DIY vs Managed SD-WAN

As organizations seek to lower overall total cost of ownership (TCO) while still delivering fast, scalable, and flexible connectivity, software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) solutions have emerged as an attractive strategy. The demand for SD-WAN is growing rapidly, and they can be deployed in multiple ways: do-it-yourself (DIY) or managed solutions. 

With DIY SD-WAN, an organization's own IT team sets up and manages all the components in-house. A managed SD-WAN provides organizations with an out-of-the-box solution to manage multiple network connections, critical applications, and security. 

Whether you use DIY or managed SD-WAN is not an easy decision to make and is not as simple as choosing between an on-premises versus a cloud-based solution. Several factors go into this decision, and as organizations of all sizes need to adapt quickly to changing business demands, this decision is vital.

The DIY model gives organizations full control of their networks and is most appropriate for larger enterprises with significant internal technical expertise in deploying, configuring, and monitoring these networks. The in-house IT team is also responsible for maintaining the company's own SD-WAN equipment, connections, and software.  

A managed solution is suited for organizations seeking to save time and reduce operational overhead. Your IT staff can spend more time on other value-adding projects. The managed model is also a way for smaller companies to transition to software-defined networking, enabling them to study and learn from their providers. 

There are certain scenarios in which DIY SD-WAN makes more sense than the managed route, such as:

1. Existing IT talent: Larger organizations may already have the necessary IT expertise to deploy and configure the network. IT professionals who have worked with the company for years understand its connectivity and security needs quite well.
2. Complicated needs: Certain organizations, including those in regulated industries, such as financial services and healthcare, have complex requirements and must conduct internal risk assessments of their networks and facilities regularly. A managed solution may not be able to handle such needs. 
3. Additional security: Even with an SD-WAN in place, organizations will still need to install and configure extra security technologies and protocols to ensure that sensitive data is protected until it arrives at its destination.
4. Additional configuration: A managed solution is not completely hands-off. Companies are still responsible for configuring network paths and routers before deployment.  

Aside from bringing provider expertise into the equation, managed SD-WAN provides organizations with the following benefits:

1. Reliance on the expertise of others: Smaller organizations often do not have the IT resources to handle the installation and management of the SD-WAN on their own. 
2. Cost savings: Bandwidth for multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), a protocol-independent routing technique, is costly, which is why organizations want alternative solutions for their corporate WAN. Also, as more and more organizations move to mobile and the cloud, MPLS no longer meets enterprise WAN needs.
3. Additional IT resources: The necessary equipment is supplied and experts assist from installation to completion.
4. Integration with other network services: Managed SD-WAN providers offer consolidated billing, offering a bundle of different types of broadband connections.
5. Integration with public cloud services: Connect with public cloud services, such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.