SD-WAN Capabilities
DataNet has been offering SD-WAN services to its customers since 2020, helping to streamline WAN architecture and improve network security and agility. Previously, a lack of performance over existing networks caused reliability issues, and with working in some of the most challenging and austere environments for telecommunications, multiple WAN options are almost necessary. In Q4 of 2022, DataNet added a secondary low-cost internet WAN link for one of its customers in East Africa over its newly furnished SD-WAN backhaul. This secondary link has increased availability for this customer from 93% to 99.99%, while providing various analytics of circuit performance and end-user traffic patterns.
Traditional methods of backhauling traffic from branch offices caused performance and resiliency problems, as well as network security issues while wasting bandwidth which adds latency, leading to impaired application performance. The IPSec dynamic tunneling is built into DataNet SD-WAN platform, ensuring all communications to the control and data planes are encrypted to the highest NIST standards.
DataNet’s SD-WAN platform also supports SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) capabilities, created by sending traffic directly through the Internet from customer locations to trusted SASE and cloud-based applications, while implementing next generation firewall security measures across network and end user devices. DataNet performs this service by supplying its customer base with multi-tenancy to connect to the SASE platform to supply the analytics, routing, and NGFW (Next Generation Firewall) capabilities.
DataNet’s SD-WAN Service offering will help its customers move from a CAPEX to an OPEX model, where there is no need for upfront investments and software-defined applications are purchased on an as-needed basis. DataNet currently has SD-WAN hubs available for its customers in Africa and the USA to either aggregate these multiple WANs or simply provide the control plane across the entire African continent.
SD-WAN centralizes control functions and directs traffic securely and reliably across the WAN to either other customer branches or trusted SaaS and IaaS providers. This increases application performance and resiliency, leveraging encryption for cybersecurity. Traditional methods backhaul all traffic, including those destined for the cloud, and create latency and application performance issues. These services offer next-level transparency to customers as they have access to their circuit performances via the multi-tenant SD-WAN GUI. DataNet’s investment into SD-WAN simplifies IT infrastructure and delivers a virtual WAN network that is scalable, innovative, secure, and reliable.
For further information, please contact info@data.co.ug.
