What is WAN optimization?
Firstly, a Wide Area Network (WAN) connects the branches and locations of an organization. This allows them to share data and applications between international offices in just seconds. However, the distance and varying Internet conditions in those different locations can lead to latency, packet loss, and bandwidth congestion. All of which result in slower application performance. Slow applications means unhappy users, falling productivity, and increased tickets for your IT team. That’s where WAN optimization steps in.
In a nutshell, WAN optimization is a set of techniques and technologies aimed at improving the efficiency of data transmission across long-distance networks.
An optimized WAN has the following benefits:
- Enhanced data transfer speed.
- Reduced bandwidth congestion.
- Improved the overall network performance.
- Allowed applications to run faster and more efficiently.
- Minimized costs associated with bandwidth upgrades or additional hardware.
How WAN optimization works
WAN optimization is all about mitigating the challenges of transferring data across long distances. However, another challenge surrounding any WAN is that they can be uniquely configured to an organization’s needs, size, number or users, number of applications, and the different regions they span. This means that WAN optimization can look different for every enterprise.
6 WAN optimization techniques you can combine
- Data deduplication: This technique eliminates redundant data transfers by only sending unique pieces of information across the network. This reduces the volume of data that needs to traverse the WAN.
- Compression: Compression algorithms can be used to reduce the size of the data being sent. This can decrease bandwidth consumption and speed up transmission.
- Latency optimization: Optimizing protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) can help reduce the delays caused by the physical distance between network endpoints. Techniques like window scaling or selective acknowledgments ensure that data packets are transmitted and acknowledged more efficiently.
- Traffic shaping: WAN optimization tools can prioritize certain types of traffic over others. For instance, mission-critical applications like live data trading, video conferencing or file sharing may be given higher priority. This ensures smooth operations even when bandwidth is limited.
- Caching: Frequently accessed data can be stored (or cached) at strategic points on the network, such as at the branch office or at the edge. This reduces the need to transmit data back and forth from the central server, cutting down on latency.
- Error correction: You can also opt for mechanisms that correct transmission errors that can occur during long-distance data transfers. They ensure that data arrives intact, without the need for excessive retransmissions.
This is not an exhaustive list, in fact there are many more ways you can optimize your WAN. These largely depend on whether you choose a Do It Yourself approach, or opt to work with a Managed Service Partner who can guide your decisions.
What does a WAN accelerator do?
When you talk about WAN optimization, you may find you come across the term “WAN acceleration” just as much.
A WAN accelerator is a hardware or software device that enhances the speed and efficiency of data transfer over a wide area network. By employing techniques such as caching, compression, and data deduplication, WAN accelerators reduce the volume of traffic on the network and improve data transmission speeds.
What is the difference between WAN optimization and acceleration?
A few of the techniques WAN accelerators use are similar to the WAN optimization techniques we discussed earlier.
While the terms "WAN optimization" and "WAN acceleration" are often used interchangeably, they refer to slightly different concepts. WAN optimization is a broad umbrella term that encompasses a range of techniques designed to improve network performance. WAN acceleration, on the other hand, is a specific subset of WAN optimization. It focuses primarily on speeding up the transmission of data over the network.
WAN optimization solutions explored
There are several WAN optimization solutions available to businesses looking to improve their network performance. You might want to consider:
- Using WAN optimization tools: WAN optimization tools come in various forms. These include hardware appliances, virtual devices, and cloud-based services like traffic shaping, data deduplication, caching, and error correction.
- Working with WAN optimization vendors: Several vendors specialize in WAN optimization technology. You can work with a specific vendor to optimize your WAN, or you could work with a Managed Service Provider who can look more holistically at your entire network strategy.
- SD-WAN: If you’ve ever wondered how SD-WAN can address my WAN challenges, here's a brief overview. SD-WAN optimizes your WAN by dynamically routing traffic, prioritizing critical applications, and using multiple connections. This improves bandwidth efficiency, reducing latency, and enhancing application performance and reliability across long distances.
Deciding which is the best WAN optimization solution for your organization will come down to a few things. Factors like network size, the types of applications you run, and your budget will all play a role in determining the ideal solution.
However, we can confidently say that making this choice is much easier when you work with a trusted advisor. Particularly one with experience in designing, building and running high-performing networks, like Expereo.
How do you optimize your WAN?
When you make the decision to optimize your WAN, you need to know how it’s currently performing.
Start by evaluating its performance and identifying areas where improvements can be made. Here are some actionable strategies:
- Assess bandwidth usage: Conduct a thorough analysis of how your WAN is currently being used. Identify any bandwidth-hungry applications and determine if there are some types of traffic that can be deprioritized or offloaded to the cloud.
- Deploy WAN optimization tools: Use WAN optimization appliances or software to implement deduplication, compression, and traffic prioritization techniques.
- Monitor network performance: Regularly monitor your WAN performance for latency issues, bottlenecks, or packet loss.
- Use Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies so critical applications receive the bandwidth and low latency they require, while less critical traffic is deprioritized.
- Upgrade or adjust your network infrastructure: If bandwidth limitations are a persistent problem, consider upgrading your network infrastructure by transitioning to software-defined WAN (SD-WAN).
- Work with a Managed Service Provider (MSP): Working with a MSP, like Expereo, means you get the on-demand skills and expertise you need to optimize your WAN based on your specific needs quickly and efficiently.
Getting the right optimized WAN should be a long-term goal for any company due to the pace of technological change. Your WAN needs to constantly evolve and optimization should be considered an ongoing process that adapts to your company’s changing needs.
Go faster to the future with optimized WAN from Expereo
Expereo has 20+ years of experience with the Internet, we know what it takes for companies like yours to succeed in the current climate. You need high-speed data transfer, no matter where your offices are located.
We have the global reach and resources to optimize your WAN wherever you do business and can recommend the right mix of WAN optimization solutions to suit the unique needs of your organization. You also gain access to expereoOne, our Intelligent Internet platform, which allows you to see the WAN performance of every site and location in real-time. So you’re always in control of your WAN.
Get in touch today to discuss your needs.