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How SD-WAN can Support Your VoIP Deployments
16 Mar, 2018
As more and more business applications and storage are moving into the cloud, companies are becoming increasingly dependent on their network connectivity and performance. Nowhere is this more true than in the realm of communications, as more and more companies are turning to cloud based business phone systems and using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for internal and external communications. Although it is definitely not required in all instances, SD-WAN is emerging as an important technology to support best-in-class VoIP deployments, particularly at sites where the primary internet connection is congested or unreliable. Here’s four reasons why companies are turning towards SD-WAN.
Save on Bandwidth Historically, many companies have turned to MPLS circuits to have dedicated connectivity for applications like communications. MPLS circuits are expensive, however, and SD-WAN can reduce your outlay on bandwidth. You have the freedom to mix and match network technologies including broadband, fiber, DSL and wireless networks. Many of these options offer huge savings compared to traditional dedicated connections and MPLS circuits, and you can mix and match internet providers at different locations depending on cost and quality available in each geography. Pay less and get more. But this isn’t the only driver of SD-WAN adoption, perhaps even more importance are the network performance elements…
Packet Prioritization There is a lot of traffic moving across a typical business network today, and you need tools to control how different applications consumer your bandwidth. For example, you do not want an employee streaming music to prevent another employee from making an outbound call. With SD-WAN you can prioritize certain types of traffic and control how and when your bandwidth is used. Communications and mission critical applications can be given first priority, and less-important or less time sensitive types of data traffic can be deprioritized or even moved to lower-cost circuits. Packet prioritization with SD-WAN can enable your VoIP system to operate more smoothly.
Always Monitoring Beyond prioritization, SD-WAN tools are constantly monitoring the quality of your connectivity and shifting packet traffic across different connections to get the most out of your bandwidth. Even if you only have a single data connection at a certain site, SD-WAN solutions can enhance your user experience by sending multiple copies of a single packet when connectivity is poor, thereby ensuring more of your real-time needs are met, which is especially important for VoIP. Of course, all of this happens automatically, which is the beauty of it all.
Enable Redundancy Relying on a single data connection or internet service provider can leave your business vulnerable to outages that may impact your VoIP call quality. SD-WAN enables you to diversify your network backbone and reduce dependency on specific connection types and providers. For example, pair a broadband cable circuit from one provider with a 4G wireless circuit from a second and you will be amazed at the reliability and performance you can achieve for a very low price point. With dynamic prioritization and failover built-in, you can make sure that you are getting the best in performance for the best in price. If you are looking at replacing or renewing an MPLS circuit, or just trying to figure out what the best connectivity options are for your company, then you really need to take a hard look at SD-WAN.
About Altus Altus is the premier choice for cloud-based business communications, providing companies with flexible and secure technologies that help employees and customers stay connected more easily. Whether looking for basic voice service, comprehensive unified communications, contact center, or network services, business executives trust Altus to deliver the latest features and functionality at affordable prices. Start communicating better with Altus. For more information, visit www.altustechnology.com or call toll free 866.922.4001.
