SD-WAN:

A Simplified Network for

Distributed Enterprises
 Contents

Keeping up with changing technology ...........................................................................................3

The problem with traditional MPLS networks .............................................................................4

New networks must meet growing business needs ................................................................5

SD-WAN: Responding to the needs of distributed enterprises ...........................................7

Simplify network and security administration ............................................................................8

Streamline multi-location organizations ........................................................................................9

SD-WAN: Factors to consider .............................................................................................................10

SD-WAN reduces reliance on MPLS ................................................................................................11

Citrix SD-WAN: The challenge in the SD-WAN arena ..............................................................13

Case study: Forestry business supports new workstyles with more

reliable connectivity ................................................................................................................................15

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 2

Keeping up with changing
technology

As the shift of virtual apps and desktops to the cloud accelerates %

due to reduced reliance on physical infrastructure and support
the new trend of hybrid work. What can no longer be ignored is
59
that network transformation dramatically improves application
performance for cloud workloads. of buyers planned to be
“mostly” in the cloud in 18
months 1
Without a modern network, traffic destined for the cloud uses
legacy routing significantly increasing network traffic on the WAN.
And much of this traffic is realtime communications, including
video and voice. This results in the necessity for more bandwidth,
more latency sensitive applications, and more reliance on network
Gartner survey reveals
availability and quality.

The emergence of new technologies has meant that network %

traffic in distributed organizations is manipulated in new ways. Not
only do remote users need more bandwidth, notably in areas such
82
as video or media, but they now expect faster access to cloud-
based applications, Software as a Service (SaaS) and Citrix Virtual of company leaders plan to
Apps and Desktops service. allow employees to work
remotely some of the time 2

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 3

The problem with traditional
MPLS networks
Traditional multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networks that carry traffic
from remote offices to the datacenter cannot offer the high bandwidth, low
latency, and high performance needed to access cloud-based applications.
Combined with the complexity of remote operations and new management
and security requirements, MPLS networks are out of their depth.

Current network architecture is more than a decade old and is therefore

not prepared for today’s challenges, marked by an increase in connected
devices, mobility, cloud models, and security needs. The result? The
current infrastructure is unable to comply with the security requirements
and current business models. These require fast response times that are
unavailable over an inflexible network. All this makes the evolution of
the network a priority, not just for the CIO, but the entire management
structure.

“Implementing SD-WAN can cut enterprise bandwidth

costs by 75% or more, compared with MPLS.” 3
- Telegeography 2020.
Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 4
New networks must meet growing
business needs
Business needs and market trends drive network evolution—a fact
that can no longer be ignored by management. Enterprises need an
intelligent network that can adapt accordingly.

The new network concept must:

• Connect users to applications • Apply prioritization and • Provide more visibility to
regardless of the desktop optimization criteria depending network managers, allowing
device or connectivity route and on the data and applications them to eliminate potential
whether it resides in the private used. conflicts in the network.
or public cloud.
• Allow applications to be • Integrate security into the
• Provide a uniform experience deployed without special network with multiple layers
irrespective of where the network requirements. and multiple control points.
connection is made.
• Simplify the management • Rapidly provision applications
• Optimize traffic for cloud and overhead of distributed services, and services in order to
mobility, providing the best user even, ideally, automating them maintain the business’
experience. competitive edge.

“With simple operations and comprehensive security as key criteria,

organizations should consider investments in application-delivery infrastructure
that integrates network and security policy enforcement.” - IDC 20214
Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 5
According to IDC, enhanced
workforce digital experience.
Integration with Citrix Workspace helps
enhance user experience and leverage
performance improvements and visibility
into the Citrix HDX technology for site,
session, and user-level reporting and
faster troubleshooting. Integrated admin
workflow simplifies deployment and con-
figuration for migration from VPN.5

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 6

SD-WAN: Responding to the needs
of distributed enterprises
Companies are looking for cost-effective solutions that simplify
operations. A software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)
integrates with your existing WAN architecture to streamline
management and improve network efficiency.

