Virtual WAN vs Traditional WAN Networking
Do you remember the good old days when we used to rely solely on hardware-based WAN (Wide Area Network) solutions for networking? Those were the days when you had to set up a separate physical infrastructure, add new router equipment every time you expanded, and constantly monitor network performance. Yeah, good times (not really). But today we have Virtual WAN (VWAN), a cloud-based networking solution that has changed the way we think about networking.
In this blog post, we’ll compare Virtual WAN vs Traditional WAN Networking and show you why you should consider upgrading to a more intelligent and flexible networking solution.
The Advantages of Virtual WAN
Cost Savings
One of the biggest advantages of Virtual WAN is cost savings. With Virtual WAN, you no longer need to invest in expensive hardware, maintenance, or upgrades. Instead, you can leverage a cloud-based network that is managed by a third-party provider. This means you don’t need to worry about equipment replacements, network downtime, or add-on costs. Furthermore, you can easily scale your network up or down according to your business needs, without spending a dime on additional hardware.
Better Performance and Security
Another advantage of Virtual WAN is performance and security. Virtual WAN can automatically recognize network traffic and allocate resource accordingly. This means you get faster and more reliable network performance, which is essential for critical applications such as video conferencing, VoIP, or cloud-based applications. Additionally, Virtual WAN is more secure as all network traffic is encrypted and protected by a firewall.
Centralized Management and Flexibility
Virtual WAN also offers centralized management and flexibility. You can manage your entire network infrastructure from a single dashboard, which makes it easier to monitor and troubleshoot issues. Additionally, Virtual WAN is a flexible solution that can be deployed across multiple cloud environments such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud. This means you can use different cloud providers based on your business needs and still have a centralized management system.
The Advantages of Traditional WAN
Reliability
Traditional WAN solutions have been around for a while, and they have proven to be reliable. Physical WAN infrastructure (e.g. routers, switches, cables) can be deployed onsite and managed directly by in-house IT staff. This means you have more control over your network performance and uptime.
Familiarity
Traditional WAN solutions have been the industry standard for a long time, which means IT staff are already familiar with the technology. This makes it easier to maintain and troubleshoot network issues since IT staff do not need to learn new skills or technologies.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Virtual WAN | Traditional WAN |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Cost-effective | Expensive |
| Deployment | Cloud-based network | Hardware-based network |
| Scalability | Easy to scale up or down | Limited scalability |
| Performance | Fast and reliable | Reliability depends on hardware and configuration |
| Security | Encrypted traffic and firewall | Network security is adequate if configured properly |
| Management | Centralized management | Management can be distributed |
| Familiarity | Requires some learning | Familiar technology |
| Reliability | Stable | Dependent on hardware and connectivity |
Conclusion
It’s hard to ignore the benefits of Virtual WAN when compared to traditional WAN networking. Virtual WAN offers cost savings, better performance, and centralized management that are essential for modern businesses. Traditional WAN has the advantage of familiarity and reliability, but it falls short in terms of cost and scalability. Ultimately, the decision to choose one networking solution over the other depends on your business needs, goals, and budget.
At Flare Compare, we offer unbiased comparisons of the leading networking solutions in the market. Our goal is to help businesses make informed decisions, based on facts and data.