5 BEST PRACTICES FOR SD-WAN SECURITY

Securing IT resources within four walls is hard enough, but it’s a challenge of a different order when it comes to securing a WAN with links reaching around the world, provided by a range of service providers and supporting a mix of endpoint security appliances. The security picture gets even murkier when you bring in SD-WAN to augment aging MPLS networks because most SD-WANs exclusively use the public Internet for transport. Most, but not all. And that is an important consideration when you’re evaluating the security implications of various SD-WAN options. If you replace the public Internet with a software-defined private network over the middle mile, that equates with adding an additional layer of security.

Spotlight

NCS Technology Limited (Kent)

Since 1987, NCS Technology has provided robust data and network installations and AV solutions for a wide spectrum of clients across London, Kent and the Home Counties. We operate within commercial, education and public sectors, and make a point of getting to know our clients and their businesses so that we can recommend products and systems that suit their needs.

OTHER ARTICLES
Data Center Networking

Ericsson’s 5G platform adds unique core and business communication capabilities

Article | July 5, 2023

To leverage the full benefits of 5G and cloud native investments, orchestration and automation are now a critical matter of business. Ericsson’s 5G platform is now being strengthened with new solutions that enable smarter business. David Bjore, Head of R&D and Portfolio, Business Area Digital Services, Ericsson, says: “Through our core networks, service providers can get to market faster and can capitalize on new services, through leading consumer and enterprise communication and monetization solutions, enabling them to stay ahead in the race for 5G business, today and tomorrow.”

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5G

Ericsson researchers top 4.3Gbps downlink on 5G millimeter wave

Article | September 28, 2023

With a technical specification comprising 8 component carriers (8CC) aggregating 800MHz of millimeter wave spectrum, Ericsson engineers achieved delivery rates of 4.3Gbps – the fastest 5G speed to date. Ericsson Radio System Street Macro 6701 delivered data with downlink speeds of 4.3Gbps over-the-air to an industry partner test device during interoperability testing. The commercial solution, including network and terminal support, will be available to 5G consumers during 2020.

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Network Infrastructure, Network Management

Intelligence Brief: How is 5G changing network ownership?

Article | July 27, 2023

5G necessitates a different network strategy. Unlike previous generations, 5G deployment is not only about adding more sites and increasing backhaul capacity. In fact, it is more about rethinking the whole network architecture to make it agile. The high capacity requirements of 5G will necessitate the use of small cells in cities and areas of high footfall (such as airports) to complement national macro networks. Private networks (for example to sell into enterprise customers) and the concept of a neutral host (such as for sports stadiums) are further examples of diversification.

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5G Needs Edge Computing to Deliver on Its Promises

Article | February 11, 2020

Edge computing will be a key enabler for 5G to deliver on its bandwidth and latency requirements. In the short term, it can enable developers to provide a “5G experience” at scale. In the long term, it will be necessary to optimise customer experience for real-time, data hungry applications. Telecoms operators have reported that 5G in the lab can deliver network speeds that are more than twenty times faster than LTE1. But, this does not reflect the experience of the average user. And 5G roll out in many countries will be limited in terms of coverage and capabilities for several more years, given that the ultra-low latency standards will only be revealed in 3GPP’s Release 16 later this year. This is why it is likely that, for 5G to deliver on its promises, it must be coupled with edge computing.

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Spotlight

NCS Technology Limited (Kent)

Since 1987, NCS Technology has provided robust data and network installations and AV solutions for a wide spectrum of clients across London, Kent and the Home Counties. We operate within commercial, education and public sectors, and make a point of getting to know our clients and their businesses so that we can recommend products and systems that suit their needs.

