SD-WAN or VPN: Choosing the Right Tool for Your Network Needs

Published on: December 11, 2023

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13 min read

Two options that are frequently contrasted are VPN (virtual private network) and SD-WAN ( Software-Defined Wide Area Network). Networking options that offer some overlapping advantages to enterprises include SD-WANs and VPNs. These technologies serve quite distinct objectives, though.

Finding a telecommunications solution that keeps a business operating smoothly and effectively is crucial for organizations these days, especially if they want to provide their clients with the right caliber of service. That being said, it makes sense for organizations to evaluate solutions to determine which is best for them. In fact, doing so is encouraged.

While SD-WAN was developed as a result of the rising popularity of cloud computing, VPN is a well-established network that has been used to safeguard a user's connection and anonymity on the Internet. Furthermore, companies are turning to SD-WAN, an efficient solution that provides scalability along with high levels of security and performance, since an increasing number of apps are housed in the cloud.

Which option suits you better? To help you decide if SD-WAN is preferable to VPN for your company, we have compared the two networks' security, performance, cost, traffic management, maintenance and scalability, and visibility.

Additionally, the information in this article will assist you in determining the similarities between SD-WAN and VPN, in addition to their differences, allowing you to make the right decision for your firm. You may pick a networking solution that fits your budget and company demands, giving your staff access to a secure internet connection.

The following are the article's detailed headings:

• What are SD-WAN and VPN?
• What are the differences between SD-WAN and VPN?
  • Security
  • Performance
  • Cost
  • Traffic Management
  • Maintenance and Scalability
  • Visibility
• How Are SD-WAN and VPN similar?
• SD-WAN or VPN: Which One Is Right for You?
  • Is SD-WAN better than VPN?
  • Does SD-WAN use VPN?
  • Can SD-WAN replace VPN entirely?
• How to Choose Between SD-WAN and VPN
  • Understanding Organizational Needs
  • Diving Deep into Features
  • Cost Implications
  • Considering Security Profiles

What are SD-WAN and VPN?

We will outline what SD-WAN and VPN are below.

SD-WAN

One networking technology that makes managing wide area networks (WANs) easier is software-defined wide area networks, or SD-WAN. Through the use of virtual architecture, businesses safely link people to their apps. SD-WAN, which is more secure than standard WAN solutions, uses software to regulate services, administration, and communication between distant branches, data centers, and cloud resources.

Businesses link people, apps, and data over long distances and numerous locations by using SD-WAN. With scalability, stability, and high performance, SD-WAN offers enterprises visibility across the whole network and centralized management over their WANs.

An SD-WAN routes network traffic between sites using a variety of WAN connections, including broadband internet, LTE, MPLS, and 4G/5G. Whether distant offices are located on separate continents or in different nations, this is a great approach to maximizing communication between them.

With SD-WAN, applications may use a single network pipe while traffic is intelligently routed over several transport channels. Based on preconfigured policies and priorities, SD-WAN automatically determines which application generates a certain type of traffic and chooses a route for it. This guarantees that applications with high priority and low latency will obtain the network performance they need without wasting valuable network capacity on less important apps.

Despite being relatively new, SD-WAN use is accelerating due to rising demand for remote work and mobility.

Virtual Private Network

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a service that establishes a secure, private connection across an unsecured channel, such as the public internet, between a single device and a network, or between two networks. VPNs are frequently used by businesses to provide distant workers with network access.

Point-to-point traffic encryption may be achieved via VPNs. A VPN solution, whether it be VPN client software or VPN endpoint hardware, encrypts and decrypts all data at both ends of the connection. A virtual private network (VPN) essentially spans a public network. With the use of VPN servers, users may appear as though their devices are physically linked to a private network while safely sending and receiving data via public networks. With a virtual private network (VPN), two parties communicate securely, preventing eavesdropping on their communications, and enjoy a feature set that is comparable to that of a direct network connection.

Users using VPNs are shielded from unsecured Wi-Fi networks, where hackers may get access to personal information and login credentials. Users may maintain their privacy and conceal their location by connecting to a VPN.

