New WAN tools, techniques and methods you need to know

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  Article

  The evolution of WAN optimization

  The growth of cloud apps and the increased use of Internet over traditional WAN technologies has forced WAN optimization to evolve. Read Now

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  Article

  How WAN optimization benefits your apps

  These are five ways enterprise WAN optimization technology helps overcome productivity and application issues organizations face in today's workforce. Read Now

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  Article

  Protocol spoofing as a WAN optimizing technique

  Learn in this expert response what protocol spoofing is and how it can be used as a WAN optimization technique.  Read Now

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  Article

  What WAN optimization tools does your company need?

  Leading WAN optimization product vendors use a variety of techniques to get the job done. Find out who does what and if it's right for you. Read Now

1Outsource your WAN management? Sure!

Thanks to the arrival of cloud, outsourcing WAN management is possible -- and it shouldn't be scary or complex. Learn how others have done it and how to set up server provider management for your WAN.

• Article

  WAN optimization arrives as a service

  When Rieke Packaging Systems tried to roll out a new ERP system, its old MPLS connectivity couldn't deliver the goods. Enter: cloud-based WAN. Read Now

• Article

  Cloud era demands new WAN architecture

  Enterprises need to reinvent WAN architecture for cloud services. The data center can no longer be the gateway to the Internet. Read Now

• Article

  Ways to simplify service provider management

  If you run a global network, chances are you deal with managing service provider relationships. Use these tips to reduce network complexity. Read Now

• Article

  Do-it-yourself service provider management

  IT professionals who handle global networks need to know how to manage service provider relationships. This article explains how to be your own MSP. Read Now

2When it comes to WAN, performance is crucial

In many ways the WAN is the workhorse of enterprise communication. Without a well-functioning WAN, work, well, stops. In this segment, learn about the criticality of WAN performance for everything, including the corporate bottom line, and why faster provisioning and rolling WAN optimization, management and security together is a good idea.

• Article

  Big data requires good WAN management

  In order to successfully exploit big data, effective WAN management must be part of the infrastructure puzzle. Read Now

• Article

  When WANs go wrong, the effects are far-reaching

  Don't just think of WAN performance in terms of meeting enterprise objectives. WAN failure touches multiple endpoints. Read Now

• Article

  New WAN benefits come from combining optimization, management and security

  By searching for solutions that put WAN optimization, management and security together, enterprise IT can reduce company bottom lines and complexity. Read Now

• Article

  Waiting on the new WAN frustrates engineers

  It can take one to three months to install a private WAN connection at a new branch office. For many enterprises, that’s just not acceptable anymore. Read Now

• Article

  Analysis needed to meet data center WAN requirements

  Understand the storage applications running across your data center WAN links to ensure optimal performance. Read Now

3Why WAN is the new black

The WAN is a basic essential. But it's also been updated for the latest styles of work and communication. The new WAN platform of today's enterprise must be flexible and super-responsive. In this section, you'll learn about the new WAN -- which may be virtualized (vWAN) or come in a hybrid form -- and the myriad forces driving its development.

• Article

  What's a hybrid WAN service, anyway?

  When considering hybrid WAN architecture, organizations must focus on the end-user experience and security.  Read Now

• Article

  What you must know about hybrid WAN

  The ballooning amount of data generated by users and applications is fueling the development of hybrid WANs. Here's what you need to know. Read Now

• Article

  What network pros say about the value of WAN virtualization

  SDN blogs: Network professionals talk about the benefits of virtualizing your WAN, why learning about APIs is crucial and when to upgrade to new software.  Read Now

• Article

  Remote locations driving vWAN development

  Remote offices demand connectivity with the central data center, data-rich services, and cost-effective IT deployments. Enter the vWAN. Read Now

• Article

  The new vWAN threatens traditional WAN design

  With vWAN providers changing the traditional three-legged WAN structure, carriers need to develop new WAN plans and services using SDN and NFV to keep enterprises on their networks. Read Now

4Is now the time to get your WAN software defined?

Is this the decade of software-defined everything? Seems so, and the WAN is no exception. But what exactly is an SD-WAN? This module will explain it all and will help you determine whether your new WAN should be an SD-WAN and, if so, how to make that a reality.

• Article

  Your new WAN may be an SD-WAN

  More than just a buzzword, software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) is already delivering benefits to early adopters. Skeptics warn, however, it's no magical elixir. Read Now

• Article

  Factors to consider in making the SD-WAN decision

  Should you upgrade your wide area network to SD-WAN? Learn what factors you should consider before making the leap.  Read Now

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  What SD-WAN means for the enterprise

  SD-WAN has a lot of potential for enterprises, especially as developers cobble together custom services and capabilities. Read Now

• Article

  Where to start with SD-WAN

  SDN's networking role has not always been clear, there are now some compelling use cases. Because SDN can make the WAN more functional and less expensive, networking pros should keep their eyes on SDN developments. Read Now

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  SD-WAN's effect on the market

  SDN principles are transforming the wide area network, with a number of networking companies -- both startups and established players -- offering software-defined WAN technologies to enterprises. Read Now

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  What the new SD-WAN promises

  The SDN WAN's network programmability and automated provisioning addresses the demands placed on the wide area network by the cloud, SaaS and BYOD. Read Now

5Key terms to know

Let's face it -- understanding the new WAN world is hard enough -- even if you know the lingo. So, be sure you get these key terms under your belt.

• Definition

  Aggregate

  In general, to aggregate (verb, from Latin aggregare meaning to add to) is to collect things together. Read Now

• Definition

  Enterprise WAN

  An enterprise WAN is a corporate network that connects geographically dispersed users areas that could be anywhere in the world. Read Now

• Definition

  Hybrid WAN

  A hybrid WAN is a wide area network that sends traffic over two or more connection types. Hybrid WANs permit dynamic traffic engineering across both private and public domains, using a variety of connectivity options to make the best use of network resources. Read Now

• Definition

  MPLS

  Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a protocol-agnostic routing technique designed to speed up and shape traffic flows across enterprise wide area and service provider networks. Read Now

• Definition

  SD-WAN

  Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) is a technology to distribute network traffic across wide area networks (WAN) that uses software-defined networking (SDN) concepts to automatically determine the most effective way to route traffic to and from branch offices and data center sites. Read Now

• Definition

  WAN accelerator

  A WAN accelerator is an appliance that improves the end user's experience on a wide area network (WAN). Read Now

• Definition

  WAN clustering

  WAN clustering, also called geoclustering, high-availability clustering or remote clustering, is the use of multiple redundant computing resources located in different geographical locations to form what appears to be a single highly-available system. Read Now

• Definition

  WAN optimization

  WAN optimization, also known as WAN acceleration, is the category of technologies and techniques used to maximize the efficiency of data flow across a wide area network (WAN). Read Now