Secure SD-Branch Solutions: The Keys to Success
There are three traditional methods of constructing local area networks (LANs): siloed networks, point products, and centralized networks. As a result of this infrastructure complexity, IT teams are often unable to support branch networking when there is little to no on-site support.
Companies are looking to improve business goals by decreasing wide-area network (WAN) cost and complexity at the branch through new technologies, such as software-defined WAN (SD-WAN).
SD-WAN adoption continues to increase, which has led IT admins to start looking for ways to reduce complexity and cost through SD-Branch. SD-Branch integrates SD-WAN, network routing, unified managed LAN/WiFi functions, and security into a single platform that eases complex infrastructures. In addition, this could also separate the traditional data centers found in enterprise branches when it comes to LANs and security.
Looking for a platform that can combine strong networking and security abilities with a typical operating system and platform is critical to finding a successful SD-Branch solution.
Why SD-Branch is a Good Solution
Below are a few attributes that you should consider when evaluating SD-Branch solutions:
Integration of branch network technology: Branch network technology is often isolated within discrete appliances and control centers that manage wired access, wireless access, WAN, and security.
By combining or merging key features, such as wired and wireless networking, SD-WAN, and security, SD-Branch can reduce appliance spreading.
With an integrated solution, resource-limited IT teams will be able to improve and reduce their workload. Assess the degree to which a solution will reduce the spread of complexity and tools while maintaining significant performance levels.
SD-WAN performance: SD-WAN is an important segment of SD-Branch. For further improvement of user experience, a strong, elite SD-WAN should provide visibility into the traffic and applications used. A service provider must guarantee application performance by focusing on critical applications, having multi-path knowledge, and being capable of self-recovering WANs.
Moreover, SD-WAN should provide extensive analytics and reporting capabilities, which can assist IT, admins, in detecting and reacting to trends. A successful SD-WAN solution must integrate with the core functions of the branch office, such as security.
Unified administration and orchestration: Central deployment and management of important LAN and WAN edge functions are among the benefits of SD-Branch solutions. Typical screens do not contain enough information about key components.
As technology integration reduces the spread of appliances, a single-pane-of-glass management platform simplifies work processes to reduce turnaround time and increase agility.
When bringing new branches online, a branch management platform should enable zero-contact deployment to promote efficiency and effectiveness.
Security: Security should be integrated at the beginning of the network design and implementation process and not layered on or rushed. When a solution is built within an integrated framework with a next-generation firewall (NGFW), the complexity is decreased and the results are better.
Capacity to handle IoT: It is difficult to secure LAN edges without knowing what they are connected to. It is crucial to have visibility into the users and devices using branch services to implement strategies at the LAN and WAN edges.
The concept of network access control (NAC) needs to be integrated into SD-Branch solutions. It should be able to be managed from the same integrated platform as the other core components to aid in deployment and troubleshooting.
Lower costs: The greatest attraction of SD-Branch is the potential savings of both starting and long-term expenses to offer a convincing return on investment (ROI).
Orchestration and zero-contact deployment eliminate the requirement for expensive on-site talent. A solution that has security and networking functions integrated into a unified administration console lessens complexity and improves administration.
IT staff can rapidly detect and remediate issues and automate responses where proper, lessening OpEx costs. By combining functions, SD-Branch needs to also diminish CapEx spending on specific tools and allowing, while at the same time streamlining existing software licenses.
Increasing Security at the WAN and Access Edge with Fortinet’s Secure SD-Branch Solution
The current digital economy requires organizations to provide a great cloud network as well as secure access to gadgets and users. As a result, organizations typically combine their network security and network management solutions, which can create an architecture that is extremely difficult to change and presents operational opportunities.
Fortinet’s Secure SD-Branch is the first unified WAN edge, secure WIFI and switching, and network access control solution available today, protecting the WAN and access edge in an integrated and automated style from a single control point.
Using Fortinet’s Secure SD-Branch solution, which is the business’s most comprehensive branch offering to secure the WAN and access edge and enable secure distributed networking, Fortinet is a global leader in expansive, integrated, and automated cybersecurity solutions.
The Secure SD-Branch solution from Fortinet expands the Fortinet Security Fabric and SD-WAN benefits to network access, combining WAN and security into one solution. This combination enhances security and visibility while also reducing complexity, further improving performance and agility, and reducing overall IT costs at the edge of the network.
The New WAN and Access Edge Paradigm
Many clients are undergoing a digital transformation, employing hybrid cloud architectures with both remote and local processes, as well as SaaS applications, creating multiple network edges beyond the WAN and access edge.
Despite having a slew of edges that need to be secured, many companies are struggling to ensure adequate security throughout their distributed enterprises. The complexity of dealing with these edges, which often include complicated and overlapping point products, adds to the challenge.
Additionally, an increase in the number and variety of IoT gadgets connected to branch networks creates opportunities for hackers to target and access sensitive information. Moreover, users who are adopting SD-WAN are finding that they need a tighter integration of their LAN platform to extend Secure SD-WAN features into the network for improved security and manageability.
The digital revolution is profoundly changing how companies work together, and all parts of the network must be protected and adapted to not jeopardize new digital business opportunities. Having access to data and resources at all times, no matter where the branch is located gives it insight into its maximum capacity.
What networking experts say:
In addition to SD-WAN, companies wishing to implement SD-Branch for WAN and LAN integration will need to investigate SD-Branch. The Fortinet solution integrates security as well as a wireless network so that it is a comprehensive approach to SD-Branch. They bring a lot of additional skills and abilities to the table with security on the front line.
An endpoint
As per Network World, by reducing branch costs, SD-Branch can reduce risks while enhancing agility and management at the edge of distributed enterprises. To find the right solution, you just have to find the right solution.
In a perfect world, a protected SD-Branch would combine networks and security to provide SD-WAN, a network controller, and NAC functionality without requiring extra licensing.
For IT departments to reduce complexity and administration headaches, a single pane of glass is necessary for deploying, managing, and troubleshooting wired, wireless, WAN, and security, including NAC.
Discovering solutions with these important capabilities will reduce branch costs and enhance branch agility, network visibility, and edge management capabilities.