VPNs only employ secure tunnels to hide users' locations and safeguard their data, and they encrypt user information as well. This implies that users download or pirate materials safely, circumvent regional limitations on streaming websites, and acquire online anonymity.

There are several methods for implementing VPNs. Two popular examples are VPNs with IPsec and SSL. Although it needs client software, an IPsec VPN may transport any kind of data from the client to the server. In contrast, an SSL VPN operates inside a web browser and offers safe online access to the corporate network.

A major factor driving the enormous growth in smartphone and wireless device use is the need for VPN technology.

What are the Differences Between SD-WAN and VPN?

Depending on your company's demands, either VPN or SD-WAN might be more beneficial, as each network has its own advantages. The purpose of both VPN and SD-WAN, notwithstanding their differences in operation, is to provide safe, distant network access. Both offer security measures in addition to an encrypted connection. As a network gateway, SD-WAN maximizes traffic routing across several connections. VPN, on the other hand, transmits data via a single network link and offers point-to-point communication between a device and a network, or between two networks.

There are, to put it simply, two main distinctions between VPN and SD-WAN:

• The architecture of networks: determines how the link is put into practice
• Media transportation: decides how information is sent across connections.

The security, performance, cost, traffic management, maintenance and scalability, and visibility of SD-WAN and VPN are compared in the following table.

Criteria	SD-WAN	VPN
Security	In and of itself, SD-WAN is only a networking solution. To utilize SD-WAN's full potential without sacrificing security, for SD-WAN is essential.	Merely offering an encrypted connection between two endpoints, a basic VPN needs extra security inspection methods. If a company wants to benefit from a VPN with integrated security, it needs a safe VPN solution.
Performance	Long-distance traffic travel minimizes latency problems, and this is made possible by cloud-based SD-WAN. Additionally, it has a number of performance-enhancing capabilities (including application-aware routing, dynamic path selection, and Quality of Service [QoS]) that VPN does not.	VPN performance problems might arise because of its dependence on the public internet. For instance, long-distance traffic might add delay, while traffic surges can deteriorate connection speed.
Cost	Because SD-WANs use the public internet instead of private connections, they are typically less expensive than traditional WANs. Additionally, the SD-WAN pricing model provides a low-cost network construction alternative by eliminating running costs related to commodity lines like fiber, DSL, or cable.	VPN services can be purchased for a fee or for free, but the more money a business spends, the more secure and dependable the service is. Packages for remote access with VPN start at about $7 per person. The time and labor required to manage network connections will incur additional expenses.
Traffic Management	By identifying traffic according to the application that created it, SD-WAN makes it possible to apply routing and security policies specifically for each application.	VPNs use high-level encryption to jumble network traffic, safeguarding your online identity.
Maintenance and Scalability	Although an SD-WAN tunnel cannot be scaled, its design may be expanded to accommodate your company's demands. For example, when your business expands, this technology may support more devices.	Each pair of parties needing to connect directly needs its own VPN link because it's a point-to-point solution. A completely linked network needs an exponential number of VPN connections for each communication party.
Visibility	Enables thorough network visibility for broad area network monitoring.	Has little vision past the tunnel it forms.

Table 1. SD-WAN vs. VPN

Security

Businesses may benefit from enhanced security via both SD-WANs and VPNs. On the other hand, an SD-WAN's main function is to optimize and manage network traffic across several sites, whereas a VPN is made for security.

All outgoing traffic using a VPN is encrypted, encrypting data so that unapproved parties cannot decipher it. It enables mobile or home-based remote workers to safely connect to a corporate network.

Through the establishment of an encrypted VPN tunnel between the user's device and the corporate network, a virtual private network improves employee privacy. Malicious parties find it more difficult to collect and eavesdrop on data as it passes over the internet, thanks to a VPN tunnel.

