What is sd wan, how does it work ?

SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a network architecture that uses software to manage the distribution of data across a wide area network. SD-WAN technology is designed to provide better connectivity, security, and performance for enterprise networks that are spread across multiple locations.

Traditionally, wide area networks (WANs) have been built using dedicated hardware devices like routers and switches, which are expensive to buy, deploy and maintain. SD-WAN simplifies this process by enabling network administrators to manage network traffic, prioritize applications, and optimize performance using software.

The software-defined approach to WANs allows enterprises to leverage any available network connection, including broadband internet, 4G or 5G wireless, and dedicated private circuits. By pooling all these different types of connections together and intelligently routing traffic across them, SD-WAN can provide more reliable and secure network connectivity, even in situations where individual connections might be unreliable.

Another key benefit of SD-WAN is the ability to use policy-based routing to prioritize different types of network traffic, such as real-time voice and video traffic over less time-sensitive data traffic. This helps to ensure that applications run smoothly and consistently, regardless of network conditions.

Overall, SD-WAN is a powerful network architecture that offers a flexible, cost-effective and secure way for enterprises to manage their distributed networks.