Related News

Network Infrastructure

Fortinet and BT Collaborate to Expand Managed Network Services with Secure SD-WAN

Fortinet | May 03, 2021

BT is launching another oversaw secure SD-WAN assistance fueled by Fortinet, a worldwide innovator in wide, integrated, and robotized cybersecurity arrangements, offering associations networking and security in a solitary united arrangement. The move features the two organizations' obligation to conveying secure networking arrangements that empower advanced change. SD-WAN permits associations, all things considered, to improve application and client experience while empowering the adaptability and money-saving advantages of a crossover network. Nonetheless, the network change made conceivable by SD-WAN prompts a more extensive assault surface, which means customary border-based security is lacking. Associations that have decided to address this issue by overlaying security as an untimely idea are acknowledging they have presented pointless expense, intricacy, and digital danger into their network. With the scale, speed, and assortment of digital dangers proceeding to develop at a disturbing rate, BT will upgrade its Managed Firewall administration with the expansion of Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, giving worldwide associations an answer that completely joins security and availability in a solitary apparatus. BT experts support clients at each phase of organization and activity, from introductory set-up and carry out through continuous checking, the executives, and upgrade. BT gives a reliable degree of administration for associations' varying computerized development, foundations, and business needs. With all capacities oversaw as a solitary substance, it permits clients to just add gadgets and foundation to their network, giving them adaptability and spryness to react to showcase changes and development. Through proceeding with danger appraisal and discovery, BT can likewise uphold clients by recognizing and forestalling assaults, and moderate harms should a penetrate happen. Fortinet Secure SD-WAN gives a few clear advantages, including: • Improved Performance and Experience: Can be arranged to focus on business-basic traffic and continuous administrations for enhanced network and application performance, while likewise speeding up the selection and mix of cloud administrations. • Efficient Operations: Customers can deal with all locales, investigate, and empower Secure SD-WAN to new and existing branches effectively utilizing a solitary sheet of glass interface. • Natively Integrated Security: Combines SD-WAN and security capacities in a collaboration answer to safeguard the security and accessibility of the network. • Reduced Costs and Improved ROI: By conveying single integrated security and network WAN Edge arrangement which empowers sped up the union, clients profit by both reduced costs and improved profit from the venture. BT and Fortinet have functioned as accomplices for longer than 10 years to create and convey answers for associations hoping to secure their network change. With numerous associations proceeding to adjust to a conveyed and distant labor force model, BT and Fortinet work cooperatively to give clients secure admittance to applications and jobs, while expanding zero trust controls from their network to the Cloud Edge through SASE. About Fortinet Fortinet secures the biggest endeavor, specialist co-op, and government associations throughout the planet. Fortinet enables our clients with complete perceivability and control across the expanding assault surface and the ability to take on steadily expanding performance necessities today and into what's to come. Just the Fortinet Security Fabric platform can address the most basic security challenges and ensure information across the whole computerized framework, regardless of whether in networked, application, multi-cloud, or edge conditions. Fortinet positions #1 in the most security machines transported worldwide and over 500,000 clients trust Fortinet to ensure their organizations. Both an innovation organization and a learning association, the Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Training Institute has one of the biggest and broadest cybersecurity preparing programs in the business.

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Aryaka, 8×8 Inc. Partner up for Enhanced Cloud Communications Performance Across the WAN

Aryaka | July 13, 2020

Aryaka has teamed up with integrated cloud communications platform 8×8, Inc. to extend the platform’s performance across Aryaka’s managed SD-WAN service, enabling enhanced cloud communications performance across the WAN for improved employee productivity and customer experience.In Aryaka’s 4th Annual State of the WAN Report, it was discovered that improved cloud capabilities across the WAN is critical in the burgeoning work-from-anywhere environment. In addition, the report revealed that 32% of respondents indicated that access to cloud applications is one of the biggest challenges with the WAV.Ghassan Abdo, research VPt, Worldwide Telecom, Virtualization & CDN at IDC explained further, “We are living through unprecedented times that require enterprises to accelerate the move to an online digital business and support massive growth of remote workers. SD-WAN together with cloud communications and collaboration is a great choice to support this new digital economy and address the need for a massively distributed and remote work environment.”The 8×8 enterprise communications platform includes features like voice, team chat, meetings and contact center solutions, and when combined with Aryaka’s managed SD-WAN service will allow enterprises, will, according to Aryaka, maximize IT infrastructure investments and prioritize communications traffic across the network.

