SD-WAN
SD-WAN connects your locations and the cloud over a smart overlay that uses whatever transport is available ... fiber, broadband, wireless ... steering traffic for performance and resilience. It is the modern replacement for rigid, expensive MPLS networks.
How SD-WAN works
An appliance at each site pools your circuits and routes each application down the best path in real time ... voice on the cleanest link, bulk traffic on the cheapest. Add a site by shipping a box, not building a circuit. Most businesses buy it fully managed.
Typical SD-WAN pricing
Real pricing depends on your address, the carriers there, and your term. The fastest way to a real number is to let providers quote you.
Is it right for you?When SD-WAN fits
✓ Great fit
Multiple locations that need to act like one network, SaaS- and cloud-heavy operations, and anyone replacing MPLS or tired of a single circuit being a single point of failure.
● Consider instead
A single-site business does not need SD-WAN. And remember it is an overlay ... you still buy the underlying internet circuits it rides on.
SD-WAN vs. the alternatives
Cheaper, flexible, and cloud-friendly ... MPLS is rigid and expensive by comparison.
App-aware, managed, and self-healing, where a basic VPN is none of those.
Complementary ... SD-WAN rides Ethernet or broadband as its underlay.
How to compare SD-WAN providers
- ✓Managed or DIY? Most businesses want it fully managed.
- ✓Built-in security. Look for SASE / zero-trust integration.
- ✓Transport freedom. Can it use any carrier's circuits?
- ✓Cloud on-ramps. Optimized paths to AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365?
SD-WAN questions
What is SD-WAN?
Software-defined networking that connects your sites and cloud over any mix of circuits, with central control and automatic failover.
SD-WAN vs. MPLS?
SD-WAN is cheaper, more flexible, and built for the cloud ... it is actively replacing MPLS.
How much does it cost?
Roughly $150 to $2,000+ per site per month, usually managed.
Do I still need internet circuits?
Yes ... SD-WAN is the smart overlay on top of the circuits you buy.
SD-WAN, city by city
Compare providers in metros nationwide:
Plus more metros in the full directory below.