it more vulnerable to outages and manual intervention.
SD-WAN can utilize multiple active internet connections. This is advantageous because secondary connections serve as a backup while also providing additional functionality for everyday use. This makes it possible to always send high-priority applications through the best path. A multi-connection SD-WAN solution thus reduces packet loss, increases application and voice quality, and offers a built-in network backup solution.
MPLS is inherently secure because the network doesn’t connect to public internet. This means fewer considerations are required for security protocols.
SD-WAN can utilize public internet to route traffic more efficiently for a lower cost. Therefore, traffic is secured through built-in firewalls and security tools. Often, SD-WAN can integrate with existing or new security tools to expand security precautions to connections.
SD-WAN and MPLS both offer network connectivity solutions and QoS technology. But as MPLS gets more difficult – and more expensive – to maintain, more businesses will likely turn to SD-WAN because of its ease of implementation and management – especially when working with an MSP.
Mike Penn joined Magna5 as Senior Content Developer. His role is to bring to life stories that inspire or inject clarity in how managed services and emerging trends can be applied to help organizations operate better and more efficiently.
Proactively safeguard your network and endpoints using a three-step defense strategy to counter attacks before they penetrate your perimeter.
Ryan Automotive moved network operations onto a managed cloud platform to gain central visibility into all cloud-based network systems, applications and devices to ensure reliable uptime and performance.
Take a look at Magna5 Texas employee stories of resolve, strength and determination during the recent weather crisis and state-wide power outage.
The relationship between MPLS and Managed SD-WAN is complex. Both are QoS (quality of service) technologies that manage data traffic to reduce packet loss.
But unlike most traditional, out-of-date technologies, MPLS was not made obsolete by SD-WAN, the next-generation of network technology.
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is still relevant and effectively used by many businesses. But with new modern business practices like cloud-based applications, the limitations of MPLS necessitated a newer, more robust technology.
SD-WAN – a software-defined wide area network – provides a way to use cloud-based software to increase network performance while also optimizing bandwidth in a way that helps cloud-based applications perform optimally when you need them to.
SD-WAN has replaced MPLS for some businesses but not others. And sometimes the two are used in conjunction. So instead of asking if SD-WAN is an MPLS replacement, you should ask: “does it make sense for SD-WAN to replace MPLS in my business?”
Here’s a few factors to consider.
MPLS was created in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional IP routing. Organizations used MPLS for dedicated and private networks that could connect data centers and offices. It works by directing data throughout the network using short path labels instead of long network addresses. This speeds up traffic and streamlines network connectivity solutions.
As a QoS technology, MPLS is a mechanism for routing traffic, allowing for some prioritization of traffic through different service levels. It offers a more sophisticated control over networks than Ethernet but is less granular than SD-WAN.
The main benefit of MPLS is its consistency. It offers extremely high packet deliverability at 99.99%, making it great for businesses that needed consistent uptime. Additionally, with MPLS, QoS is honored across the entire network, which offers more predictability of traffic prioritization.
However, the hardware-based nature of MPLS services typically makes them more difficult to manage and expensive to implement than SD-WAN. This means capacity and network bandwidth is constrained by budget and can be overwhelmed by a growing business with new application and bandwidth demands. In addition, as the hardware ages, it gets more expensive to service and replace.
With the widespread adoption of cloud applications further increasing bandwidth demands, MPLS was struggling to deliver high QoS on mission-critical software.
WAN and then SD-WAN emerged as alternatives that could increase network agility and reduce costs. SD-WAN differentiates itself by using cloud-based software to control network traffic.
SD-WAN lets your business leverage the cloud, the bandwidth of broadband, LTE and existing infrastructure you already have to more efficiently transmit data.
And the operational benefits are staggering.
SD-WAN gives you the control to prioritize necessary bandwidth for cloud-based applications and voice, optimizing performance for the tools your organization uses the most.
SD-WAN also offers ease of deployment. You can choose between on-premises, hybrid or cloud application. This ensures you can find the right fit for your data connectivity and routing needs.
Beyond application prioritization, SD-WAN can also reduce downtime through proactive bandwidth usage monitoring and the use of failover to respond to outages or volume spikes.
As far as implementation, you generally have two options: DIY SD-WAN or managed SD-WAN. DIY SD-WAN involves businesses that have in-house IT expertise implementing and managing the solution.
In contrast, managed SD-WAN involves outsourcing the entire SD-WAN solution – from design to management to monitoring – to a managed services provider (MSP). Managed SD-WAN is quickly becoming the preferred choice for its ease of use and the ability to move internal operations to revenue generating tasks.
