
An SD-WAN implementation can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! In this blog post, we’ll cover everything from assessing your needs to activating your new network. So whether you’re just getting started or you’re ready to take the plunge, read on for all you need to know about implementing SD-WAN!
Assess Your Requirements
The first step is to assess your needs. What are your goals for implementing SD-WAN? Do you want to improve performance or reduce costs? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start looking at different solutions and comparing them to your needs.
Identify Site Profiles
The next step is to identify site profiles. This means creating a profile for each of your locations, considering factors such as bandwidth and latency.
Create a Network Model
After you’ve identified your site profiles, it’s time to create a network model. This will help you map out how your SD-WAN will be deployed and what traffic will flow where.
Configure Devices
Now it’s time to configure your devices. This includes everything from routers to The second step is to select a solution. There are many different SD-WAN vendors out there, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that’s right for you.
Select Proof-of-concept Sites
Once you’ve selected a vendor, it’s time to select proof-of-concept sites. These are locations where you will test out your SD-WAN solution to make sure it meets your needs. It’s important to choose sites that represent different types of traffic and usage patterns so that you can get a well-rounded picture of how the SD-WAN performs.
Deploy SD-WAN
The next step is to deploy your SD-WAN. This includes physically installing the devices and configuring them for your specific network. Make sure to follow all best practices during deployment so that you don’t run into any problems down the road.
Activate Services
After your devices are deployed, it’s time to activate your services. This includes things like configuring Quality of Service and enabling site-to-site VPNs. Once your services are up and running, you can start using your SD-WAN to its full potential!
Test your SD-WAN
Before you go live, it’s important to test your new network to make sure it’s working as expected. You can do this by running some tests or even simulating traffic patterns. This includes putting your SD-WAN through its paces to make sure it can handle all of your traffic. Make sure to test things like failover and site-to-site VPNs so that you know everything is working as SD-WAN explained in 7 Steps for beginners.
Monitor SD-WAN
The final step is to go live with your SD-WAN. This means flipping the switch and making your SD-WAN the primary network for all your locations. Once you’ve gone live, you’ll need to keep an eye on your network performance and make sure everything is running smoothly. You can do this by monitoring tools and looking for any potential issues.
There you have it! These are the seven easy steps to implementing SD-WAN. By following these steps, you can be sure that your SD-WAN deployment will go smoothly, and you’ll be able to achieve all your goals.