Strong performance from telecommunications is needed for smooth, efficient and profitable business operations. Numerous applications, like web conferencing, VoIP, file sharing and more, are now needed for effective work, both remote and in the office. And your network needs to be up to the task of supporting uninterrupted both for collaboration of workers and for customer interaction.
What can effective telecommunications (telco for short) do for your business? First, it can enhance collaboration of workers, keeping it free from interruptions. Second, it improves the customer experience, helping them find answers to their questions via live chat, or switch to a phone call for more in-depth communication. Third, it can help your business win more revenue, and allow it to keep meeting its goals. So, how does a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) help improve telecommunications?
How SD-WAN Can Boost Telco Performance
Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) brings together multiple networks from numerous providers providing business-class broadband in addition to the MPLS used in single-area networking. When one part of the wide-area network experiences bottlenecks, other parts of the network can pick up traffic so that operation of calls, video-conferencing and other applications function uninterrupted. Data doesn’t have to go through a central data center, thus travels more quickly and can be also more secure from loss or compromise.
What To Consider When Selecting a Provider
Questions to ask a possible provider concern performance and security. On the performance side, key questions to consider are whether there is rapid failover (does another part of the network quickly take over if one part of the network experiences a problem? Is delivery reliable, with low latency? Can you use your current network while the SD-WAN network is being built? Regarding security, does the provider offer improved safeguards like next-generation firewalls and encryption for data? Does the provider test the network for both performance and security? You’ll also need to audit your own network; is it strong enough to handle increased traffic? Do you have sufficient bandwidth?
Software-Defined Wide Area Networking can improve your telecommunications performance, which can boost your revenue, and improve user experience. For further assistance in assessing your readiness and getting started, contact your trusted technology advisor today.