Aside from the key features and benefits, there are two additional areas of differentiation that need to be considered between SD-WAN and MPLS.
MPLS usually has a single access link, while SD-WAN can support multiple links. This impacts network performance and how you should approach installation.
While MPLS as a technology is reliable, its single point of failure makes it more vulnerable to outages and manual intervention.
SD-WAN can utilize multiple active internet connections. This is advantageous because secondary connections serve as a backup while also providing additional functionality for everyday use. This makes it possible to always send high-priority applications through the best path. A multi-connection SD-WAN solution thus reduces packet loss, increases application and voice quality, and offers a built-in network backup solution.
MPLS is inherently secure because the network doesn’t connect to public internet. This means fewer considerations are required for security protocols.
SD-WAN can utilize public internet to route traffic more efficiently for a lower cost. Therefore, traffic is secured through built-in firewalls and security tools. Often, SD-WAN can integrate with existing or new security tools to expand security precautions to connections.
SD-WAN and MPLS both offer network connectivity solutions and QoS technology. But as MPLS gets more difficult – and more expensive – to maintain, more businesses will likely turn to SD-WAN because of its ease of implementation and management – especially when working with an MSP.
Mike Penn joined Magna5 as Senior Content Developer. His role is to bring to life stories that inspire or inject clarity in how managed services and emerging trends can be applied to help organizations operate better and more efficiently.
Proactively safeguard your network and endpoints using a three-step defense strategy to counter attacks before they penetrate your perimeter.
Ryan Automotive moved network operations onto a managed cloud platform to gain central visibility into all cloud-based network systems, applications and devices to ensure reliable uptime and performance.
Take a look at Magna5 Texas employee stories of resolve, strength and determination during the recent weather crisis and state-wide power outage.
It has been six months since the global health crisis invoked government-mandated “shelter-in-place.” Yet many organizations that scrambled to standup hundreds of work-from-home offices are…
“I’m about to go ballistic! Our SLAs are falling short. We’re experiencing more frequent network downtime. Our vendor is monitoring and sending us alerts but…
Do you have a trust deficit with your existing managed IT services provider? Are you confident they are taking care of your network? Is juggling…
Driving Responsiveness – Agility Series (Part Five) Whether or not your organization made the government’s cut as ‘essential workers’ during the coronavirus pandemic, we…
Driving Responsiveness – Agility Series (Part Four) Recognize this? “Jason is the kind of guy who’s always in a state of readiness. He likes…
Recently, the Enterprise Networking Magazine’s editorial board selected Magna5 as one of its Top 10 SD-WAN Solution Providers for 2020. The magazine evaluates and selects…
Driving Responsiveness – Agility Series (Part Three) By default, playing it safe during a downturn can hurt your chances to thrive in a stronger…
Driving Responsiveness – Agility Series (Part Two) During a business downturn, it is important to go beyond just surviving and position your organization as a…
Driving Responsiveness – Agility Series (Part One) Rather than tapping the brakes during the COVID-19 business lockdowns, many organizations are accelerating growth by reaching out…
It has been open season for cyber threat actors targeting organizations’ endpoints during the COVID-19 epidemic. With a large percentage of employees now working from…
Recently, MyTechMag editorial board selected Magna5 as one of its Top 10 Promising Disaster Recovery Solutions Providers for 2020. The magazine evaluates and selects solution…
By 2025, contact centers will morph into experience hubs and how they perform will be placed more clearly within the context of the overall performance…
Every day, cyber criminals bombard networks with phishing emails or social engineering enticing users to give up confidential information. Examples include trying to trick you…
With the rise of the remote worker operating model, it doesn’t take long to discover that a distributed workforce depends upon high network performance and…
It is bad enough that cyber criminals relentlessly breach organizations’ networks with malware and ransomware to hold their data hostage. Now they are going a…
Unified Communications has been around for a while. But during the recent nationwide pandemic lockdown, the dynamics of communicating from any place, on any device,…
Hackers are leveraging ransomware and other malware through phishing lures, malware distribution and domain registration tied to COVID-19. Common themes include scamming, brand impersonation, blackmail…
The ripple effect of a major global health crisis can have a profound impact on organizational operations. As we’ve seen with the recent coronavirus outbreak,…
IT monitoring and management services offer organizations a way to improve security and network uptime without burdening internal IT teams. In this post, we’ll review…
SD-WAN in healthcare is changing how hospitals, medical offices and clinics care for patients. Here are four ways healthcare organizations are reaping the rewards. SD-WAN…
Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers who provide a vital link to primary and preventive healthcare services in underserved communities. Dependable communications…
We’ve heard the saying: “Expect the unexpected.” But do businesses really take it seriously? Last October, weathermen cautioned residents in the Dallas area of pending…
In our last two blog posts, we discussed how to “OWN IT” and “SECURE IT.” Today, continuing our National Cybersecurity Awareness Month series, Be Cyber…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working on final rules to enable true national number portability on a nationwide basis. When implemented, it will enable complete national number porting…
Imagine getting to work and seeing an invoice from your voice provider that your company ran up a $122,000 phone bill in a single weekend!…
By 2021, a new business will be victimized by ransomware every 11 seconds. Even with strong security controls in place, your organization still has a…
Toll-free least cost routing helps organizations find the best path between caller and destination at the lowest available cost. Here’s why it matters. Toll-Free…
SD-WAN with Magna5 offers three popular deployment models to fit the needs of your organization – on-premises, hybrid and cloud application. Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) is…
Roughly 40-60% of midsize businesses never reopen after a disaster. But, with the right disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place, the damage can…
Over the past five years, security breaches have increased by 67%, according to Accenture’s global survey. Traditional security is in trouble. As threat actors deploy…
An effective IT monitoring and management strategy helps organizations protect precious uptime to eliminate downtime situations. Every company’s network and server structure are different. Some…
SD-WAN is revolutionizing networking by improving how businesses connect. But before hopping on the SD-WAN train, you need to decide whether you want to manage…
Healthcare providers are finally hopping on the managed SD-WAN train – and telehealth is driving it. In this post, we’ll look at five ways s…
If you’ve ever seen your area code on the caller ID, only to be greeted by a pre-recorded voice message promising to erase your credit…
SD-WAN is the new buzz word these days. Do you fully understand how it can positively impact your business? Managed SD-WAN can bring benefits and…
As you see in the video, sometimes network complexity can make you want to go back to the antiquated days of pen and paper. However,…
Deliver high quality voice and application performance over SD-WAN for your employees, nationwide. Organizations utilize Unified Communications to bridge the gap between multiple locations and…
Every organization is liable for the information it keeps. In a data-driven world, company records and information are everywhere … in servers, in storage, on…
Traditional WAN is out of date. SD-WAN can make your network agile and efficient with the cloud. Almost every IT and business leader today is…
Simplify your branch office network with optimized application performance using SD-WAN Today’s enterprise IT has become more sophisticated and bandwidth intensive, creating a complex and…
Companies are increasingly moving IT workloads to the cloud, but are they doing it at the risk of exposing themselves to a data breach? Multiple…
Lots of companies are moving IT workloads to the public cloud, but is this the right strategy for your business? I’m sure you’re aware by…
Disasters hit every organization sooner or later. The cloud, combined with reliable partners, makes recovering from disasters easier than ever before. Disasters have a tendency…
Simplify your Enterprise communications with Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) in the cloud. Enterprise businesses are constantly struggling with communication challenges. Traditionally, business phone…
Secured business communications mean better connections to your customers. UCaaS (Unified Communications) ensures your security with features like encryption, business continuity, and 24/7/365 support. Security…
Improve customer satisfaction and the customer experience with a hosted UC and Cloud Contact Center solution. One of the many exciting things happening at Magna5…
Managing your network can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be – that’s why Magna5 now offers Cloud Managed Network. Experience feature-rich benefits and…
Reduce Costs, Increase Uptime and Improve Performance A network operations center (NOC) is the heart of an IT managed services provider – monitoring, managing and responding…
Enhance collaboration to increase productivity and save money Being able to easily connect with your customers, vendors, and fellow employees is key. Without it, employees…
What is SD-WAN? Combined with UCaaS, it’s the future for small businesses in 2018 Unified communications, delivered as a service (UCaaS) from the cloud, is…
A fast, flexible data recovery system not only saves thousands – it could save your business. Business Data Loss can be the result of anything…
Businesses today either evolve or get left behind. We see organizations of all sizes that were once successful, now losing customers because they have not…
As business pushes the limits of IT availability, productivity and efficiency, the importance of reliable IT operations continues to be apparent. Small- and medium-sized organizations…
Interested in finding a Managed Service Provider for your network needs?
Would you like to find out more information about Magna5? Whatever your need, reach out!
