Let’s face it; if you are an enterprise with multiple branch offices, the need for speed for the WAN connections to those branch offices has never been greater. This is largely because businesses in this position have become more and more reliant on unified communications (UC) capabilities for internal interactions, ecosystem/supply chain partners, and customers. In fact, after a long period where UC did not live up to its promise, it has now moved from business nicety to necessity.  It is also part of the general move of more and more mission critical capabilities to the cloud. 

The challenge for those responsible for the communications and IT infrastructure of multi-location organizations is how to balance the cost of using the Internet for communications versus a private WAN, as well as the quality issues associated with relying on the Internet. These issues only become  exacerbated as the use of UC soars and the quality of communications becomes an important part of creating differentiated and sustainable value.

In fact, it should be noted that recent studies have highlighted the issue of getting that balance correct. They have cited the lack of WAN bandwidth as a top concern regarding the network’s ability to deliver the needed quality of service for UC applications over the Internet. At the same time, they have a hard time justifying the cost of and MPLS-based private WAN.  Juggling these factors is a real dilemma, especially in an environment where the need for speed, in terms of easily getting new branches online with all of the tools they need to provide compelling user experiences, is a top priority.  It raises an interesting question as to whether there needs to be a new paradigm that enables IT to get those branches up and running full throttle as quickly as possible, with all of the tools they need, yet do so leveraging the Internet without sacrificing service quality.

The short answer to the question is yes, a new paradigm is needed. The good news is that such a paradigm has arrived and with a solution that fits it well in the form of software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) technology. This makes it possible for enterprises to rely on Internet links to deliver quality UC. 

There is an old saying that, “seeing is believing”!  This is certainly the case when it comes to SD-WAN where seeing and hearing about this new approach to branch networking is demonstrating its value.  If you’d like to see and hear more about the new ways for efficiently and effectively providing offices with UC capabilities the webinar, WAN Technology to Assure Unified Communications (News - Alert) Quality over Internet, to be held Tuesday, June 23, 2015 02:00 PM EDT / 11:00 AM PDT, is something you should consider participating in live. Join myself and Kangwarn Chinthammit, CCIE, Director of Technical Solutions
VeloCloud Networks as we discuss how a cloud-delivered SD-WAN technology can assure high quality UC over any connection type – broadband or hybrid. 

Topics to be discussed include:

• The technologies that make possible to rely more on Internet links to deliver quality UC
• How a cloud-delivered solution leveraging SDN principles simplifies configuration and operation of the WAN for both on-premise and cloud UC applications
• Hear the details of real deployments and results

It is also the opportunity for you to get the questions you may have about how to improve the quality of experience you desire for you branch offices answered from one of the industry’s leading subject matter experts.

Realities are that the Internet can be made reliable for providing quality experience for UC in a world where quality really does matter.