SD-WAN uses software to identify the most effective way to route

traffic to remote locations. SD-WAN transfers network and security
monitoring and management from physical devices to a central
controller, allowing network managers to configure and control
traffic based on centralized security policies and rules.

Cloud/ Microsoft
Branch SaaS Teams

MPLS
Internet
4G/LTE
Home DC

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 7

Simplify network and
security administration
You can make your IT team more efficient by unifying your
network and security administration with a single pane of glass.
Citrix Orchestrator is a cloud-hosted service that makes it easy 42% of organizations
report that support-
for you to monitor and secure users and optimize application
performance. Meanwhile, zero-touch deployment allows your IT

ing larger numbers of

team to quickly turn up a new location on the WAN. SD-WAN uses
software accessible from anywhere as a hosted service to simplify

remote workers has

management, intelligence, analytics, and monitoring for all offices.
Software-based virtualization enables network administrators to

increased the volume

manage network services more easily through abstraction of higher-
level functionality. SD-WAN allows IT and business managers to
quickly and easily deploy internet-based connectivity that provides
a secured and reliable connection, with better bandwidth and lower of cybersecurity vul-
costs.

For businesses looking for an alternative solution for their remote

nerabilities.6
and home office users, SD-WAN is easy to implement and will result
in significant gains.

The network has become a strategic asset and cloud has driven the
need to move to a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture
with SD-WAN to solve big issues for network and security
administrators. This new way of looking at the network gives the
needed flexibility and responsiveness, together with the control and
security necessary to deliver on the needs to the new distributed
enterprise.

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 8

Streamline multi-location
organizations
So, what are the benefits of SD-WAN to distributed organizations?

They include the following:

Network reliability Business agility Bandwidth savings Architecture optimized

for the cloud
By quickly detecting SD-WAN enables the Internet connections are SD-WAN frees you from
and routing around rapid rollout of WAN readily available, quick the inconveniences and
network outages or poor services to remote offices to deploy, and come at constraints of traditional
quality links, SD- WAN without the need for a much lower cost than MPLS networks and bundles
solutions can prevent on-site IT support. New equivalent MPLS networks. security, performance, and
problems on any one circuits can easily be SD-WAN provides the connectivity between cloud
link from affecting added without disrupting reliability and security and office, which significantly
users. This makes a operations and business benefits of WAN services improves the experience for
reliable connection policies can be changed at internet prices. users in remote offices when
between users and their from a centralized location they use SaaS or cloud-based
applications and prevents and immediately pushed applications.
business downtime. across the organization.

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 9

SD-WAN: Factors to consider
When evaluating SD-WAN vendors, network administrators and
business managers should take into account certain factors:

It’s easy to rollout and administer for the hybrid workforce.

A key benefit of SD-WAN is its ease and speed of deployment

to remote and home offices. There’s no need to send IT
professionals to the offices and no need to individually
configure each appliance.

Shift to secure hybrid cloud.

Most organizations have distributed MPLS deployed in remote

offices. Companies can deploy SD-WAN solutions and security
together by adopting a SASE framework. As they adopt cloud
services, they can migrate to less expensive, but equally
resilient public broadband and incorporate cloud-delivered
security.

Intelligent traffic management.

SD-WAN provides the ability to prioritize traffic and mitigate

the impact of network outages. The key is to provide network
managers with intuitive tools to easily configure priorities
automatically, based on real-time network load.

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 10

SD-WAN reduces reliance on MPLS
According to Telegeography research, as more managers
install SD-WAN, the more that MPLS usage decreases.

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 11

First pages
SD-WAN can cut enterprise bandwidth costs
by 75% or more, compared with MPLS.
TeleGeography: WAN Pricing Mythbusters: Can SD-WAN Cut Your Network Spend in Half? May 14, 2020

MPLS systems can also take months to

procure and implement in new locations—
making it hard for you to scale your
network as your workforce shifts and your
organization grows.

