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Home / Glossary / SD-WAN
Glossary · Networking

SD-WAN

Software-defined Wide Area Network

In plain language

A way to join several offices over ordinary internet lines, with software choosing the best route for each task.

The metaphor

Like a dispatcher watching the traffic and sending each delivery along whichever road is clear.

Going deeper

How it works

  • A device at each office watches the quality of every internet line.
  • Calls and video get the best line; bulk transfers take what is left.
  • If one line fails, traffic moves to another.
  • It costs less than private leased lines.

How WILDCARD handles it

Network covers the managed firewall at each site that this type of setup builds on.

In practice
  • A retail chain links ten shops over cable and cellular connections.
  • A call moves to a second line without dropping when the first fails.
  • A head office sees the health of every branch in one view.

A question owners ask

Do two offices need this?

Often not. Two offices usually do well with a simple secure link between them.

Where WILDCARD handles this
Network
  • Firewall managed and monitored
  • Switches kept current
  • On-prem Active Directory auth
Start with Network
Related terms
ACLAccess Control ListAHAuthentication HeaderAPAccess PointARPAddress Resolution ProtocolBPDUBridge Protocol Data UnitCCMPCounter Mode/CBC-MAC ProtocolCCTVClosed-circuit TelevisionCHAPChallenge Handshake Authentication Protocol

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