SD-WAN and the Internet of Things (IoT): Managing IoT networks efficiently

The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the business world and made it possible for objects to exchange data as well as perform functions in various sectors. It has been used in manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities, logistics, and many other industries and IoT has become an essential component of today’s world. However, the very idea of the Internet of Things opens up new problems, above all, the problem of how to control the flow of information, how to provide protection, and how to guarantee stability in communication. This is where Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) comes into the picture which provides a solution for IoT network management challenges.

SD-WAN is a virtualized network technology that enables an organization to aggregate, direct and manage its WAN infrastructure through centralized traffic flow management. These are broadband internet, MPLS and 4G/5G LTE which are suitable for handling the large number of devices that are characteristic of IoT. In this article, we will discuss how sd-wan improves the management of IoT networks and solve key challenges that include the following; Traffic management, Security, scalability and flexibility.

The IoT challenge: Large scale and distributed networks management

As IoT networks continue to grow at a very fast rate, there are various challenges that have emerged with the growth of the networks. The management of IoT devices and the data they produce in real-time from different locations is therefore a critical process that needs to be well coordinated. The key challenges include:

• Data overload: IoT devices including sensors and cameras are always in a state of transmitting data. If not well managed, this data can congest traditional networks, thus creating a bottleneck and slower throughputs.
• Security risks: Every single device that is connected to the network is a possible weak link and an entry point for the threats. Protecting thousands or even millions of IoT devices is an almost impossible task when one has to rely on the traditional networks that cannot offer real-time security patches or segmentation.
• Network reliability: Most of the IoT devices work in areas with poor network connectivity or they are located in areas with poor network coverage. This is because connectivity between such distributed networks is very important in order to provide consistent performance.
• Scalability: This is because as businesses expand their IoT presence, they require a network that can expand with them and that does not necessitate the spending on new physical hardware.

How SD-WAN Addresses IoT Challenges

SD-WAN offers a solution to the numerous problems that come with the management of IoT networks as it provides a flexible, scalable and secure network. Here’s how SD-WAN helps manage IoT networks efficiently:

1. IoT data through bandwidth management

IoT devices are capable of producing large data; however not all of it has to be delivered instantaneously. SD-WAN provides an enhanced traffic handling mechanism to enable business to direct the high priority IoT data, which may include alerts or monitoring details, to specific routes while less important data including logs or background operations can be managed through less critical routes.

Through the use of SD-WAN, a company is able to manage the use of their bandwidth in a way that will enable critical data to be transmitted through the network as fast and as effectively as possible without overloading the network. SD-WAN manages to choose the most efficient route for traffic based on the current state of the network and IoT applications require minimal latency and packet loss as the data is to be processed in real-time in use cases such as healthcare or manufacturing.

2. Strengthening IoT network security

To this end, IoT networks are highly susceptible to a number of cyber threats due to the increasing number of connected devices. Protecting these devices is possible only with the help of a network architecture that can generate various security measures for all entry points.

SD-WAN provides security through elements like encryption, firewalls, and micro-segmentation of the network. Network segmentation is an important aspect in IoT since it enables the dividing of the network into different segments for various devices. For instance, high-risk devices for instance security cameras can be put in a different segment than the critical systems such as the medical devices or the financial transaction systems. This makes it difficult for the attackers to spread within the network if one device is infected since it is isolated.

Also, SD-WAN has the capability of real-time threat detection and response thus helping in the prevention of threats that may be detrimental to the network.

3. Ensuring stable communications between IoT devices based on distributed architecture

Most IoT devices are used in areas that have limited or no network coverage which is a big challenge. This includes the use of remote sensors in agriculture, logistics tracking devices or industrial IoT in factories for instance. SD-WAN is a solution for this as it supports availability of different connection types such as broadband, LTE and satellite and thus guarantees reliability in different areas.

4. Supporting IoT network scalability

When companies are deploying IoT networks, they need the solutions that can accommodate the growth of the network. It is a common practice that traditional WAN architectures may need a lot of hardware investments or expensive MPLS links to address increasing data traffic.

On the other hand, SD-WAN is designed for the scale. It enables Organizations to incorporate new sites or devices into the network without having to completely redesign the network. This is particularly helpful for companies that are in the process of increasing their IoT etc., since they only need to incorporate new devices and connections into the SD-WAN architecture.

Also, SD-WAN is managed through the cloud meaning that IT departments are able to oversee, manage and secure the entire IoT network through one interface. This minimizes the effort and the time taken in managing large IoT environments spread across a geographical region.

5. Cutting down on expenditure and increasing productivity

The integration of SD-WAN can help organizations that are facing IoT network management save a lot of money. MPLS networks, while well known and dependable, are very costly and not very versatile. SD-WAN makes it possible for organizations to use lower-cost broadband for their connections while at the same achieving or even enhancing performance. In this way, the less important traffic can be routed through cheap connections while the important traffic can be routed through expensive connections and thus help in optimizing network costs.

In addition, SD-WAN has centralized management that helps to minimize the on-site IT infrastructure and thus cut on costs. Remote configuration and troubleshooting also helps in minimizing the time that is taken in order to diagnose and fix problems that can arise in IoT devices hence improving the overall smooth flow of operations.

IoT and SD-WAN: Current and future trends

With the number of IoT devices rising, SD-WAN is set to become the primary way of managing large scale networks that are more secure, manageable and efficient. Manufacturing, healthcare, retail and smart city sectors and many other have started using SD-WAN to manage their IoT environment.

Due to the fact that SD-WAN provides the organizations with better bandwidth utilization, enhanced security, efficient connection, and reduced costs, it is rapidly becoming the go-to option for IoT deployments. Due to these characteristics of SD-WAN, it can be integrated with IoT networks to help transport data since the IoT networks are ever evolving in terms of devices and the amount of data they require.

Featured image credit: Growtika