As a result, VPNs undoubtedly have robust encryption capabilities and are quite beneficial for smaller enterprises. That being said, there are security dangers associated with using VPNs. Since VPNs rely on the public internet, they are open to attack. Incorrect security implementation leaves the network vulnerable as a whole. Security hazards linked to VPNs include credential theft, identity theft, malware spreading from distant users' devices to the internal network, and split tunneling issues.

Conversely, network security is not the purpose of an SD-WAN; nevertheless, certain SD-WAN systems could include security features (such as encryption and a site-to-site VPN connection).

Rather than having to manually protect each connection, organizations can use SD-WAN to allow secure end-to-end encryption over the whole network. Every device at every network endpoint is authenticated by SD-WAN. SD-WAN security provides more features than VPN, including traffic encryption, URL filtering, firewalls, network segmentation and, moreover, integrated firewalls, traffic segmentation, threat detection and mitigation, etc. Specific Software Defined- features vary based on the provider.

Performance

Three important performance areas - network speed, reliability, and user experience - will be examined in order to evaluate the capabilities of SD-WANs and VPNs.

Speed of the network

Dynamic path selection, or the intelligent and automated selection of the best route, is how an SD-WAN maximizes network performance. Because of this, an SD-WAN provides superior application functionality and fast network speeds, particularly for cloud-based applications. On the other hand, a VPN slows down the connection by adding an additional layer of encryption to the data transmission process. The reduced speeds can be more apparent in business networks as organizations send data across extended distances. Modern VPN programs, however, are more effective; thus, the speed shouldn't be greatly impacted.

Reliability

SD-WAN equipment uses multiple network connections at once to provide dependable network connectivity. An SD-WAN immediately changes to another available connection if one fails or has problems, ensuring the network operates as intended. Another dependable networking option is a virtual private network, such as an IPSec VPN, when set up properly. Modern VPNs leverage numerous connections concurrently, providing higher speed and dependability than prior VPNs that relied on a single network link.

User experience

Through network traffic optimization, SD-WAN technology enhances data flow across networks. It guarantees quick network speeds, lessens network congestion, and allots bandwidth to prioritize important programs (like video conferencing). Better application speed and a more seamless corporate network connection are available to users. Whether they are B2B or B2C, VPN providers want to give their customers the greatest possible experience because if they don't, they risk losing them to a rival. Numerous VPN service providers provide a user-friendly UI, practical features, and quick connection speeds. In order to keep getting better in the areas where they still need improvement, they solicit user input.

In essence, the distance between sites and performance-affecting increases in congestion will usually cause you to face significant delays when using VPN-based WANs. Additionally, SD-WAN capabilities like application-aware routing, dynamic path selection, and quality of service are not available with VPN. Together with these benefits, SD-WAN is cloud-based, meaning that, unlike VPN, there is no delay resulting from a geographic distance.

Cost

Since VPN and SD-WAN are internet-based network solutions, organizations can afford to use them. But because VPN is so much simpler than SD-WAN, it's usually less expensive. Because of this, VPN is excellent for companies that require a basic WAN network for a limited number of locations.

However, in this case, the price of each solution varies depending on a number of variables, including the size of the business, the number of sites or users, and the supplier selected.

Given that an SD-WAN offers a more sophisticated and all-encompassing networking solution, the price of a VPN is often more basic and economical than that of an SD-WAN.

Businesses usually have two choices when it comes to SD-WANs: either they create their own SD-WAN internally or they work with a managed service provider (MSP) that offers SD-WAN solutions. Nevertheless, there are large up-front costs associated with in-house deployment, as well as ongoing expenses for updating the outdated infrastructure. Nevertheless, SD-WAN offers instant advantages that might compensate for expenses.

Although the majority of businesses that implement a fully integrated SD-WAN solution may anticipate a 100% return on investment in three years, others will do so in as little as one.

Traffic Management

VPNs use high-level encryption to jumble network traffic, safeguarding your online identity. SD-WAN tunnels don't handle traffic because they only provide communication between two endpoints. All of the SD-WAN architecture, however, routes traffic to various destinations using a central control panel that is programmed with user regulations and algorithms. By using previous performance data, SD-WAN, for instance, may identify the optimal path for application traffic, minimizing the possibility of network disruptions that could negatively affect your company.

