Wan Optimization Know How
WAN optimization is the optimizing of a wide area network to it fullest potential. This article will explain what is done during WAN optimization, who needs WAN optimization and will give an example of WAN optimization that has already been implemented.
Who needs WAN Optimization?
WAN optimization is needed by any business that has headquarters and branch locations that use the internet. If the headquarters uses network applications to stay in contact with its remote branches then it needs proper WAN Optimization. Often the most sensitive of data like payroll and employee benefits are passed through the WAN. If there is a network outage paycheck could be missed and valuable data lost. Proper WAN Optimization will help prevent problems like these.
What is WAN Optimization?
There exists now a piece of hardware which is perfect for WAN optimization. It is an application accelerator, a network load balancer, and it secures your WAN better than a firewall. This solution is WAN front end hardware. Placed on the network before the router, it is a bandwidth manager and optimizer that requires little servicing. The hardware intelligently monitors, optimizes and defends the WAN. WAN optimization is as simple as adding a piece of hardware to your WAN. The current leader in WAN optimization hardware is Radware (www.radware.com).
WAN optimization hardware manages and speeds up network data flow. It is intelligent, which means that it performs actions in real time. It can prioritize information being sent through the network. Important financial transactions would get priority over normal web surfing.
Where has WAN optimization been implemented?
WAN Optimization has been implemented all over the world. A good example is the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A which connected 870 branches to its headquarters with a WAN. After experiencing network downtime due to the use of multiple ISPs they decided to find a WAN optimization solution. They chose Radware to optimize their WAN and reduce network downtime. Tony Lett the IT specialist from Chick-fil-A had this to say about his Radware WAN optimization experience, "The algorithms they have gave us the stability we needed. Now if we have an outage with AT&T or BellSouth, the load on the pipes changes, but we don't experience any downtime."
WAN Optimization Conclusion
WAN optimization is a tool and a solution to network problems like downtime and security. WAN optimization is best solved with a hardware solution.
About the Author:If you would like to learn more about WAN optimization please visit http://www.radware.com/content/products/appxcel/default.asp
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