Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) has been popular for a number of years now and is very good at providing robust and reliable connectivity as well as ensuring critical business information continues to flow, but it’s flexibility has also become a limiting factor. It's important to be aware of what the differences between MPLS vs SD-WAN are in order to make the best choice for your business needs.

What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?

A single geographically distributed private telecommunications network that is made up of Local Area Networks (LAN) in the form of private lines, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), virtual private networks (VPNs), wireless (cellular) and the Internet. Its architecture, protocols and technologies have evolved to become SD-WAN.

What is a Local Area Network (LAN)?

LAN covers a limited geographical area and provides networks within a single office building or campus. A LAN comprises cables, access points, switches, routers, and other components that enable devices to connect to internal servers. Two of the most common LANs are Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) is one of the many types of WAN technology available. Find out more on what is an IP-VPN and the business benefits that could help your organisation.

SD-WAN

Connect, control, optimise and protect your multisite business with an agile, software-defined wide area network.

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Why SD-WAN?

Connect flexibly

Integrate multiple connection types (MPLS, internet, LTE/5G) with seamless automatic failover.

Centralise control

Manage all your sites, users and traffic policies through a single, easy-to-use portal.

Optimise performance

Prioritise business-critical apps like VoIP, video and SaaS tools for peak performance.

Deploy fast

Near-zero-touch provisioning makes it easy to connect new locations quickly.

Access the cloud

Securely connect directly to leading cloud platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Get expert help 24/7

Get industry-leading support from our UK-based Network Operations Centre (NOC).

SD-WAN features and benefits

From faster deployment to smarter routing, SD-WAN is built to enhance network efficiency, resilience and user experience, including:

Near-zero-touch provisioning: Plug-and-play deployment makes it easy to add or remove sites from your network.
Tunnel bonding with intelligent failover: Combines multiple WAN links for higher bandwidth and seamless connectivity even if one path fails.
Dynamic path control (DPC): Uses real-time analytics to steer traffic based on latency, loss and business intent for optimal performance.
Virtual WAN overlays: Create multiple secure overlays with different QoS and transport characteristics to match application needs.
Edge-to-edge encryption and SASE: Integrates seamlessly with leading providers like Zscaler, Netskope and Palo Alto Networks for network-wide protection.
Cloud intelligence: Automatically selects the best path to cloud and SaaS applications for faster, more reliable performance.

What our customers say

As a Critical National Infrastructure provider, ensuring our production facilities and multiple sites have a reliable, resilient network to operate is essential. The power of SD-WAN technology delivers independence to our sites, with improved network visibility and resilience, ensuring maximum up-time for our essential production facilities.

Richard Barton, Network and Datacentre Domain Lead, Bakkavor

Neos Networks has been our managed network provider for many years, thanks to the partnership our teams are now better equipped to do their jobs and collaborate with their peers, from anywhere in the country.

Chris Barnicott, CTO, SSE Group

SD-WAN FAQs

What’s the difference between SD-WAN and IP-VPN?
IP-VPN and MPLS networks use fixed, hardware-based routing over private links between your business sites. In contrast, SD-WAN creates a software-defined layer that dynamically steers traffic across multiple connection types, including internet, MPLS and LTE/5G. The result is greater flexibility, visibility and control, with faster deployment and lower overall cost.
How does SD-WAN improve network visibility?
You can view and manage all your sites, users and applications from a single portal. Real-time analytics track performance across all configured links, helping you identify and resolve issues quickly.
Can SD-WAN support my existing security setup?
Yes. SD-WAN integrates with your existing firewalls and routers, and with leading SASE platforms such as Zscaler, Netskope and Palo Alto Networks. This simplifies security management by extending consistent, cloud-based protection across your network with centralised control.
How does SD-WAN improve application performance?
SD-WAN uses Dynamic Path Control (DPC) to monitor latency, jitter and loss in real time, automatically steering traffic over the best-performing link. Path conditioning further enhances reliability by repairing packet loss and smoothing latency, keeping voice, video and SaaS applications fast and consistent, even at peak times.
How does SD-WAN support cloud connectivity?
Unlike traditional WANs, which typically backhaul traffic through a central data centre, SD-WAN enables direct cloud access at each site. This helps to reduce delay and improve user experience for SaaS applications. Neos Networks SD-WAN integrates seamlessly with leading SaaS platforms like Microsoft Azure, AWS and Google Cloud.
How long does SD-WAN take to deploy?
SD-WAN can be deployed far faster than traditional WANs. Once your network links are delivered, devices can be connected and configured automatically through near-zero-touch provisioning, reducing setup time from weeks to hours.