12
Citrix SD-WAN:
Our challenge in the arena
Traditional WANs were not designed for today’s bandwidth Watch the Video
demands. That’s why Citrix SD-WAN provides high levels
of scalability, reliability, and adaptability to distributed
enterprises. Citrix’s offering combines the strengths its other
products while leveraging smart WAN technologies, WAN
optimization, integration with cloud security and application
management to create a unique solution that provides a high
quality experience for users in remote and home offices. With Citrix SD-WAN you
can deliver a seamless
This solution can provide these features with less financial
experience for cloud and
outlay due to significant savings in the remote communications
SaaS applications for your
infrastructure.
workers--whether at home,
The principal benefits of Citrix SD-WAN: in an office or branch. Tackle
your digital transformation
Enhance Workforce Experience
with experience, security,
• Secure, connected, and engaged hybrid workforce and choice from an always-
• End-to-end network visibility reduces downtime on network.
Simplify Transition to Multicloud
• Consistent WAN orchestration across major clouds
• Speed up site rollouts while lowering transport costs
Accelerate Journey to SASE
• Integrated SD-WAN and security cloud-delivered service
• Unified approach built on a global cloud architecture

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Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 14
Coillte Forest | Government

Forestry business supports

new workstyles with more
reliable connectivity
Read the Success Story

15
Coillte Forest | Government
The Challenge

Business continuity was also an issue. When MPLS suffered an outage, it would take time for the back-up
connection to become active resulting in downtime at office and weighbridge locations. If a weighbridge lost “We now have the resilience
connectivity, it would be unable to raise invoices for loads of timber, resulting in delays and poor customer and robustness that Citrix
service. enables. And, where staff
could previously only use
The solution — A virtual WAN via satellite and mobile connections
their business applications,
“Citrix SD-WAN gives us the ability to flex our network bandwidth up or down, aggregating different services they can now … join video
and different providers to give us burst capability to meet our needs,” McGrath explains. “We didn’t have that calls or joint Teams calls and
capability with MPLS alone. collaborate.”
— Paul McGrath
With Citrix SD-WAN, Coillte can combine any type of connectivity including 3G or 4G connections as back-up or
Technical Services Manager
supplemental bandwidth. It enables the team to prioritize network traffic by workload ensuring critical services
Coillte Forest
are always available. One of the reasons thatCoillte chose Citrix SD-WAN was its rich reporting and visibility
across the network which helps the team right-size every connection based on actual usage.

As Coillte adjusts to a post-Covid-19 work-from-home policy, Citrix SD-WAN’s reporting will enable it to further
optimize bandwidth to meet new levels of in-office activity.

Citrix SD-WAN provides Coillte’s offices with local internet breakout, so staff enjoy the best performance
whether using private or public cloud applications. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ensures users have a
consistent and secure experience on any device, from any location, whichever apps they need.

Having deployed SD-WAN to all its office locations, Coillte is now starting on its weighbridge locations,
enabling all of the business’s 800 staff to enjoy the same, modern workstyle wherever they are located.

Key Benefit Of course, this isn’t the only success story

where customers have deployed the Citrix
Citrix SD-WAN delivers a secure reliable network and enables modern
SD-WAN solution
workstyles for 800 workers at home, in the office or in the forest. See more client success stories here

Citrix | e-book | SD-WAN: A Simplified Network for Distributed Enterprises 16

Distributed enterprises need reliable solution to
ensure network connections.
Learn how Citrix SD-WAN can keep your users
connected to the datacenter, the cloud, their
applications, and each other:

Learn more at
www.citrix.com/sd-wan
1. “2020 Cloud Computing Study,” 2020, IDC
2. “Gartner Survey Reveals 82% of Company Leaders Plan to Allow Employees to Work Remotely Some of the Time”, 2020, Gartner
3. “WAN Pricing Mythbusters: Can SD-WAN Cut Your Network Spend in Half?” 2020, Telegeography
4. “Accommodating the next normal of the hybrid workspace,” 2021, IDC
5. “SD-WAN and Security Convergence: An Imperative for Enterprises in the Next Normal,” 2021, IDC
6. “2021 Technology Spending Intentions Survey,” 2021, ESG

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