Embracing the Future of Connectivity: Gamma’s Approach to SD-WAN

One size does not fit all, and this truth is just as true in the SD-WAN space as it is in any other.

So, now that we understand what everything actually means, let’s look at where things are going. We know that enterprises are steadily moving towards hybrid networking instead of relying solely on public or private networks. Indeed, a Gartner survey indicates that only 20% of enterprises that have deployed SD-WAN have entirely replaced MPLS. This is telling, and raises some considerations: the choice between MPLS or the internet should hinge not only on cost but also on the applications’ sensitivity to latency, packet loss, jitter, and their criticality to the enterprise. In other words, the quality and robustness. For instance, critical applications like voice and video might still necessitate the use of MPLS.

The long and short of it is that while the cost savings from SD-WAN come from connectivity, hardware, and management overheads, the actual cost savings may vary depending on the extent of SD-WAN deployment. The volume of management inputs might increase as enterprises deploy more applications and have a more dispersed data footprint, even though SD-WAN’s centralised, automated, and simple nature can reduce management costs. To condense this all down into something we will all instantly recognise: one size does not fit all, and this truth is just as true in the SD-WAN space as it is in any other.

20%

The percentage of enterprises that
have deployed SD-WAN have entirely
replaced MPLS.

Certainly a hot topic more now than ever, security is of paramount importance, especially when transitioning from a data-centre-centric configuration to a cloud-centric one. We would be very surprised if a client looking to implement an SD-WAN solution didn’t raise this as a critical area. While SD-WAN solutions can have embedded or virtualised security, organisations need to ensure they partner with vendors with a robust, well-documented history in security. A mere 20% of vendors in the market meet this criterion, signifying the importance of careful selection and trust in partnerships.

Gamma’s Approach to SD-WAN

So, given that we’ve raised other vendors, how does Gamma approach SD-WAN? Well, we offer partnerships with selected SD-WAN and security vendors, providing a plethora of SD-WAN and security solutions. We focus on understanding the latency and jitter sensitivity of enterprise applications when setting up KPIs and SLA red lines. Given the possible architectural changes that SD-WAN implementation might require, we fully acknowledge and take into account the potential effects on existing SLAs, response times, and overall service levels provided by the connectivity carrier.

We recognise the importance of understanding and defining with suitable SLAs the responsibility across the entire solution, from customer premises equipment to application layer considerations. Our emphasis on aligning partner values is a testament to our commitment to effective collaboration throughout the implementation process.

Excitingly, we’ve integrated the Cisco Meraki SD-WAN solution into our technological portfolio. This state-of-the-art system brings to the table flexible technology management, fast deployment capabilities, and comprehensive API compatibility – all features that have greatly enhanced our operational agility.

With the system now integrated with the Highlight Service Assurance Platform, we benefit from a robust top-down service management approach. This strategic integration empowers us to promptly identify and rectify issues, bypassing any roadblocks created by legacy setups. This unified system offers the added benefit of sharing vital views and reports with their customer base through a single, Gamma-branded dashboard.

To shed light on this transformational integration, James Sirrett, the Network Support Manager at Gamma Direct, elaborates, “Highlight is the top-down service view of the Meraki network delivering transparency of Gamma’s Meraki SD-WAN service.”

Sirrett continues, detailing the impact of integrating the Highlight platform into our operations, “Onboarding a new environment and deploying Highlight allowed us to quickly get a holistic view of all VPN’s and performance metrics of the organisation.”

This change, he notes, “greatly extended our service assurance capability alongside the native Meraki tools. The platform allowed us to identify potential issues and provide very quick improvements to the customer.”

Further endorsing the transition, Martin Saunders, the Product Director of Highlight, shares his experience of working with the Highlight platform. He observes, “Working with the Highlight platform has already seen our customers’ confidence levels with Gamma’s Meraki SD-WAN service rise.”

Saunders, who holds daily responsibility for enterprise accounts, articulates the transformative effects of the Highlight platform on his role, “As an advocate, I am no longer blind to a huge area of their business.”

He concludes by drawing attention to the practical impact on service level agreements, “SLAs with issues have decreased significantly and, therefore, so have escalations that would have been both time-consuming to Gamma and our customers.” His comments highlight the tangible benefits the Highlight platform has brought to Gamma’s service assurance process.

So, what’s the final word?

Clearly, SD-WAN is a rapidly evolving technology that has significant implications for the future of connectivity. As it continues to evolve, it is imperative that partners should ideally have extensive experience in connectivity and security, as well as in Local Area Services. With our innovative approach to SD-WAN, Gamma is a promising player in the field, proving that with the right strategies and partnerships, enterprises can harness the full potential of SD-WAN to stay at the forefront of their industries.