Intelligent traffic routing across many connection types, including MPLS, internet, and LTE, is possible with SD-WAN. It ensures optimal performance by choosing the optimum path given the state of the network. VPNs often transfer all of their data via a single link, which is their primary source of dependence.

The burden of inspecting and securing all incoming and outgoing network traffic is lessened on the headquarters network when SD-WAN appliances are spread throughout the organization's network.

To be routed across the corporate WAN, all traffic has to pass through an SD-WAN appliance.

Maintenance and Scalability

In addition to being extremely scalable and effortlessly scaling up and down to accommodate changing network traffic demands, SD-WAN is very straightforward to maintain.

Without the danger of configuration drift, new network assets are added to the portal and managed using the same policies. Configuring policies is done on the cloud.

Large businesses are the target market for SD-WAN products. Because of their adaptability, they can easily handle cloud-based apps, different branch locations, and remote users.

An SD-WAN dynamically manages growing traffic and adjusts to the shifting demands of the business as the network and the company expand. Adding new sites and users is made simple by the reduced procedures and centralized administration. For businesses trying to grow their network infrastructure effectively without sacrificing performance, this scalability is a big benefit.

VPNs are customized to meet the requirements of expanding companies. Numerous VPN service providers provide tools and tactics to make it easier for growing businesses to integrate VPN solutions into their infrastructure. However, a VPN was not intended for large businesses, and an SD-WAN solution helps larger organizations more than a VPN does.

Even though they are easier to use at first, maintaining several point-to-point connections can make VPNs complicated. In a VPN, configuring and scaling IPsec tunneling, IKE, and NAT-T requires a high degree of skill. Furthermore, when more sites are added to a WAN, maintaining a VPN gets harder and harder. SD-WAN vendors offer a central control panel via which you can keep an eye on all the various parts of the architecture, including tunnels. Additionally, this interface allows you to set user policies for SD-WAN instead of using several tools, which simplifies network management.

However, it is a fact that SD-WAN systems are usually readily updated and flexible. Since the method is software-driven and centralized, it doesn't call for customized hardware code or infrastructure modifications. But, managing WAN connections becomes more difficult, which leads to performance problems and a fragmented architecture when businesses add more locations.

Regarding VPNs, setting them up and maintaining them might take a lot of effort. Networking knowledge is needed, for instance, to securely configure Internet Key Exchange (IKE), IPsec tunneling, and Network Address Translation Traversal (NAT-T). Although less flexible than SD-WAN, VPNs are easier to administer since each VPN connection is end-to-end rather than centralized.

Visibility

Organizations can efficiently monitor and analyze network traffic thanks to network visibility. IT administrators are able to identify and address security issues by monitoring network activity. This method assists in detecting questionable activity or illegal access attempts.

You may check stats related to performance, dependability, and other features with many VPN companies. For example, you can find out how well your VPN connection is doing and how many people are using it at any given moment. Additionally, providers of SD-WAN may offer metrics, which let you monitor

It is possible that you find out more about the performance of SD-WAN tunnels in particular. On the other hand, providers typically just offer information on the overall functionality of SD-WAN rather than specific components.

SD-WAN offers centralized network visibility and control. With the help of SD-WAN, businesses can see and manage their networks, which facilitates speedy troubleshooting and security issue resolution.

Because of this, SD-WAN performs exceptionally well in terms of network transparency, providing real-time information on traffic and application performance. However, SD-WAN is a better option for all-encompassing visibility than VPN, which, despite being secure, only offers restricted views of network activities.

Every VPN connection exists separately from the others. This might make it difficult to keep total visibility over a company's network traffic unless a VPN solution has these features built-in.

VPN is not visible as a result. IT departments may not be able to see their users' network connections while they are using VPNs, which makes it challenging to properly monitor and fix problems.

How are SD-WAN and VPN Similar?

