For decades, MPLS was the technology for secure, private business networks. MPLS is expensive, and it requires new lines connected at every satellite location. There is significant cost saving available when replacing an MPLS system with SD-WAN, and thousands of businesses have done exactly that. Beyond the cost savings, however, SD-WAN is far more agile and fits better with innovative companies.
MPLS: An Old Way of Working
MPLS, although expensive, made sense when everyone worked in the same building, or a limited number of specific office locations. There was a perceived degree of security in having a closed, hard-wired system, which may have been true 20 years ago. Now, even a “closed” office network requires frequent access to the Internet, and once that door is opened, the security advantage of a dedicated line is negated.
MPLS is also incompatible with the way businesses operate today. The complication of installing new lines for every satellite location was a rare nuisance when there were only a few remote offices. As businesses expand to multiple locations with remote workers and international offices, MPLS becomes a major hurdle.
SD-WAN: Greater Flexibility at a Lower Cost
Peplink SD-WAN can offer significant savings over MPLS, real network security, and significant flexibility. Peplink’s SpeedFusion technology doesn’t rely on a closed system for security. That means that a single company vehicle with an inexpensive Peplink cellular router can connect to a main or satellite office and still have the same level of security as someone hardwired in the next room.
Peplink SD-WAN can use any existing commodity connections available at each location. The main office can be served by an Xfinity cable connection while a branch office is connected with AT&T DSL. Remote and mobile locations can use any of several cellular providers to connect. All of the various links are connected and secured by Peplink software. Typical MPLS connections can cost anywhere from $300 or more per Mbps per month. They often include fees for international service and other connections beyond the network. A typical cable connection will cost business customers less than $15 per Mbps per month. The per-line connection savings alone are dramatic.
Proven Success with SD-WAN
Harrington Industrial Plastics, a Peplink customer—with 43 satellite offices—realized a $100,000 savings in the first year. Where the 768kb MPLS deployed previously had cost them $192,000 a year for all 43 sites, the company’s Peplink solution is now only costing them $92,000. Their total bandwidth has been increased from 36 Mbps to 138 Mbps.
Clinton National Bank in Iowa was able to convert its nine locations from T1 MPLS to Peplink SD-WAN resulting in increased bandwidth and cost savings. Kevin Ross, Information Technology Officer for Clinton reported, “We have been able to increase our bandwidth from 1.5M to approximately 20M at our branches that were previously costing us a very high rate. Our ROI will be very short, increasing profitably at some locations where profits were being taken up substantially in Telco costs alone. We anticipate savings of approximately $2,500 per month.”
Any business still paying for, and being limited by, MPLS technology should at least explore the savings and agility of a Peplink SD-WAN system.
Frontier Computer Corp. is the largest distributor of Peplink SD-WAN products in North America.
We would love to connect you with the perfect partner to free you from MPLS.
