Insight: Challenges and Trends That Will Shape the MPLS Industry Post-Coronavirus Environment

Technologies such as SD-WAN have revolutionized the core concepts of broadband. SD-WAN strategies revolve around the idea of turning your private network into a public network.

This was essential to eliminating the bottlenecks to optimized performance and simplified your network’s scalability.

However, COVID-19 has caused a paradigm shift in every aspect of life. Such challenges have forced thought leaders in the IT industry to roll back most of the advancements in broadband and networking strategies.

Consequently, many companies are now scrambling to cut back on broadband guzzling strategies such as SD-WAN.

Here is what you can deduce as the industry pivots on its stand on private connectivity.

MPLS Post COVID-19

Past Networking Trends Vs. the Current Situation

Industry leaders have been pushing SD-WAN as a cure-all solution to the afflictions caused by MPLS since late 2017. After all, it makes sound fiscal sense to convert your private network into a public one.

As a result, most companies were eager to make the switch. Most adapted to SD-WAN solutions without crafting measures that would see them have less dependence on cloud computing or their private infrastructure.

Enter COVID-19, and suddenly everyone has doubts about the efficacy of SD-WAN in such uncertain times.

Such uncertainty is a symptom of the questions and challenges many companies failed to address in their push to create a truly virtual workforce. Ironically, the same workforce is currently at home frustrated by higher downtimes occasioned by this broadband intensive strategy.

Altera Solutions’ Take on the Situation: All Factors Will Remain Constant

Private and public networking solutions should complement and improve on each other. And, the COVID-19 ’s destabilizing effects solidify such a confident statement. Public networks have helped millions of remote workers remain in business at a fraction of the cost.

However, a private connection is also essential to providing virtual offices with flawless communication and access to critical business data and high-end applications.

There’s a subtle balance to it. That’s why we need hybrid broadband strategies. Such Solutions play on the best qualities of both private and public networks. At such uncertain times, networking needs vary for many companies.

At times, productivity and output are high, meaning you need a strong and reliable connection. When productivity is low, a passable connection will suffice.

What Have Tech Thought Leaders Learned from COVID-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught everyone to appreciate the things often taken for granted. Such introspection applies especially when you consider both the positive and negative aspects of any networking solution. It’s such an understanding that it will give you the tools vital to managing network risk.

The Way Forward: Understanding the Importance of Every Type of Network

Appreciating the differences between different networks gives companies more control over their network’s performance.

Here is a brief run-through of what you should know about various networks.

  • Public Networks: Please Proceed with Caution: Broadband is the most affordable internet access option, which makes it an unreliable data transfer option. It gets even weaker over long distances. You could juggle multiple service providers or look into viable fixes for such inconsistencies. But, this can prove frustrating.
  • 4G/5G or wireless Connections: A Viable Backup Solution: Such solutions are as unpredictable as broadband. So, most people it when on the road and as a contingency or backup option. But why is this so? It connects you to the internet, but it’s a finite resource that maxes out eventually. 5G holds some promise, but wireless connections often exceed monthly 4G data allotments. Tech innovators are still working on such inconsistencies.
  • Dedicated Internet Access: Modal Risk Option: DIA solutions come, so where between in the middle. They cost more than broadband and are more reliable. On the other hand, they are more affordable than MPLS solutions. Nonetheless, they are not reliable. Most companies use DIA on software and services that are not vital to the business, As a public network, it’s also vulnerable to significant downtimes and security threats. Therefore, it makes sense to approach DIA with the same caution as broadband.
  • MPLS/Private Networks: Never Disappoint: MPLS may come at a premium price, but it’s the most reliable networking option. Comparing it to the other options breeds stack contrasts. It’s scalable, supports real-time visibility, and makes managing your network a piece of cake. Every business process, location, and user group requires varying security and network availability to attain peak productivity. There are no strict conventions on how you connect to the internet. It’s simply a matter of appreciating the subtle differences between all the options and leveraging them to your business needs.

At Altera solutions, we understand such subtleties. We are ready to eliminate all the noise to find the most viable solution. We provide consultancy to hundreds of companies that range from small to large enterprises all over the world. Click here to contact the experts at Altera Solutions or call us at (833) 373-3635 to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.