The business benefits of IP-VPN
Bernie Marolia, Sector Director Of Enterprise / SSE Enterprise Telecoms, details the benefits of opting for an IP-VPN.
Managed WANs (Wide Area Networks) has become a vital component in every IT leader’s armoury as secure end-to-end connectivity takes centre stage. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one such technology and long-established network architecture that protects a user’s connection; keeping their privacy on the Internet via safe remote access.
Business solutions such as IP-VPN (Internet Protocol-Virtual Private Network) or SD-WAN (Software Defined-Wide Area Network) are key to providing the connectivity requirements facing modern businesses. Yet articulating their wider business benefits can be challenging.
A good business case needs to clearly demonstrate the benefits off implementation to those who may not understand the ins and outs of the technology. And when it comes to WAN technology like IP-VPN, there are a few key reasons as to why the right solution could be the difference between thriving in a digital world or barely surviving it.
Making connectivity simple
There is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to IP-VPN. However, its flexibility means you can tweak and improve application performance; prioritise data traffic according to business need; and run historical reports to analyse bandwidth, statuses and usage statistics.
For businesses that work across multiple sites in urban and rural locations with constant large-scale data transference, they will benefit from the low latency and high network performance IP-VPN offers. Similarly, those that use collaboration and management tools need constant high bandwidth guarantees and may struggle without their own VPN – particularly now that organisations have more reliance on video conferencing, file sharing and messaging software than ever before.
In each of these cases, IP-VPN provides close control for IT leaders, offering multiple classes of service, which ensure each application gets the required priority to utilise allocated bandwidth efficiently, providing the optimal quality of service.
The benefits of enhanced security
Perhaps the most natural use case for IP-VPN is based around security and data privacy. Organisations that house applications on site need dedicated private networks to protect their data.
Enhanced protection from Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) cyber threats that could cause costly downtime are essential. This is particularly important for businesses which support critical infrastructure – like those in the energy and utilities sectors.
IP-VPN has long been the preferred choice for these organisations, with many leading providers offering dedicated lines through which Internet traffic is backhauled to a data centre for inspection. It also enables them to have complete network control and bypass the risks that may come with alternative solutions.
Superior connectivity performance
Unresponsive applications, slow transmission and network congestion are all common problems for IT leaders. Particularly as systems are asked to cope with expanding amounts of data, the rise of IoT and to play a key role in ongoing digital transformation efforts.
IP-VPN guarantees bandwidth for demanding applications like HD video-conferencing, and offers low latency and packet loss, meaning a consistently high quality of service for you and your end-customers.
Known for its quality of service, IP-VPN is a robustly reliable solution, enabling IT leaders to improve the basic standards of their organisation’s connectivity. It can also play a strategic role in the onboarding of ever more advanced technology, as well as keeping the business operational whatever challenges are thrown at the network.
Collaborating with the right partner is key
For companies looking at WAN, there are seemingly endless options – from the types of technology available, to the providers offering them. With progressively more applications being hosted in the cloud, businesses are turning to solutions that offer scalability, as well as high levels of security and performance.
Nowadays, it is important to find a solution that keeps businesses running efficiently and seamlessly in order to provide the adequate level of service to their customers. It is advisable that they also compare solutions to see which is best for them.
Working with an expert in WAN will make any move from IP-VPN to SD-WAN relatively smooth – for example, a provider that can manage a service for both, allows the facilitation of seamless implementation. Perhaps most importantly, businesses must choose a provider that offers consultancy and strategic partnership, with a deep understanding of individual business needs so that solutions are tailored appropriately.
