The enterprise networking landscape has transformed in recent years, moving from rigid, hardware-dependent systems to dynamic, software-driven solutions. Today’s businesses are embracing cloud services, remote work, and digital agility—and that means traditional networking just isn’t cutting it anymore. The shift to software-defined solutions like SD-WAN is changing the game, offering smarter, faster, and more flexible connectivity that keeps up with modern demands.
Legacy Networks: Built for Yesterday's Challenges
MPLS is a 25-year-old technology that has remained largely unchanged, even as the world embraced cloud computing, digitalisation, and sweeping advances in enterprise transformation. Traditional enterprise networks like MPLS were designed for a time when business operations were centralised, predictable, and on-premises. Back then, static architecture and costly, rigid access technologies worked just fine. But today’s world is cloud-first, remote-enabled, and constantly evolving—and those legacy systems are struggling to keep up.
SD-WAN is purpose-built for modern demands. It replaces hardware-heavy networks with agile, software-defined connectivity that’s faster, more secure, and far easier to manage. And unlike MPLS, SD-WAN doesn’t lock you into expensive private circuits—it lets you mix and match multiple access technologies like broadband, LTE, and 5G to optimise performance and reduce costs. With direct cloud access, real-time traffic routing, and built-in security, SD-WAN empowers businesses to scale, adapt, and thrive in a digital-first landscape.
When Software Replaces Hardware
SD-WAN flips the traditional networking model on its head. Instead of relying on rigid hardware configurations, it uses software to intelligently manage connectivity and traffic across the enterprise. At each site, lightweight routing devices are installed—often at fibre endpoints—and these instantly connect to cloud-based orchestrators, the “control centre” of the network. These orchestrators handle everything from traffic routing to security policies, giving IT teams centralised control without the complexity.
This software-defined approach enables zero-touch provisioning: once a device is plugged in, the network springs to life in minutes—no manual setup, no truck rolls, no delays. It’s a massive leap in efficiency, allowing businesses to scale their network footprint quickly and cost-effectively. As long as there are broadband Internet connections available already.
It’s part of a broader shift in the cloud era, where software has replaced hardware across the board. Physical servers have given way to virtual machines and cloud-native infrastructure. Networking is following suit—moving from static, hardware-bound systems to dynamic, software-driven platforms that are built for agility, speed, and scale.
Enhanced Security and AI Integration
Using the internet for enterprise connectivity might sound risky at first—but modern SD-WAN solutions are built with security at their core. Unlike traditional networks that relied on private MPLS circuits, SD-WAN encrypts every data packet end-to-end, ensuring enterprise-grade protection even over public internet links. This is further reinforced by integrating with Security Service Edge (SSE) architecture, which brings cloud-delivered security services like secure web gateways, firewall-as-a-service, and zero-trust network access into the mix. The result is a secure, scalable network that’s ready for the cloud era.
But SD-WAN doesn’t stop at security—it’s also paving the way for intelligent automation through AI integration. With AI-driven analytics and predictive modelling, SD-WAN can dynamically manage traffic, optimise performance, and even anticipate network issues before they impact users. AI enables systems to learn from usage patterns, automatically allocate bandwidth, and prioritise critical applications—all without manual intervention. This not only boosts performance but also reduces operational costs and complexity.
In short, SD-WAN transforms the internet into a secure, intelligent backbone for enterprise connectivity—combining robust protection with AI-powered agility to meet the demands of modern business.
Use Case: Scaling CCTV Connectivity Across Retail Stores
The Challenge: A large retailer faced a major connectivity hurdle: deploying reliable CCTV coverage across multiple store locations. Traditional MPLS infrastructure couldn’t meet the bandwidth demands and came with high costs and long deployment timelines—making rapid expansion and real-time surveillance nearly impossible.
The Solution: By implementing SD-WAN, we transformed their network architecture. Leveraging a mix of broadband and LTE connections, we delivered a scalable, secure solution that provided ten times the bandwidth—at 20% less cost than the existing MPLS solution. The SD-WAN deployment enabled centralised management, faster rollout, and seamless video streaming across all sites, proving how software-defined networking can solve real-world business challenges with speed and efficiency.
Convergence Through Single Platform Solutions
According to a recent report from Dell’Oro Group, single-vendor SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solutions represented 80% of total SASE revenue in Q1 2024, signalling a strong industry shift toward unified platforms. Gartner also projects that by 2027, 65% of new SD-WAN purchases will be part of a single-vendor SASE offering, up from just 20% in 2024. This unified approach empowers businesses to monitor network performance, security posture, and business impact—all from a single pane of glass. By consolidating tools and vendors into one platform, we're eliminating the complexity of juggling multiple systems. It’s a shift that aligns with industry trends, where up to 80% of enterprises are moving toward single-vendor solutions to streamline operations, enhance security, and unlock greater efficiency.
As businesses accelerate their digital transformation journeys, SD-WAN has emerged as a critical foundation for enabling advanced technologies like AI, cloud services, and real-time data applications. Its scalable, software-defined architecture delivers the agility and reliability modern enterprises need to stay competitive. But to unlock its full potential, organisations must go beyond just adopting SD-WAN—they need to partner with trusted Tier 1 access technology providers and ensure their deployments are backed by globally verified industry standards.
Vodafone Recognised in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Global SD-WAN Deployments (7 years concurrently)
We’re proud to share that Vodafone has been positioned in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN (7 years concurrently), reinforcing our commitment to delivering world-class, software-defined networking solutions at scale. This recognition highlights Vodafone’s ability to execute and our vision for enabling secure, agile, and cloud-ready connectivity across global enterprises.
As businesses continue to embrace digital transformation, Vodacom Business’s SD-WAN offering stands out for its robust orchestration, zero-touch provisioning, and integration with leading security frameworks. Backed by Tier 1 access technologies and a globally verified deployment footprint, we’re helping organisations modernise their networks with speed, intelligence, and resilience.
This placement by Gartner validates our leadership in the SD-WAN space and our dedication to empowering enterprises with future-ready connectivity.
Without this combination of robust connectivity and proven implementation, enterprises risk falling short of the seamless, secure, end-to-end solutions that today’s business environment demands.
SD-WAN isn’t just a network upgrade—it’s the backbone of digital resilience and innovation.
By Neval Sewlal, Head of Enterprise Solutions Architecture and Integration – Vodacom Business
