Perhaps it is best to start out with what the cloud is and how it has changed things, in better words, how it has revolutionized everything about file storage. It had been previously unheard of for you to access your files anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. What surprises me is how many people don’t understand what it is. Cloud storage is a physical place, it is a combination of multiple servers usually and it allows you access, through one of the many mediums that there are your files. They are usually monthly services that you pay a monthly fee for. It basically holds your files for you and you are allowed to access them through means of logging into your service likely with a password and username.
More to the main point, it is time to talk about how the cloud has influenced the WAN network’s capability. A cloud-based WAN has changed the way network professionals distribute both software and communication; cloud services are innovating the way WANs are created, distributed, and even how they are maintained.
Cloud WANs are designed to make WAN services easier to consume and manage. It is another trend in networking, just like software-defined networking and the streamlining of enterprise technology.
The trouble with privately linked WAN connections, not to mention MPLS connections is that they are too costly and that hardware needed to maintain these connections are special and have special ways to use it, oftentimes it is more trouble than it is worth.
The true wonders of the cloud come into play here. Functionality is built into the cloud and also into the remote router. Most cloud services are either programmed software or offered as a NaaS. There’s also a network trend going around that produces customer self-provisioning on the web, put simply, it helps a business, say a sub-branch in order to create an optimized, but also secured, cloud WAN connection quickly and efficiently.
Cloud-based SD-WANs have most definitely made things easier for software deployment, a large part of the innovations behind cloud technology, this is amazing because you can easily execute applications, they can easily be run and bought, all while in the cloud. Just one click and you are good to go.
For software like web applications, the main thing that network professionals always strive for in WAN efficiency is to improve the performance of these online apps being “streamed” over the internet. They also are constantly looking for ways to use WAN optimization to improve multiple, large file transfers, and/or stop speed bottle-necking. It is all about optimization, reducing the bandwidth usage as much as possible, and to improve stability.
