5 use cases for Cisco SD WAN

As enterprises move applications to the cloud, applications and data need to be accessible from anywhere with security and speed. Only Cisco SD-WAN delivers applications to users and devices across any cloud without compromising on security, visibility, or performance.

Secure automated software-defined WAN (SD-WAN)

Enterprises are looking for an agile controller-based solution that meets the performance and security requirements of today’s workplace. Cisco SD-WAN provides comprehensive on-premises and cloud-based security, enabling enterprises to transition to a secure access service edge (SASE) architecture where and when it is needed, in a secure and agile manner.

  • Drive business agility with on-premises security and a cloud-delivered SASE model that best fits the need of organisations.
  • Ensure end-to-end visibility, segmentation policy management, and security enforcement across the network with a single WAN fabric.
  • Enable full integration with the cloud-delivered Cisco Umbrella platform for a truly zero-touch experience.

58%

58% faster implementation of policy and configuration changes

65%

65% lower cost of connectivity

Application performance optimisation

Design a global network where critical enterprise applications always maintain the highest service-level agreements (SLAs) and optimal performance, even if problems occur in the network.

  • Visualise in-depth analytics and historical insights for troubleshooting and root-cause analysis with a single dashboard.
  • Mitigate network issues in real time with automated dynamic path selection, which automatically steers critical applications around network problems.
  • Route traffic more efficiently using URL categorisation to create separate policies around specific types of Microsoft 365 traffic.
  • Access multiple clouds using a single WAN fabric to securely connect users to cloud applications from anywhere.

48%

Average 48% reduced application latency across major deployments

100%

100% application uptime during hurricane blackouts for a national food distributor

Direct internet access (DIA)

DIA optimises branch workloads while increasing security and improving application performance. The result is efficient and cost-effective secure access to the network.

  • Accelerate to a SASE architecture with the cloud-delivered Cisco Umbrella platform, which offers protection against security blind spots and cyber threats.
  • Simplify security management with integrated workflows, unified security policies, and threat insights across branches and remote workers.
  • Provide the ability to segment and prioritise network traffic such as critical cloud applications, unified communications, guest access, and more.

94%

94% reduction in unplanned downtime

33%

33% more efficient in WAN management

Branch security

Cisco SD-WAN provides WAN access and helps enterprises meet compliance demands on site while offering constant protection against all cyber threats from branches to multicloud software-as-a-service (SaaS) environments.

  • Mitigate the latest security threats with an application-aware enterprise firewall, the Snort intrusion prevention system, powerful encryption performance, URL filtering, Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP), and more.
  • Ensure a consistent quality of experience (QoE) and predicable performance for critical applications.
  • Meet data compliance requirements in every major vertical, including highly regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare, utilities, and government.
  • Add optional automated integration with Cisco Umbrella for a cloud-delivered SASE architecture.

38%

38% lower 5-year cost of WAN operations

59%

59% faster onboarding of new services

Multicloud access

Connect branches and a remote workforce to multicloud applications seamlessly with unified visibility and management.

  • Accelerate multicloud access with Cloud OnRamp tools for SaaS and public cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) applications.
  • Optimize Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and other critical SaaS applications in real time with visibility and control.
  • Automate the provisioning, workflow management, and policy enforcement for migrating infrastructure to all major public clouds, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
  • Consolidate cloud and internet access into a colocation facility for a consistent, centralised security policy enforcement independent of the cloud provider.

40%

40% improvement in Microsoft 365 performance

Public cloud migration completed in 1 week (estimated 12 months) for a large tech company

Only Cisco can provide integrated, end-to-end security across your WAN, branch, and multicloud.

Sources

Business Value of Cisco SD-WAN Solutions: Studying the Results of Deployed Organizations, IDC, April 2019.

Enterprise Grade SD-WAN, Cisco, 2019.

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