Expereo’s tips for successful SD-WAN & SASE implementation
Sander Barens
Chief Product Officer
As your organization deploys more and more cloud-based applications, your workforce becomes more and more distributed, your will enterprise need faster, more secure connectivity than ever before. Unsurprisingly, these trends have made SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) implementation a priority for 30% of technology leaders.
In my 20 years of delivering network solutions that enable enterprises to connect, optimize, and transform their businesses, I know SD-WAN and SASE implementation is of critical importance. I’m also very familiar with the fact that there are a range of implementation methods, considerations, and variables that can be difficult to navigate without expert guidance. Not to mention the niche skills required for a “Do It Yourself” approach and the cost of getting it wrong!
Keep reading for my how to’s for successful SD-WAN and SASE implementation so you can build a network that’s fit for the future.
Why is SD-WAN and SASE implementation important?
Before getting into the technical building blocks required for implementation, it’s worth exploring the benefits of both solutions as this will inform the deployment process.
The reign of the internally managed, internally hosted network connecting physical data centers to different sites is over. We’re firmly in the cloud era with increased bandwidth needs that have rendered the traditional WAN almost obsolete.
SD-WAN is a game changer because it offers a flexible, software-defined approach that leverages the Internet as the enterprise WAN backbone. It allows companies to run their entire operations over the Internet, which reduces transport costs and troubleshooting difficulties while enabling the agility to meet evolving business needs. It can also prioritize traffic based on application importance, ensuring critical apps receive the bandwidth they need to perform optimally.
But, with greater flexibility comes new challenges. Relying solely on the public Internet to run a global business introduces security risks. That’s where SASE steps in. It offers a cloud-native architecture that integrates security and networking into one solution, ensuring that every connection, regardless of location, is fast, secure, and reliable.
In short, if SD-WAN is the new highway system for enterprise traffic, SASE is the protection service that keeps it safe, fast, and effective. SD-WAN provides the networking foundation, while SASE layers on security and control mechanisms.
So, SD-WAN is not separate from SASE; it’s a fundamental building block within the broader SASE framework.
How to implement SASE:
Unfortunately, SASE implementation isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It requires a tactical, phased approach. This ensures optimal results based on the unique requirements of your organization, your locations, users, and your long-term business goals.
It all comes down to the three w’s: the who, the what, and the why…
Here’s a customizable framework you can use to establish those three criteria:
- Assessment of current infrastructure: Before diving headfirst, evaluate your existing security architecture and identify where SASE can fill the gaps. Don’t discard what’s already working—leverage it as you phase in new SASE capabilities.
- Choose which SASE components you need: The five key elements are: SD-WAN, Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
- Set clear objectives and goals: SASE isn’t just about implementing new tech; it’s about solving specific business problems. Make sure your objectives are clear and measurable.
- Budget and resource planning: Don’t just plan for today—think ahead. Think about the best way to resource, will you always need the same level of niche SASE skills post-implementation? Or would you benefit from the on-demand support of a Managed Service Provider you can scale up and down as your needs change?
- Regulatory and compliance considerations: Remember, compliance and regulatory requirements can be different from country to country, region to region.
- Vendor selection: Work with suppliers or technology partners who understand your specific business requirements and can act as true consultative advisors, not just product sellers out to make quick money.
- Pilot phase planning: Test, test, test. And then test again. Start with a small network segment to see how SASE integrates with your existing systems before a full-scale rollout.
- Policy development: Success in SASE is not just about deployment. It’s about developing long-term policies that support security and performance as your business evolves.
- Deployment phases: SASE isn’t something to rush. Phasing your implementation—starting with next-generation firewalls and gradually rolling out additional capabilities like secure web gateways and intrusion prevention systems—allows for a smoother transition.
- Testing and quality assurance: Before flipping the switch, thoroughly test your SASE environment to ensure all integrations and configurations are working as intended.
- Monitoring and maintenance: SASE isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Once live, continuous monitoring is essential to optimize performance and security.
How to deploy SD-WAN with SASE:
Deploying SD-WAN on top of SASE involves integrating SD-WAN’s networking capabilities with SASE’s cloud-based security framework.
Here’s my step-by-step guide to deploying SD-WAN with SASE:
- Assess infrastructure: Evaluate your current network setup and align SD-WAN with your SASE requirements.
