SD-WAN and MPLS
“SD-WAN vs MPLS?”
In a similar fashion to our prior blog covering UCaaS and CCaaS, this post will delve into two of the highest searched acronyms in the telecom and IT industry: SD-WAN and MPLS. Much like the aforementioned duo, SD-WAN and MPLS are commonly searched as “SD-WAN vs MPLS” with a large number of vendors and articles claiming that SD-WAN is the definitive replacement or upgrade of MPLS.
A Marriage of Technology, not a Divorce
On pen and paper, SD-WAN is better than MPLS because it is more cost-effective, increases performance, and flexibility. SD-WAN also utilizes the cloud, however, this does not mean that MPLS is obsolete and must be discarded. Far from it! SD-WAN and MPLS are better together, perhaps even more so than the combination of UCaaS and CCaaS.
SD-WAN and MPLS are complementary technologies; SD-WAN is not a replacement for MPLS. A speaker at an SD-WAN Bootcamp put their correlation as such: “The relationship between SD-WAN and MPLS is not a divorce, but a marriage.”
An analogy I would use to describe the relationship between SD-WAN and MPLS would be that when a greater horse-power engine comes out, engineers don’t do away with the car and invent a new mode of transportation.
What are SD-WAN and MPLS?
For those who do not know or need a quick reminder, here are some definitions.
SD-WAN: Software-defined networking in a wide area network that dynamically routes traffic across branches, data centers, and clouds to achieve maximum WAN coverage.
MPLS: Multiprotocol label switching, directs data between nodes, it controls the flow of traffic over a network between locations.
How Can SD-WAN and MPLS Be of Service to Each Other?
The first adopters of SD-WAN understood that it could be used alongside their current MPLS setups. These MPLS users wanted to use SD-WAN to go from a private to an encrypted network where they could use two MPLS circuits as active/active instead of only active/passive which was quite costly. These early adopters knew the usefulness of MPLS but wanted to leverage the cost-effectiveness of SD-WAN.
Govtech had an insightful blog on the topic of SD-WAN and MPLS in their article: “SD-WAN vs MPLS Understanding the Difference.” In the article, they point out how many vendors are incorrectly hyping up SD-WAN as the replacement for MPLS. In reality, these two can be used together to great effect. They write that, “…SD-WAN works on top of your MPLS and broadband connections to improve performance and control costs.”
There are additional advantages to pairing MPLS and SD-WAN. For example, if used together, a business could achieve a greater security posture. SD-WAN will also help your current MPLS infrastructure run more efficiently. Moreover, if there is an issue with your MPLS, SD-WAN can serve as a back-up and route your data through alternative channels/circuits.
Still curious about SD-WAN or MPLS? You can search through our library of blogs or connect with us. Afterall, Conectrix is in the business of connecting our clients with the most beneficial technologies and services.