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Vodafone Ireland launches new SD-WAN service in partnership with Ryanair

Vodafone | February 10, 2020

Vodafone for Business becomes first to deliver new Cisco SD-WAN technology in Europe Vodafone Ireland announces an SD-WAN customer win with airline Ryanair The launch comes on the heels of Vodafone’s multimillion euro deal with Ryanair to manage the airline’s digital infrastructure. Vodafone Ireland has recently launched Cisco SD-WAN service, announcing an SD-WAN customer win with airline Ryanair. Vodafone Ireland stated that the newest SD-WAN offering targeted at medium-to-large organizations is virtual and that it sits on both existing and new networks. Customers will also be able to manage applications, devices and bandwidth usage via a single self-service portal. What sets Vodafone Ireland apart is how customers will be able to choose the SD-WAN service managed and certified by a team of Vodafone experts and engineers, which allows IT teams to focus on other critical tasks. In addition, Vodafone Ireland's new SD-WAN service will enable customers to manage applications, devices and bandwidth usage via a single self-service portal. It also optimizes network performance by switching over to MPLS, lower-cost internet or mobile connections as needed. What enterprises should look forward to? Cisco SD-WAN provides global enterprises with an application-driven network that constantly adapts to the real-time demands of their cloud computing, mobility, and digitization needs. The product intelligently steers traffic over a preferred network path from a combination of IP-MPLS, Internet, and 4G transports, in order to meet policies set by the Enterprise for critical applications performance (e.g. Skype for Business, Salesforce). Enterprise benefit from a more dynamic and reliable wide area network solution that enables higher business agility through the ability to self-adjust application priority and routing policies within minutes through a self-serve portal and hence roll out new applications quicker and easier. Both service providers and cloud providers alike are ramping up their launches of software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) managed services to take advantage of booming demand from enterprises that see several benefits. In a survey of 121 network and IT managers, it was found that 64% are looking to add an SD-WAN managed service in the next two years, according to the results of the Futuriom SD-WAN Managed Services report. Futuriom's survey research, targeting director-level and above professionals in IT and network management, indicates that SD-WAN is in high demand because end-users believe it will deliver better security, improved cloud applications performance, and more flexible management. This demand has pushed scores of global cloud and service providers to line up in order to present their SD-WAN offerings, which offer enterprises a way to purchase hardware, software, and regular management of their networks from a third party. In addition to surveying end-user needs, Futuriom delved deeply into the offerings of more than 20 service providers worldwide. They range from cloud-based providers such as Aryaka Networks and Cato Networks, traditional service providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Deutsche Telekom, as well as business-services specialists such as Colt Network Services and Masergy. Learn more: Industry Voices Raynovich: Key trends for SD-WAN managed services What preceded it? The launch comes on the heels of Vodafone’s multimillion euro deal with Ryanair to manage the airline’s digital infrastructure. The deal from late last year gave away no financial details of the agreement, while industry sources estimated the contract to be in the region of €40 million. The outcome-driven agreement provides services that touch every point of the Ryanair passenger journey, driving continuous innovation to deliver digital transformation, business growth, and operational efficiencies. Under the agreement, Vodafone Business will transform Ryanair’s information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure using every part of Vodafone Business’ solutions including cloud, unified communications, software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), Internet of Things (IoT) and security services. Under the new deal, which builds on a previous, smaller partnership, Vodafone is to provide technical support for 300 Ryanair sites and 200 million passengers across 40 countries, providing a range of solutions covering the cloud, unified communications, software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), Internet of Things (IoT), and security services. Vodafone Business will support 300 Ryanair sites and some 200 million passengers across 40 countries, meaning that up to 95 per cent of Ryanair’s telecoms will be managed directly by Vodafone Business. This includes the hosting of its core infrastructure that maintains Ryanair’s core business processes from online booking, passenger boarding and in-flight transactions, to training centres, offices and data centres. Airlines, like any other business, are under immense pressure to respond to fast-changing customer demands and putting the right technology in place today allows any organization to be future-ready. Vodafone Business’ Connected Airport offer allows Ryanair to connect a new airport or site in just 10 days, giving them the ability to adapt quickly and provide new options for their customers. Having the right technology in place also supports the fast turnaround of planes, which is an important factor in an airline’s profitability. Ryanair currently has 20,000 global IoT connections with Vodafone Business used by their aircrew to connect their tablets and handheld devices. “This new partnership agreement not only highlights the strength of Vodafone’s global ICT offering, but shows the trusted relationships we build with our customers. By working closely with Ryanair, our technical, product and account management teams in Vodafone Business will deliver against their business and technology requirements. This new agreement also represents Vodafone’s largest rollout of SD-WAN to date, which I’m delighted to say, is being managed in Ireland for delivery across 40 countries. SD-WAN provides customers with a greater level of control and autonomy over their network and greater insight into its performance while saving time and cost. Furthermore, the beauty of the software element of this new network is that it will allow Ryanair to deploy quickly, securely, and without major disruption to existing network architecture and activities.” - Anne O’Leary, Chief Executive, Vodafone Ireland The contract also represents Vodafone Ireland’s largest ever rollout of SD-WAN, a technology that simplifies the management and operation of a wide area network by separating the hardware from its control mechanism. “Over the last 30 years, Ryanair has revolutionized and democratized air travel for European citizens, growing to become Europe’s largest airline with the widest route network, connecting more than 200 destinations in 40 countries on the lowest fares. As part of our commitment to low fares, more choice, and great care, we’re continuing to enhance the Ryanair experience for our 153m annual customers, and this extended partnership with Vodafone will provide us with the technical support to allow us to make improvements quickly and seamlessly, including migration to a new wide area network that will enable Ryanair to be more agile in its connectivity” - John Hurley, Chief Technology Officer, Ryanair By using its SD-WAN service, Vodafone Ireland said that Ryanair could turn up a new network airport site in 10 days. The service gives Ryanair the agility and flexibility to respond quickly to customer demand when launching new route offerings.

