Citrix NetScaler SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) gives you the ability to intelligently consume multiple network paths, delivering a highly resilient and high performance WAN. This is in thanks to the low cost of bandwidth - ten years ago, this was not the case.
Benefits of Low Cost Bandwidth
Previously, most SMB’s battled to ensure that every last ounce of their 2,3,4 or 10Mbps (if they were lucky!) network connections were utilised to the maximum. User expectations were managed carefully and bandwidth was a precious resource.
Many WAN optimisation solutions emerged, such as WanScaler and CloudBridge, to compress and schedule as much traffic as possible.
Today, the world has changed - a user can install an exclusive 200Mbps broadband connection for £50 a month. They can stream movies, browse rich media sites and use social media from as many devices as they please.
However, on Monday morning they return to the office and the handcuffs go back on. No video streaming, restricted internet access – “I’m sorry, my system is running slowly today, please bear with me”.
Bandwidth got cheap, but the business world is yet to catch up. NetScaler SD-WAN can get you up to speed and take the handcuffs off.
Improve Your SLA
"I need my MPLS because I have great SLAs!" - A 99.9% SLA on your MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) equates to over one minute of downtime every day. One minute every day in business hours would not satisfy users.
If you aggregate multiple lower SLA connections, combined they can potentially have an even higher availability:
High Resilience & Performance
NetScaler SD-WAN provides the ability to consume multiple network paths, delivering a highly resilient and high performance WAN.
Imagine having an MPLS circuit fail, but no user disruption; or being able to use your MPLS for VOIP traffic - and cheaper bandwidth for bulk data transfers. NetScaler SD-WAN makes this simple.
Enhance user experience by adding bandwidth transparently, without fundamental network changes or onerous contract changes.
Provision new branches faster without waiting for MPLS tail installation. Make sure your business applications are treated as first class citizens, be they in the data centre, SaaS or cloud hosted.
Check out our video blog where I discuss NetScaler SD-WAN with Lyndon-Jon Martin and Justin Thorogood of Citrix, addressing how it solves customer challenges today.
- By Andy McCullough (Senior Technical Consultant)