- Choose the right solution: As part of the process for SASE implementation, choose a SASE solution that integrates SD-WAN natively. Leading SASE providers often bundle SD-WAN with security features to make deployment more simple. Expereo is experienced in deploying both solutions simultaneously for organizations.
- Design and configure: Design an SD-WAN architecture that supports cloud-first, distributed environments. Ensure it aligns with your SASE’s security model, which includes Zero Trust, SWG, and FWaaS.
- Deploy in phases: Start with a pilot deployment, then expand SD-WAN integration across all locations.
- Monitor and optimize: Continuously monitor network performance and security using your SASE or SD-WAN tools. This ensures optimal traffic routing and protection. Or if you can, find one tool that lets you view your entire network estate at the same time, with all your connectivity solutions status accessible in one place. Expereo offers every customer access to expereoOne, so they can monitor their networks in real-time and see their SD-WAN solutions in action.
Important elements to consider when deploying SD-WAN and SASE:
Even with the best-laid plans, things can go wrong when deploying SD-WAN and SASE. I’ve been there, seen it, and found the right route forward for multiple organizations over the years.
Here’s my list of things to watch out for when deploying SD-WAN and SASE in a global organization:
DIY or Managed Services?
Outsourcing to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) offers three key benefits over a “Do It Yourself” approach:
- Discovery phase: A specialist MSP can help youdetermine which technology to use.
- Network design for roll out: A specialist can help you navigate complex decisions like replacing MPLS lines, network design, and security integration. When you work with Expereo, we can also help you establish a process to update and configure policies for your applications.
- Network upgrades: MSPs can simplify the transition from MPLS without risky big-bang migrations. Any move away from MPLS to Internet and cloud-based solutions requires a hybrid period, where the network is split between the legacy MPLS and the new Internet-based SD-WAN. Expereo can help you manage this transition, ensuring minimal downtime.
- Simplified management: Managed SASE reduces your network management complexity with a single partner to handle network security, SD-WAN, global connectivity, and much more.
In a nutshell, an MSP like Expereo can design, install support SD-WAN and SASE for you. That means you can focus on the Big Picture knowing the day-today running of your network is taken care of.
Network visibility challenges:
You really do need end-to-end visibility of your network when embedding SASE and SD-WAN. That means seeing into and across every site to know how the connectivity and overlay supports your business. You need to eliminate any blind spots in these five areas:
- Internet visibility.
- Network performance.
- Correlating application and network performance.
- Historical data for KPIs and benchmarking.
- Automated fault identification and isolation.
When you work with Expereo, you gain visibility and control over your entire network infrastructure and SD-WAN/SASE estate – down to site level – with expereoOne.
A high-performing network IP
Many organizations assume SD-WAN and SASE can be easily integrated without assessing their existing IP network and security stack. This often leads to issues with interoperability, outdated legacy systems, and misconfigured security policies. You need a high-performing IP network combined with thorough planning.
Technology vendor selection
Choosing vendors that don’t offer comprehensive solutions or lack full visibility across SD-WAN and SASE can limit scalability and performance. Often organizations are tempted to pick separate SD-WAN and SASE vendors, leading to integration challenges.
Expereo has relationships with the key technology vendors so you don’t need to drill down into each solution yourself. Saving you time – and quite often cost too!
Cloud application support
Ignoring how SD-WAN will impact cloud and SaaS application performance is another common mistake. If organizations don’t optimize traffic routing, latency, and jitter can degrade the user experience, causing disruptions in critical business functions.
To make your applications perform better we have a proprietary AI-based Enhanced Internet solution designed to plot the best path across the global Internet.
Make your SD-WAN and SASE implementation seamless with Expereo
At Expereo, we’ve seen it all.
Implementing SD-WAN and SASE can feel like an overwhelming task. That’s why we offer a managed services approach, taking the complexity out of the equation.
What sets Expereo apart? Our knowledge and experience for one thing. But we provide every customer access to expereoOne, so you have full visibility and control over your entire network infrastructure—all from a single login.
The road ahead may be complex, but with the right strategy and tools in place, the journey will be worth it.
Get in touch today to discuss your SASE implementation or SD-WAN deployment.