Read More

Network Infrastructure

Fortinet and BT Collaborate to Expand Managed Network Services with Secure SD-WAN

Fortinet | May 03, 2021

BT is launching another oversaw secure SD-WAN assistance fueled by Fortinet, a worldwide innovator in wide, integrated, and robotized cybersecurity arrangements, offering associations networking and security in a solitary united arrangement. The move features the two organizations' obligation to conveying secure networking arrangements that empower advanced change. SD-WAN permits associations, all things considered, to improve application and client experience while empowering the adaptability and money-saving advantages of a crossover network. Nonetheless, the network change made conceivable by SD-WAN prompts a more extensive assault surface, which means customary border-based security is lacking. Associations that have decided to address this issue by overlaying security as an untimely idea are acknowledging they have presented pointless expense, intricacy, and digital danger into their network. With the scale, speed, and assortment of digital dangers proceeding to develop at a disturbing rate, BT will upgrade its Managed Firewall administration with the expansion of Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, giving worldwide associations an answer that completely joins security and availability in a solitary apparatus. BT experts support clients at each phase of organization and activity, from introductory set-up and carry out through continuous checking, the executives, and upgrade. BT gives a reliable degree of administration for associations' varying computerized development, foundations, and business needs. With all capacities oversaw as a solitary substance, it permits clients to just add gadgets and foundation to their network, giving them adaptability and spryness to react to showcase changes and development. Through proceeding with danger appraisal and discovery, BT can likewise uphold clients by recognizing and forestalling assaults, and moderate harms should a penetrate happen. Fortinet Secure SD-WAN gives a few clear advantages, including: • Improved Performance and Experience: Can be arranged to focus on business-basic traffic and continuous administrations for enhanced network and application performance, while likewise speeding up the selection and mix of cloud administrations. • Efficient Operations: Customers can deal with all locales, investigate, and empower Secure SD-WAN to new and existing branches effectively utilizing a solitary sheet of glass interface. • Natively Integrated Security: Combines SD-WAN and security capacities in a collaboration answer to safeguard the security and accessibility of the network. • Reduced Costs and Improved ROI: By conveying single integrated security and network WAN Edge arrangement which empowers sped up the union, clients profit by both reduced costs and improved profit from the venture. BT and Fortinet have functioned as accomplices for longer than 10 years to create and convey answers for associations hoping to secure their network change. With numerous associations proceeding to adjust to a conveyed and distant labor force model, BT and Fortinet work cooperatively to give clients secure admittance to applications and jobs, while expanding zero trust controls from their network to the Cloud Edge through SASE. About Fortinet Fortinet secures the biggest endeavor, specialist co-op, and government associations throughout the planet. Fortinet enables our clients with complete perceivability and control across the expanding assault surface and the ability to take on steadily expanding performance necessities today and into what's to come. Just the Fortinet Security Fabric platform can address the most basic security challenges and ensure information across the whole computerized framework, regardless of whether in networked, application, multi-cloud, or edge conditions. Fortinet positions #1 in the most security machines transported worldwide and over 500,000 clients trust Fortinet to ensure their organizations. Both an innovation organization and a learning association, the Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Training Institute has one of the biggest and broadest cybersecurity preparing programs in the business.

