Capterra Glossary
Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)
Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) is a virtual WAN architecture. It refers to a large computer network that is not tied to a physical location. Wide area networks have been popular and widely used for years. Their popularity has exploded as people and businesses have begun to operate remotely more often. A software-defined WAN is a WAN that uses many forms of internet and network connectivity. This includes broadband or LTE. By using these networks, the software-defined WAN creates a virtual WAN. It thus only allows for secure connections.
What Small and Midsize Businesses Need to Know About Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN)
Many businesses have found that there are benefits to creating a software-defined WAN. Not only does it boost performance, but SD-WAN also creates a more secure connection and enables cloud storage functionality, all of which can lead to reduced costs. It is often a preferred solution to a more traditional WAN.
Related Terms
- Synchronous
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Intranet
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Managed Service Provider (MSP)
- Haptics
- WAN (Wide-Area Network)
- Service-oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
- Scalability
- Data Center
- Authorization
- Multitenancy