With the emergence of “killware,” Magna5 urges all its customers to spring into action to ensure their networks are secure. Here are five ways we can help.
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But unlike most traditional, out-of-date technologies, MPLS was not made obsolete by SD-WAN, the next-generation of network technology.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.
Magna5 Makes Key Strategic Move by Divesting its Telecom Business and Focusing Exclusively on Managed IT Services
With the emergence of “killware,” Magna5 urges all its customers to spring into action to ensure their networks are secure. Here are five ways we can help.
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.
Magna5 Makes Key Strategic Move by Divesting its Telecom Business and Focusing Exclusively on Managed IT Services
With the emergence of “killware,” Magna5 urges all its customers to spring into action to ensure their networks are secure. Here are five ways we can help.
With the emergence of “killware,” Magna5 urges all its customers to spring into action to ensure their networks are secure. Here are five ways we can help.
With the emergence of “killware,” Magna5 urges all its customers to spring into action to ensure their networks are secure. Here are five ways we can help.
BeCybersmart. Own your role in cybersecurity by becoming preparedness champions utilizing best practices in cybersecurity.
Learn how teaming with Magna5 can help your organization proactively monitor, detect and troubleshoot network problems before they impact business operations.
Hear stories how other companies are winning their battle to fight cybersecurity and ransomware attacks. You can stay ahead, too. In this webinar, you will learn insightful best practices in building an ironclad multi-layered security defense to stop bad actors in real-time.
Be on the offensive in protecting your unsecured endpoints with a six-point multi-tiered strategy defense.
Cyber threat intelligence is a critical security component needed to gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening inside and outside your network.
Network blind spots are dangerous. Learn how to gain visibility into your critical network components to improve network uptime and performance.
Be on the offense to protect your endpoints. Here are six pillars to gain an upper hand in providing real-time prevention, detection and response.
Learn how to quickly respond to hidden and emerging cyber threats with a fully managed detection and response defense.
Discover how managed detection and response helps you stay ahead of security risks by identifying and blocking both known and unknown cyberattacks.managed
Is malicious malware lurking inside your network without you even knowing it? Take action now by building a multi-tiered defense.
Read how Magna5 helps organizations improve their cybersecurity resilience with a multi-tiered security defense fully managed around the clock.
Let Magna5 help you improve your cybersecurity resilience with a multi-tiered security defense fully managed around the clock.
Discover the various types of IT network monitoring and the importance of full network visibility for better network performance.
Learn why real-time IT monitoring is the best approach to keep your network “always on” and performing at peak performance.
Proactively safeguard your network and endpoints using a three-step defense strategy to counter attacks before they penetrate your perimeter.
Build a strong Zero Trust authentication and verification strategy to limit unauthorized access from multiple entry points.
Magna5 helps organizations on-ramp cloud services and speed digital transformation to seize new business opportunities without the hassle.
Protect your MS365 accounts from data breaches and unauthorized access with these six essential security defense measures.
Through actionable Dark Web ID intelligence, Magna5 can let you know ahead of time if cybercriminals already have the keys to access your network.
The only way to stay ahead of growing cyber threats is to build an ironclad, multi-tiered defense. To win this fight, you have to be proactive and vigilant.
Through centralized patch management, Magna5 can seamlessly analyze vulnerabilities and distribute patches across your network companywide to reduce security downtime events
“There are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked, and those that will be.” – Former FBI Director Robert Mueller
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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…
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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…
No doubt about it, the work-from-home transition during the mandatory COVID-19 stay-in-place business lockdown has been a watershed moment. It has given organizations a “live-fire”…
As hundreds of millions of workers around the country set up shop in their spare bedrooms or dining tables during the pandemic lockdown, many organizations…
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…
With many organizations escalating home working on a grand scale, remote workers need to be diligent in taking cybersecurity seriously. Working across the open internet…
We’ve heard the infamous quote, “Never let a crisis go to waste.” Cybercriminals are now using fears over the coronavirus outbreak to prey on people…
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,…
How quickly you recover from a disaster depends on how good your plan is. But before you can develop one, you need to know a…
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…
HO. HO. HO. It’s holiday season … and prime time for hackers to make a data haul compromising your systems and selling their gifts on…
Matt Kimpel, director of IT engineering for Magna5, discusses the importance of network security in an SD-WAN deployment. NetworkComputing.com recently released an article, Avoid These…
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!…
The Con Is On. Meet Dave. He’s a branch manager at a bank managing hundreds of transactions daily. He has access to customer data that…
The threat of cyberattacks and the need for advanced security measures has never been greater. But businesses still fall short when it comes to detecting…
Cyber Spoofing Is No Laughing Matter. Meet Tracy. She’s an energetic executive administrative assistant making travel arrangements, preparing reports and maintaining filing systems for her…
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…
ONE CLICK IS ALL IT TAKES. Meet Ted. He works for a growing hospital, making sure patient records are accurate and complete. Since most of…
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…
Handling a ransomware attack is a challenging, resource intensive process. But most businesses fall far short when it comes to ransomware recovery. In this post,…
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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…
“A business will fall victim to a ransomware attack every 14 seconds in 2019 … every 11 seconds by 2021.” – Cybersecurity Ventures As Baltimore…
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…
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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…
Mid-sized organizations beware: data breaches against businesses soared 235% in Q1. Managed security services can help organizations combat sophisticated ransomware and trojan attacks. According to…
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…
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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,…
In the world of network downtime, time is money. And because of the loses associated with downtime, time is of the essence. In our recent…
Ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations are expected to quadruple by 2020. In a typical healthcare ransomware attack, a hacker will shut down a portion of…
As a financial institution, using cybersecurity as a differentiator can create positive impact on the overall customer experience In the world of finance, a data…
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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…
How proactive IT management and SD-WAN are helping manufacturers eliminate costly downtime. Technology is a critical need in most organizations, but for manufacturers it often…
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It’s that time of year again. Time for the wave of posts that discuss the trends and events that shaped the year that was and…
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…
One-click on a suspicious email link or attachment could lead to your files being encrypted and a note from a cybercriminal demanding money to unlock…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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