The fundamental purpose of SD-WAN and VPN is to provide secure network connections over the internet so that data is safe from potential breaches and stays secret. Fundamentally, SD-WAN and VPN technologies provide remote access to a centralized network, enabling users and workers to connect to essential company resources from any place. Their intrinsic reliance on the internet, which enables them to function without the need for specific proprietary infrastructure, is the source of this similarity.

Furthermore, traffic routing features are included in both VPN and SD-WAN. While SD-WAN selects its paths dynamically depending on current network conditions, VPNs choose their paths more slowly and route traffic mostly through a centralized VPN concentrator, which affects access and performance. This route ensures efficient data transmission and bandwidth cost optimization. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that both VPN and SD-WAN are not restricted to any particular communication protocol, indicating their flexibility in a range of networking situations.

As an example, while both VPN and SD-WAN allow users to connect to a network, they do it in rather different ways. Apart from having the same objective, the two solutions are very different from one another. Each has a distinct function, and each has distinctly different characteristics and use cases.

When it comes to traffic routing, SD-WAN has several pathways to select from, unlike VPN, which depends on only one. Because SD-WAN can handle many connection types, such as MPLS, internet, 4G, and Long Term Evolution (LTE), it offers greater flexibility. With the help of this feature, SD-WAN may enhance routing by instantly moving traffic along the most effective path.

Although a VPN gives remote workers an encrypted, safe internet connection, it does not have the administration and monitoring features of SD-WAN. As a result, poor bandwidth, latency, and other performance concerns are increasingly common among VPN users.

SD-WAN or VPN: Which One Is Right for You?

The requirements of your company will determine which option, VPN or SD-WAN, to choose. An internet-based VPN should be sufficient for a small business to connect a few users or sites to get started. Larger enterprises will probably need to take into account a cloud-based SD-WAN solution if they need their networks to be agile, performant, reliable, and scalable.

In this case, an Internet-based VPN can make sense if your company is small and you just need to connect a few sites. However, cloud-based SD-WAN prevails in use cases where scalability, performance, dependability, and operational agility are critical.

If we compare features more thoroughly, enterprises considering SD-WAN vs. VPN must also take cost, complexity, geography, and compatibility into account.

VPN

• Has a single route for traffic routing
• Provides an affordable, fundamental solution for everyone.
• It may be a wise option for small companies in need of a basic WAN
• Completes tasks quickly, but may have performance problems

SD-WAN

• Each has many connections and different pathways for traffic routing
• It provides a superior choice for big businesses, especially those that depend on the cloud and are spread out worldwide.
• It gives businesses the performance, agility, scalability, insight, visibility, and dependability they need to remain competitive.
• Upgrades to underlay network components are necessary for internal deployment.
• Although managed SD-WAN solutions are more expensive than traditional WANs, they can eventually lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) by doing away with internal construction and maintenance.

Is SD-WAN better than VPN?

Yes, SD-WAN may be particularly good at providing real-time network transparency by providing information on traffic and application performance. Although safe, VPN only offers a restricted view of network activities; for a more comprehensive picture, SD-WAN is a better option.

Additionally, SD-WAN performs better than VPN overall and provides more thorough security. Because SD-WAN has a security mechanism that transfers an IP address to another network in order to instantly fix a service failure, it is more dependable. Most significantly, a VPN cannot be scaled like SD-WAN can. Additionally, because SD-WAN reduces packet loss, which lowers performance, it offers corporate users a more seamless experience.

From an alternative viewpoint, though, SD-WAN and VPN have distinct functions. As a result, neither is superior to the other. While VPN essentially offers a secure, encrypted channel for data transfer over the internet, SD-WAN optimizes and maintains numerous WAN connections for business networks, boosting speed and dependability. In addition to providing extra security features like path selection and application-aware routing, SD-WAN integrates VPN services. Actually, the decision between them sort of comes down to the particular requirements.

Does SD-WAN use a VPN?

Yes, SD-WAN supports VPN and other forms of network connectivity. Businesses typically use SD-WAN to centrally manage a geographically distributed network. Individual remote workers can access the company's network using a VPN.