Read More

Aryaka, 8×8 Inc. Partner up for Enhanced Cloud Communications Performance Across the WAN

Aryaka | July 13, 2020

Aryaka has teamed up with integrated cloud communications platform 8×8, Inc. to extend the platform’s performance across Aryaka’s managed SD-WAN service, enabling enhanced cloud communications performance across the WAN for improved employee productivity and customer experience.In Aryaka’s 4th Annual State of the WAN Report, it was discovered that improved cloud capabilities across the WAN is critical in the burgeoning work-from-anywhere environment. In addition, the report revealed that 32% of respondents indicated that access to cloud applications is one of the biggest challenges with the WAV.Ghassan Abdo, research VPt, Worldwide Telecom, Virtualization & CDN at IDC explained further, “We are living through unprecedented times that require enterprises to accelerate the move to an online digital business and support massive growth of remote workers. SD-WAN together with cloud communications and collaboration is a great choice to support this new digital economy and address the need for a massively distributed and remote work environment.”The 8×8 enterprise communications platform includes features like voice, team chat, meetings and contact center solutions, and when combined with Aryaka’s managed SD-WAN service will allow enterprises, will, according to Aryaka, maximize IT infrastructure investments and prioritize communications traffic across the network.

Read More

Vodafone Ireland launches new SD-WAN service in partnership with Ryanair

Vodafone | February 10, 2020

Vodafone for Business becomes first to deliver new Cisco SD-WAN technology in Europe Vodafone Ireland announces an SD-WAN customer win with airline Ryanair The launch comes on the heels of Vodafone’s multimillion euro deal with Ryanair to manage the airline’s digital infrastructure. Vodafone Ireland has recently launched Cisco SD-WAN service, announcing an SD-WAN customer win with airline Ryanair. Vodafone Ireland stated that the newest SD-WAN offering targeted at medium-to-large organizations is virtual and that it sits on both existing and new networks. Customers will also be able to manage applications, devices and bandwidth usage via a single self-service portal. What sets Vodafone Ireland apart is how customers will be able to choose the SD-WAN service managed and certified by a team of Vodafone experts and engineers, which allows IT teams to focus on other critical tasks. In addition, Vodafone Ireland's new SD-WAN service will enable customers to manage applications, devices and bandwidth usage via a single self-service portal. It also optimizes network performance by switching over to MPLS, lower-cost internet or mobile connections as needed. What enterprises should look forward to? Cisco SD-WAN provides global enterprises with an application-driven network that constantly adapts to the real-time demands of their cloud computing, mobility, and digitization needs. The product intelligently steers traffic over a preferred network path from a combination of IP-MPLS, Internet, and 4G transports, in order to meet policies set by the Enterprise for critical applications performance (e.g. Skype for Business, Salesforce). Enterprise benefit from a more dynamic and reliable wide area network solution that enables higher business agility through the ability to self-adjust application priority and routing policies within minutes through a self-serve portal and hence roll out new applications quicker and easier. Both service providers and cloud providers alike are ramping up their launches of software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) managed services to take advantage of booming demand from enterprises that see several benefits. In a survey of 121 network and IT managers, it was found that 64% are looking to add an SD-WAN managed service in the next two years, according to the results of the Futuriom SD-WAN Managed Services report. Futuriom's survey research, targeting director-level and above professionals in IT and network management, indicates that SD-WAN is in high demand because end-users believe it will deliver better security, improved cloud applications performance, and more flexible management. This demand has pushed scores of global cloud and service providers to line up in order to present their SD-WAN offerings, which offer enterprises a way to purchase hardware, software, and regular management of their networks from a third party. In addition to surveying end-user needs, Futuriom delved deeply into the offerings of more than 20 service providers worldwide. They range from cloud-based providers such as Aryaka Networks and Cato