Nexon - Unlocking Cloud Agility: Transitioning from MPLS to SD-WAN with Nexon

Empowering organisations with scalable networking solutions for enhanced performance and security

With the ever-increasing pace of adoption and reliance on cloud-based applications and AI services – the reliability, availability, security and performance of networks capable of supporting emerging technologies and evolving business requirements is critical.

Many organisations still operate traditional MPLS network architectures that are designed to deliver applications hosted at centralised data centres to users at branches, with Internet and remote access supported via a centralised security gateway.

In today’s Cloud environment organisations need agile and scalable networking solutions to help streamline IT operations end to end. Applications are no longer located at the data centre – they have moved to Cloud and are accessed via the Internet, the users are no longer in the branch offices all the time, they are often connected to the internet only at home. This means that all users in the branch sites and users that VPN into to the data centre are accessing applications that aren’t there! They access the applications via the central firewall and Internet that are oftentimes constrained. This situation does not provide the agility and scalability required for businesses to operate and expand.

SD-WAN, as part of a SASE platform architecture, with Cloud management, branch network and endpoint agent automation capabilities offer a simplified approach to network provisioning and security.

Re-architecting network environments to dynamically prioritise network traffic based on business application requirements optimises the use and efficiency of network bandwidth. Network platform services allow the integration of branch network infrastructure, including routers, switches, Wi-Fi and security appliances to provide end-to-end granular control over data flow, ensuring that mission-critical applications receive optimal bandwidth while maintaining network security, efficiency and reliability. SD-WAN offers cost-effective solution to intelligently route traffic over a combination of private and public connections.

Adopting a network platform managed service to manage LAN, Wi-Fi, WAN and security device configurations offers the flexibility and scalability to handle the complexities, provide a better customer and user experience and improve application performance while you focus on core operations.

Nexon assists organisations to make well-informed decisions when transitioning from MPLS to SD-WAN and SASE architectures, optimising and future-proofing their network infrastructure for improved customer and user experience, scalability, performance and security.

Unlocking Cloud Agility: Transitioning from MPLS to SD-WAN with Nexon

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, organisations are increasingly reliant on Cloud-based applications and AI services. With this reliance comes the need for robust, agile, and secure networking solutions to support emerging technologies and evolving business requirements. Many organisations still operate traditional MPLS network architectures that are designed to deliver applications hosted at centralised data centres to users at branches, and are no longer sufficient for the demands of modern Cloud environments.

In the past, Wide Area Network (WAN) architectures operated efficiently with a hub-and-spoke model, where all traffic from branches and distributed workforces is funnelled back to a central data centre via MPLS lines, allowing for the centralised application of security policies. However, as the demand for access to multi-Cloud resources and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications grew, this traditional model became increasingly inadequate. Backhauling all traffic to data centres before routing to Cloud applications resulted in escalating MPLS costs, bandwidth inefficiencies, increased latency, and a decline in application quality of experience. Moreover, WANs often comprised components from multiple vendors, leading to limited visibility and control over performance and troubleshooting. In response to these challenges, Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) emerged as a solution. SD-WAN facilitates the prioritisation of critical business traffic and leverages direct internet to connect directly to multi-cloud resources. With its overlay approach, independent of the underlying transport layers, SD-WAN simplifies WAN management and intelligently selects among available transport services to ensure optimal application performance.

Given the evolving complexity of networks, incorporating data centres, remote branches, and a distributed workforce accessing multi-Cloud applications through diverse connectivity options, SD-WAN also provides visibility into the WAN, enabling monitoring, measurement, and adjustment of parameters to optimise performance.

The Challenge of Traditional MPLS Networks

Many organisations still rely on MPLS networks to deliver applications from centralised data centres to branch offices. However, in today’s Cloud-centric ecosystem, this approach presents significant limitations. With applications moving to the cloud and users accessing them from various locations, the traditional MPLS model becomes cumbersome and inefficient. Users accessing applications via VPN or from remote locations often face performance issues due to centralised security gateways and constrained Internet connections.

The Solution: SD-WAN and SASE

To address these challenges, organisations are turning to Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) as part of a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform architecture. SD-WAN offers a more agile and scalable approach to network provisioning and security. By dynamically prioritising network traffic based on business application requirements, SD-WAN optimises bandwidth usage over direct internet services and ensures optimal performance for mission-critical applications.

Benefits of SD-WAN and SASE

Check 1 - Simplified network provisioning and security management

Simplified network provisioning and security management

Check 2 - Granular control over data flow, ensuring optimal bandwidth allocation

Granular control over data flow, ensuring optimal bandwidth allocation

Check 3 - Cost-effective routing of traffic over private and public connections

Cost-effective routing of traffic over private and public connections

Check 4 - Enhanced scalability and flexibility to handle evolving business needs

Enhanced scalability and flexibility to handle evolving business needs

Intelligent Connections to Multi-Cloud Resources and SaaS Applications

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, SD-WAN also offers the flexibility and stability of intelligent, continuously monitored connections to multi-cloud resources and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. As organisations increasingly adopt multi-cloud strategies to leverage the unique strengths of various Cloud providers, SD-WAN becomes essential for efficiently managing and optimising connectivity.

With SD-WAN, organisations can still establish direct connections to multiple cloud environments, ensuring low latency and high performance for critical workloads. Whether accessing resources on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or other Cloud platforms, SD-WAN intelligently routes traffic to the nearest and most optimal cloud endpoint, maximising efficiency and minimising latency.

Similarly, for SaaS applications like Salesforce, Microsoft 365, or Google Workspace, SD-WAN provides enhanced stability and reliability by continuously monitoring network conditions and dynamically adjusting traffic routing. This ensures that users experience consistent performance regardless of their location or the underlying network conditions.

Why choose Nexon?

Nexon specialises in assisting organisations in transitioning from MPLS to SD-WAN and SASE architectures. With our expertise and guidance, organisations can make well-informed decisions to future-proof their network infrastructure.

The advantage

Expert Guidance:

Expert Guidance:

Our team of experts provides comprehensive support throughout the transition process, ensuring a seamless migration to SD-WAN.

Improved Performance:

Improved Performance:

By optimising network bandwidth and prioritising mission-critical applications, Nexon enhances overall network performance and user experience.

Enhanced Security:

Enhanced Security:

With granular control over data flow and advanced security features, Nexon’s SD-WAN solutions provide robust protection against cyber threats.

Scalability and Flexibility:

Scalability and Flexibility:

Nexon’s SD-WAN solutions are designed to scale with your organisation, providing the flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.

Cost-Effectiveness:

Cost-Effectiveness:

By intelligently routing traffic over a combination of private and public connections, Nexon’s SD-WAN solutions offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional MPLS networks.

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of Cloud agility with SD-WAN? Contact Nexon today to start a conversation about transitioning from MPLS to SD-WAN and discover how our scalable networking solutions can empower your organisation for success in the digital age.