Multiple network types can be supported simultaneously using SD-WAN technology. The particular SD-WAN solution that is implemented will determine which network types are supported, but in general, a virtual private network establishes an encrypted tunnel between two computers or networks, enabling users to safely access company resources from remote locations. SD-WAN is capable of supporting VPNs and other network connections.

Can SD-WAN replace VPN entirely?

No, although SD-WAN can have VPN features, VPNs are not completely replaced by it. Although SD-WAN offers enhanced network connection, path selection, and application-aware routing for wide-area networks, virtual private networks, or VPNs, are designed to offer encrypted tunnels for safe online data transfer. An option for enterprises in need of both enhanced network efficiency and safe remote access is SD-WAN with built-in VPN features.

Furthermore, because SD-WAN offers more flexibility and precise control over network traffic, it is more appropriate for use cases that want to completely change an organization. An SD-WAN allows you to control access from a single platform while consolidating all connections, users, and apps, whereas a VPN only gives a single connection.

From all of these perspectives, SD-WAN is considerably more feature-rich than VPN and may even take its place. Organizations should take into account their overall company strategy, applications, and procedures when determining whether to replace their VPN. A company may think about implementing SD-WAN if it has to support remote networks, needs to migrate to the cloud, or needs to require improved performance.

How to Choose Between SD-WAN and VPN

The choice between VPN and SD-WAN depends on the particular needs of the business. While both systems provide secure networking solutions, there are differences in their approaches, levels of complexity, and benefits.

SD-WAN tunnels and VPNs have distinct uses. While the latter serves as a communication channel in SD-WAN architecture that offers connectivity options, the former establishes a secure connection between a device and the internet.

Consider the situations in which you may utilize an SD-WAN tunnel or VPN. The ideal uses for a virtual private network are remote work arrangements and online identity protection. However, if you want two endpoints in your SD-WAN architecture to be able to connect with one another, then an SD-WAN tunnel comes in handy.

You should consider the following situations when you faced with a decision between SD-WAN and VPN:

• Understanding Organizational Needs
• Diving Deep into Features
• Cost Implications
• Considering Security Profiles

Understanding Organizational Needs

Determining the precise needs of the company is crucial from the beginning. Your use case, the size of your business, your networking needs, and the potential for expansion of your operation will ultimately determine the technology you choose. VPNs can be sufficient for smaller enterprises with fewer distant connections because of their price and ease of use. To begin, a small firm should be able to connect a few users or sites using an internet-based VPN. If larger businesses want their networks to be nimble, efficient, dependable, and expandable, they ought to consider a cloud-based SD-WAN solution.

Diving Deep into Features

Real-time traffic routing based on network health makes SD-WAN unique in that it ensures optimal data transmission. Additionally, SD-WAN promotes a unified approach by combining features like LAN, WAN, security, and application performance into a single platform. This kind of integration, which is outside the purview of conventional VPNs, becomes crucial for corporate transformation.

On the other hand, although they are simpler, virtual private networks (VPNs) offer a safe way to send data over the Internet. They work well, but they may occasionally have performance snags in the absence of SD-WAN's adaptive traffic management features. The following are the properties of VPN and SD-WAN when examined separately.

SD-WAN Features You Should Consider Before a Decision:

Before deciding, make sure your SD-WAN solution has the following capabilities to make sure you're getting the most out of it:

