After decades of use, enterprises are looking for MPLS alternatives. To be considered a viable alternative, a network must match MPLS’ service levels for predictability and consistency, while avoiding its pitfalls of cost, rigidity and capacity constraints.
After decades of use, enterprises are looking for MPLS alternatives. To be considered a viable alternative, a network must match MPLS’ service levels for predictability and consistency, while avoiding its pitfalls of cost, rigidity and capacity constraints. Although often used for WAN connectivity, the public Internet lacks the consistently low packet loss, jitter, and latency levels of MPLS. It can’t provide a predictable user experience for latency- and loss sensitive applications, such as Voice-over-IP (VoiP) and virtual desktops, particularly across global connections.
Affordable MPLS alternatives must enable an agile WAN, a consistent application experience on a global scale, and be delivered at a reasonable price. Deploying new sites, expanding capacity and gaining full control over network traffic, must be easier than with MPLS.
"Monthly costs dropped 25% and yet we still received 10x more bandwidth."
Willem-Jan Herckenrath, Manager ICT
ICG Cloud Connect SD-WAN enables customers to augment and ultimately replace MPLS. Unlike Edge SD-WAN solutions that have a limited scope and persist the need for MPLS, ICG removes the dependency on MPLS. ICG further extends WAN transformation to eliminate branch security appliances, and natively support cloud applications and mobile users. With ICG, customers can maximize the benefits of transforming their WAN to reduce the cost, complexity, and risks of their IT infrastructure.
Edge SD-WAN architectures enable organizations to use multiple transports (MPLS and Internet) in branch locations, for WAN connectivity. However, they persist the dependency on MPLS for predictable delivery of latency- and loss-sensitive applications.
ICG provides a cloud-based SD-WAN with a built-in global backbone with integrated network security, delivered as a cloud service. With over 30 PoPs worldwide and interconnected with tier-1 global IP transit providers, ICG provides consistent and predictable global connectivity at an affordable price.
Edge SD-WAN integrates Internet transport into an MPLS WAN. However, since the Internet can’t provide consistent and predictable latency on a global scale, MPLS is required for latency- and loss sensitive applications.
ICG has built a global, SLA-backed backbone that runs an integrated networking and security software stack. ICG PoPs are fully meshed over multiple tier-1 IP transit providers with SLA-backed latency and packet loss. With ICG customers can use high-quality last mile Internet to replace MPLS for cost savings without sacrificing security or quality of service.
Edge SD-WAN solutions enable the use of Internet links for WAN transport and can provide direct Internet access at the branch. However, they do not include a full network security stack and require customers to either deploy additional security solutions at every location, backhaul traffic to a datacenter, or use cloud-based security services.
ICG provides a full network security stack, including a next generation firewall, secure web gateway, anti-malware and IPS built into the SLA-backed backbone. There is no need to deploy branch security appliances, backhaul traffic, or introduce new security services. All policies are managed within ICG’s management application.
Edge SD-WAN solutions were designed with physical locations in mind. Typical WAN architectures treat cloud datacenters and mobile users as an afterthought.
ICG Cloud Connect SD-WAN was built to connect all enterprise network elements including physical locations, cloud infrastructure, and mobile users. With ICG SD-WAN network security is available globally for traffic from all sources.
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