Architecture
Start with locations, users, applications, traffic patterns and risk requirements before comparing vendors.
PERFORMANCE + RESILIENCE + SECURITY
SD-WAN, SASE & Secure Network Access
Bring networking and security decisions together to improve application performance, branch resiliency and secure access for distributed users and locations.
Start a ConversationWHAT TO EVALUATE
Technology decisions should start with the business requirement.
SD-WAN and SASE can solve different problems depending on your environment. The value comes from choosing the right architecture, access underlay, security model and provider—not simply adding another platform.
- SD-WAN architecture and provider evaluation
- SASE and Security Service Edge (SSE)
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
- Application-aware routing and failover
- Branch and remote-user connectivity
- Primary/secondary circuit strategy
A PRACTICAL APPROACH
Evaluate what matters before comparing vendors.
Resiliency
Evaluate active/active or primary/backup designs and the diversity of the underlying circuits.
Security
Align access, firewall, web security and identity controls with the way employees actually work.
BUYING & PLANNING GUIDANCE
Questions worth answering before you choose a provider.
These are the practical issues NIS helps businesses evaluate before comparing products, proposals and contract terms.
Start with the WAN problem you are trying to solve
SD-WAN can improve how multiple connections are used, prioritized and managed, but it should be tied to clear requirements such as application performance, resilience, centralized control or multi-site visibility.
Security architecture should be considered at the same time
SASE combines networking and cloud-delivered security capabilities. The design should account for users, locations, applications, identity, internet breakout and the security controls the organization actually needs.
Transport still matters
SD-WAN does not eliminate the need for sound underlying connectivity. Circuit quality, carrier diversity, bandwidth and latency still influence application performance.
Operational simplicity is part of the business case
A solution that improves visibility, policy consistency and support can be valuable even when raw bandwidth does not change. The operating model should be evaluated alongside the technology.
RELATED SOLUTIONS
Technology works as a system.
Connectivity, cloud, communications, security and managed services often influence one another. Related areas worth considering:
Planning a renewal or change?
An upcoming renewal, new location, performance problem or cost concern is a good time to review the broader environment—not just the service that happens to be expiring.
Explore the Network AuditRELATED INSIGHTS
Practical guidance for your next decision.
INDEPENDENT TECHNOLOGY GUIDANCE
Make the next technology decision with more clarity.
Tell NIS what you are evaluating, what is not working, or what is coming up for renewal. We can help organize the options and identify a practical path forward.
Start a Conversation