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Get 24/7 IT Support NowThe benefits of software-defined networking (SDN) are widely known. But what are some of the weaknesses? Complex management, costly deployment, and troubleshooting processes are among the issues that organizations should be aware of.
SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is the latest evolution in WAN technologies. As more and more devices are connected via the internet, it becomes increasingly important to have a secure connection. The traditional solution used a dedicated line or VPN tunnel to securely connect all endpoints, which can become expensive when connecting hundreds of devices.
This is why SD-WAN came up. It allows you to create a single virtual connection across multiple locations, which means you only pay monthly fee for everything. You can manage the entire connection using a central console.
Despite its many advantages, SD-WAN still has its fair share of drawbacks. Here are some of the main ones:
One of the most significant limitations of SD-WAN is that it only supports point-to-point connections, which means that you cannot connect two separate sites.
Although SD-WAN supports Layer 3 routing, it does not support Layer 2 switching. This means that you can’t use VLANs or QoS.
Although SD-WAN supports mobile clients, they must be static, making them unsuitable for environments requiring frequent movement.
SD-WAN is available from different vendors like Cisco, HPE/Silver Peak, VMware/VeloCloud, Palo Alto Networks, Versa Networks, and Fortinet Secure SD-WAN.
Although this may seem like a good thing, it limits the number of vendors you can choose from.
If you have decided that SD-WAN is right for you, you need to think carefully about where you want to go next. There are three ways that you could proceed:
An SDN controller is a device that sits between your router and your SDN software. The controller manages all aspects of the traffic flow, including configuring the switches and routers.
It works by creating a logical representation of the physical topology of your network. Once this model has been created, it can create virtual links between devices connected to the same switch. These virtual links allow you to move traffic around your network freely.
The downside of using an SDN controller is that it requires specialist knowledge to install and operate. It also adds complexity to your network because you now have multiple points of failure.
A third-party solution is explicitly designed for SDN, and they usually offer more functionality than a standard SD-WAN product but come at a higher price tag.
This option involves installing SD-WAN directly on your hardware. This is the simplest option, but it will cost you significantly less money. However, if you don’t have experience working with networking equipment, it might be better to leave it to someone else.
SD-WAN implementation can improve network flexibility and performance, but businesses may face challenges during deployment and ongoing management. Common problems include configuration errors, migration difficulties, connectivity disruptions, and compatibility issues with existing infrastructure. Understanding these challenges helps organizations plan deployments effectively and maintain reliable network operations.
– Configuration Errors: Incorrect routing policies, firewall rules, or traffic prioritization settings can cause connectivity issues, security vulnerabilities, and poor network performance.
– Migration Difficulties: Moving from traditional WAN or MPLS to SD-WAN can be challenging due to legacy infrastructure, complex network dependencies, and potential service interruptions.
– Connectivity Disruptions: Unstable internet connections, circuit failures, packet loss, and latency can affect application performance and disrupt communication between branch offices.
– Interoperability Issues: SD-WAN solutions may not integrate seamlessly with existing routers, firewalls, cloud platforms, and legacy networking equipment, creating compatibility challenges.
– Insufficient Network Visibility: Limited monitoring capabilities can make it difficult for IT teams to identify traffic bottlenecks, diagnose network faults, and resolve performance issues quickly.
– Security Misconfigurations: Weak access controls, incorrect encryption settings, and inconsistent security policies can expose the network to unauthorized access and cyber threats.
– Lack of Technical Expertise: Implementing and maintaining SD-WAN requires specialized networking knowledge. Without proper training or technical support, organizations may experience configuration problems and prolonged troubleshooting.
– Unexpected Implementation Costs: Licensing fees, hardware upgrades, staff training, and ongoing maintenance can increase the total cost of SD-WAN deployment beyond the initial budget.
SD-WAN improves connectivity between business locations and cloud platforms, but it has certain limitations when supporting cloud-based applications. Businesses must consider internet reliability, SaaS performance, security risks, and cloud connectivity options to ensure consistent application access.
– Cloud Connectivity Dependencies: SD-WAN performance depends on reliable internet connections and available network paths. Unstable connections or service provider outages can disrupt access to cloud applications.
– SaaS Performance Issues: Applications such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other cloud services may experience latency, packet loss, or slow response times when traffic routing and bandwidth allocation are not optimized.
– Direct Internet Access Risks: Direct Internet Access allows branch offices to connect to cloud applications without routing all traffic through a central data center. However, inadequate firewall policies, threat detection, and security controls can increase exposure to cyber threats.
– Cloud On-Ramp Limitations: Connecting SD-WAN to cloud platforms may require additional configuration, gateways, or provider-specific integrations. Poorly planned cloud on-ramps can create bottlenecks and increase connectivity costs.
– Limited Visibility into Cloud Traffic: Some SD-WAN deployments may provide insufficient visibility into application-level traffic, making it difficult to identify cloud performance problems and troubleshoot connectivity issues.
– Integration Challenges: Integrating SD-WAN with multiple cloud providers, legacy systems, and existing security tools can increase deployment complexity and ongoing management requirements.
SD-WAN security risks and vulnerabilities can arise when attackers compromise centralized controllers that manage network traffic and policies. Unauthorized access to these controllers can let attackers modify routing rules, disrupt connectivity, or access sensitive business data. Organizations should secure controllers with strong authentication and keep them up to date with regular security updates.
Insecure configurations can expose SD-WAN environments to cyberattacks, data leaks, and unauthorized network access. Misconfigured firewalls, encryption settings, or network segmentation policies may create security gaps that attackers can exploit. Regular configuration audits and vulnerability assessments help identify and resolve these weaknesses.
Exposed management planes and weak access controls can further increase SD-WAN security risks. Exposed management interfaces may allow attackers to access network devices, while excessive user permissions can enable unauthorized changes. Businesses should restrict management access, implement multi-factor authentication, enforce role-based access controls, and continuously monitor network activity.
SD-WAN can reduce performance or increase latency when underlying internet connections are low-quality, bandwidth-limited, or unstable. High network congestion and packet loss can delay data transmission, affecting applications such as video conferencing, VoIP, and cloud services. Therefore, businesses should evaluate connection reliability and bandwidth before deployment.
SD-WAN uses intelligent routing policies to direct traffic across available network connections based on performance and application requirements. However, incorrect routing configurations or frequent path changes may introduce delays and disrupt critical applications. Organizations should configure application-aware routing policies and prioritize latency-sensitive traffic to maintain consistent performance.
Application requirements also influence SD-WAN performance, as real-time applications need low latency and minimal packet loss. Regular network monitoring helps identify congestion, connection failures, and performance bottlenecks before they affect users. Businesses can improve reliability by selecting quality internet providers, optimizing routing policies, and implementing redundant connections.
SD-WAN offers flexible network management, but highly regulated industries such as healthcare, banking, and finance may struggle to maintain compliance. Organizations must ensure that SD-WAN deployments meet strict requirements for data protection, access management, auditing, and security governance.
As we mentioned earlier, there are several reasons why SD-WAN doesn’t consistently deliver what it promises. To help you get the most out of your deployment, here are some tips that will make life easier:
In conclusion, there are so many benefits of SD-WAN, but it isn’t suitable for every situation. If you are looking for a simple, easy-to-use solution, you should consider purchasing an SDN controller instead. If you want something that gives you complete control over your network, then you should look at a third-party solution. And if you want a fully integrated system, you should consider going native.
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