SD-WAN deployment models

SD-WAN is the new poster boy in the enterprise networking space. In India, the SD-WAN market is primarily driven by large enterprises due to the growing business and operational needs caused by the widespread adoption of cloud (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), mobility, and other digital solution in multiple branches. As far as the SMBs are concerned, it is primarily a wait and watch, with a rise in expected uptake if fixed broadband becomes a mainstay in this market segment.

This leaves us with the mid-market. Sandwiched between the two but makes an excellent case for managed SD-WAN offering since large enterprises are reasonably equipped to manage end-to-end deployments. Based on our interactions and market understanding, even a co-managed deployment model finds takers amongst large establishments.

Some of the critical reasons for organizations going for managed services are:

• Service provider's capability to provide unified management of all networks services
• Aggregate and manage multiple networks
• Act as a SPOC for all networking issues

Also, lets us not forget an essential element of any business transaction these days, i.e. SLAs. How service providers give assurance for SD-WAN services will be crucial for enterprises going for managed SD-WAN services and eventually identifying the partner of choice to offer these services.

While choosing the right partner for your managed SD-WAN is pertinent, an organization must identify the right underlay service provider which is best suited to meet an organization's digital infrastructure requirements.

Essentially, all three types of deployment models (Fully Managed, DIY & Co-Managed) will continue to co-exist. Each model has the desired benefits specific to a particular customer segment.