Networks, traditional service providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Deutsche Telekom, as well as business-services specialists such as Colt Network Services and Masergy. Learn more: Industry Voices Raynovich: Key trends for SD-WAN managed services What preceded it? The launch comes on the heels of Vodafone’s multimillion euro deal with Ryanair to manage the airline’s digital infrastructure. The deal from late last year gave away no financial details of the agreement, while industry sources estimated the contract to be in the region of €40 million. The outcome-driven agreement provides services that touch every point of the Ryanair passenger journey, driving continuous innovation to deliver digital transformation, business growth, and operational efficiencies. Under the agreement, Vodafone Business will transform Ryanair’s information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure using every part of Vodafone Business’ solutions including cloud, unified communications, software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), Internet of Things (IoT) and security services. Under the new deal, which builds on a previous, smaller partnership, Vodafone is to provide technical support for 300 Ryanair sites and 200 million passengers across 40 countries, providing a range of solutions covering the cloud, unified communications, software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), Internet of Things (IoT), and security services. Vodafone Business will support 300 Ryanair sites and some 200 million passengers across 40 countries, meaning that up to 95 per cent of Ryanair’s telecoms will be managed directly by Vodafone Business. This includes the hosting of its core infrastructure that maintains Ryanair’s core business processes from online booking, passenger boarding and in-flight transactions, to training centres, offices and data centres. Airlines, like any other business, are under immense pressure to respond to fast-changing customer demands and putting the right technology in place today allows any organization to be future-ready. Vodafone Business’ Connected Airport offer allows Ryanair to connect a new airport or site in just 10 days, giving them the ability to adapt quickly and provide new options for their customers. Having the right technology in place also supports the fast turnaround of planes, which is an important factor in an airline’s profitability. Ryanair currently has 20,000 global IoT connections with Vodafone Business used by their aircrew to connect their tablets and handheld devices. “This new partnership agreement not only highlights the strength of Vodafone’s global ICT offering, but shows the trusted relationships we build with our customers. By working closely with Ryanair, our technical, product and account management teams in Vodafone Business will deliver against their business and technology requirements. This new agreement also represents Vodafone’s largest rollout of SD-WAN to date, which I’m delighted to say, is being managed in Ireland for delivery across 40 countries. SD-WAN provides customers with a greater level of control and autonomy over their network and greater insight into its performance while saving time and cost. Furthermore, the beauty of the software element of this new network is that it will allow Ryanair to deploy quickly, securely, and without major disruption to existing network architecture and activities.” - Anne O’Leary, Chief Executive, Vodafone Ireland The contract also represents Vodafone Ireland’s largest ever rollout of SD-WAN, a technology that simplifies the management and operation of a wide area network by separating the hardware from its control mechanism. “Over the last 30 years, Ryanair has revolutionized and democratized air travel for European citizens, growing to become Europe’s largest airline with the widest route network, connecting more than 200 destinations in 40 countries on the lowest fares. As part of our commitment to low fares, more choice, and great care, we’re continuing to enhance the Ryanair experience for our 153m annual customers, and this extended partnership with Vodafone will provide us with the technical support to allow us to make improvements quickly and seamlessly, including migration to a new wide area network that will enable Ryanair to be more agile in its connectivity” - John Hurley, Chief Technology Officer, Ryanair By using its SD-WAN service, Vodafone Ireland said that Ryanair could turn up a new network airport site in 10 days. The service gives Ryanair the agility and flexibility to respond quickly to customer demand when launching new route offerings.

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