SD-WAN replaces or augments traditional MPLS with software-defined policies that route traffic intelligently across any combination of internet, broadband, and private circuits — delivering better application performance at lower cost than legacy WAN architectures.
SD-WAN is the most impactful WAN modernization a multi-site enterprise can make — but platform selection, architecture design, and migration execution determine whether you realize the promised benefits or inherit a new set of operational challenges.
A structured advisory process — from discovery and market evaluation to vendor selection and post-deployment optimization — tailored to your specific environment and objectives.
We document your existing WAN topology, circuit inventory, carrier contracts, application performance baselines, and cost structure — establishing the factual foundation for evaluating SD-WAN ROI and architecture options.
We evaluate SD-WAN platforms — Cisco Viptela, VMware VeloCloud, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN, Versa Networks — against your specific requirements: cloud integration quality, security capabilities, management complexity, and total cost of ownership.
We design the SD-WAN architecture: hub-and-spoke vs. full-mesh topology, underlay transport selection (MPLS, broadband, LTE), cloud on-ramp integration, and the security service chain appropriate for direct internet access at branch locations.
We develop the phased migration plan — site sequencing, parallel-run validation, MPLS exit timeline, and cutover procedures — and provide advisory support during implementation to catch issues before they impact production.
These are the dimensions that consistently separate successful network deployments from costly ones — and the questions RLM will help you answer before any commitment.
Measure application performance before and after SD-WAN deployment — particularly for cloud-hosted SaaS applications like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Zoom. The improvement must justify the cost and complexity of migration.
Native integration with AWS, Azure, and GCP gateways (Transit Gateway Connect, Azure Virtual WAN, GCP NCC) is a critical differentiator. Evaluate the quality of cloud on-ramp for your specific cloud providers.
Direct internet breakout at branches eliminates the hairpin through HQ but requires local security. Evaluate the integrated firewall, SASE integration, and cloud-delivered security options for each platform.
SD-WAN works best when it can choose across multiple transport paths. Evaluate the minimum underlay diversity required — single broadband provides basic SD-WAN benefits; MPLS + broadband + LTE maximizes resilience.
SD-WAN management complexity varies dramatically across platforms. Evaluate the operations model — central policy management, troubleshooting tools, alerting — against your IT team's network expertise.
SD-WAN platforms use proprietary overlay protocols. Evaluate the lock-in implications and the commercial leverage you maintain at renewal once your WAN is built on a single vendor's overlay.
"RLM gave us an objective view of our network options that no single vendor could. We replaced aging MPLS across 40 locations and came in 28% under our original budget."
"The RLM team understood our network complexity from day one. Their vendor-neutral approach helped us find the right solution — not just the one with the biggest marketing budget."
Start with a no-cost conversation with an RLM network advisor — vendor neutral, no agenda, just clarity on the right path forward for your environment.
Speak to a Network Advisor