• Expertise in providing: Reduce the workload for IT teams who are pressed for time by using an automated device provisioning solution. Even better, search for a centralized controller with zero-touch deployment that can expand and provide branches rapidly.
• Simplified Deployment: Use a system that provides single-pane-of-glass deployment, management, and monitoring for all SD-WAN components, networking, traffic management, and security components and policies, to speed up implementation.
• Relief in bandwidth: Forget about scheduling extra multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) capacity for a conventional wide-area network (WAN) weeks or months in advance. Organizations immediately take advantage of widely accessible corporate broadband services to ensure optimal network and application performance and boost available bandwidth with the correct SD-WAN solution.
• At its best: Use application steering to prioritize those business-critical apps. When utilizing latency-sensitive applications like phones and video, an application-aware SD-WAN solution may serve a wide range of applications, enhancing cloud application performance and allowing branches to interface directly with the Internet.
• Outstanding dependability: An SD-WAN system may automatically fail over to the best available WAN link by collecting detailed WAN route information. For increased business continuity, this path-awareness intelligence guarantees dependable network connectivity.
• The entire policy administration: IT departments can manage and maintain uniform policies on everything from security to application filtering across thousands of devices and apps, even across several locations, with an SD-WAN solution that includes a management console.
• Adaptable choices for connections: Traffic is effectively routed via a variety of channels using SD-WAN, including public Internet via LTE and broadband as well as currently in use MPLS lines. As a result of utilizing more adaptable and frequently less expensive broadband choices, WAN connections and overhead may be managed more effectively.
• Straightforward cloud connectivity: As a result of the digital revolution, more services are moving to the cloud. Unfortunately, today's complex workloads and disruptive apps are just too much for traditional network infrastructures to handle. The good news is that customers who are located far from headquarters may access crucial cloud apps directly using SD-WAN.
• Security of the future: An organization's attack surface increases with each branch that has local Internet connectivity and is SD-WAN enabled. This makes it even more important to choose a solution that incorporates the security architecture for centralized visibility and management and extends protection outside the data center. Seek out a system that offers several security capabilities, such as Web filtering, IPS, integrated NGFW, rapid SSL inspection performance, and an IPSec VPN solution that can extend across and between various sites.
• Interface that is easy to use: IT departments may significantly lower administration expenses, streamline setup, and speed up deployment cycles by controlling SD-WAN from a basic user interface, such as an orchestration console or single pane of glass management system.

VPN Features You Should Consider Before a Decision

Prior to deciding, check out the characteristics offered by a virtual private network (VPN) provider.

• Privacy and Security: Your IP address is concealed from hackers and trackers using a secure VPN, which encrypts your Internet activity. Seek out a VPN that offers robust security features, including L2TP/IPSec, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, together with a no-logs policy to guarantee that no data is ever gathered or retained.
• Support for Multiple Devices: A reputable VPN service provides security for multiple devices, including those running iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS, and enables simultaneous connections.
• Geo-Restriction Avoidance: VPNs enable users to access content that is geographically prohibited. For instance, you may view Netflix content that is restricted to the US by using a VPN. A decent VPN program should include a large selection of servers in order to provide access to global content.
• Deactivate Switch: A kill switch is a function that can help prevent your IP address from being revealed. If the VPN connection dies, it will instantly unplug your device from the Internet.
• Blocking Ads and Trackers: Ad and tracker blocking is a function that certain VPN programs provide to stop websites from gathering user data and to enhance page speed.

Cost Implications

Due to its complex architecture, SD-WAN frequently has a higher initial cost. However, improved network performance and potential cost savings from fewer outages may offset this. Due to their simplicity and often lower cost, VPNs are appealing to enterprises on a tight budget.

Additionally, keep in mind that SD-WAN architecture, which includes SD-WAN tunnels, might cost more than a VPN. Thus, before making a purchase, consider your budget. Nevertheless, if either technology adds value to your business, you may see a return on your investment.

Considering Security Profiles

SD-WAN's multipoint architecture makes it appear more open by default. To counteract dangers, many contemporary SD-WAN solutions do, however, have sophisticated security mechanisms. Despite their longer history and strong security foundation, VPNs are nevertheless vulnerable to assaults. Users can turn off VPNs.

Furthermore, even though VPNs by nature provide secure data transfer, there are always some risks. Their base is the public internet, which leaves them vulnerable to several types of assaults. On the other hand, SD-WAN provides enhanced security posture by providing end-to-end encryption throughout the whole network and integrating with contemporary security technologies such as NGFWs, SASEs (secure access service edge), and CASBs.