12 Dec

Control, Prioritize, Shape and Optimize WAN Traffic with FatPipe Multiline QoS

In a busy corporate network, imagine a scenario where real-time voice/video and critical business applications contend with routine tasks for bandwidth. This is an unavoidable situation sometimes but it results in stakeholders’ dissatisfaction and business monetary loss. Traffic prioritization resolves this by intelligently assigning priority levels, optimizing data flow, and refining overall network efficiency. FatPipe SD-WAN employs traffic prioritization for assurance that packets are transported from a source to a destination with certain characteristics corresponding to the requirements of the service that the packet flow supports. FatPipe SD-WAN also dynamically routes traffic through the most efficient path and adjusts real-time prioritization.

FatPipe traffic prioritization ensures the user assigns a certain amount of bandwidth to each type of traffic, and it is defined by committed rate (CR) and Burst rate. Committed rate of a traffic type defines the amount of bandwidth guaranteed to be available for that type of traffic at any time the associated link is up. Burst rate is required for QoS and defines the upper limit for bandwidth that can be made available to the traffic type. This helps maintain a fair and efficient use of the company’s Internet resources.

FatPipe Traffic Prioritization using QoS

FatPipe’s traffic prioritization controls the traffic volume entering a network using Quality of Service (QoS) policies. FatPipe QoS also controls incoming network traffic by letting the user limit the rate at which the LAN receives traffic from each WAN link. While this does not help conserve bandwidth, it can help reduce unwanted connection-oriented traffic. The Inbound Policed Rate defines the limit above to which all incoming traffic that it applies will be dropped. FatPipe QoS can classify packets based on the application they belong to. FatPipe QoS can also work with application-specific information regardless of port numbers used by transport protocols. FatPipe SD-WAN also provides the capability of scheduling QoS policies for eg., if the Chairman of Company wants to have company-wide Video Conferencing on a specific date and time in the future, the QoS policies can be configured to give priority to Video traffic on that particular date and time providing peace of mind to network administrators.

Multiline QoS combined with Link Load Balancing

FatPipe’s improved Multi-line QoS technology includes application layer multi-lineQoS (layer 7) in addition to the networking layer where you can assign bandwidth by IP orport (layers 3 and 4). Unlike traditional Multi-line QoS, FatPipe Multi-line QoS is combined with link load balancing, which ensures that rules are applied to additional or secondary lines when a failure occurs to your primary WAN line, providing redundancy for your WAN infrastructure data transmissions.

20 Nov

Catch Up with Rising Intelligence on the WAN Edge

WAN Edge refers to the device deployed at the “edge of the network,” especially at the branches. Till a few years back, these devices were expected to make routing decisions without human intervention, but with the advent of SD-WAN, the Edge devices are gaining much-needed intelligence and also are capable of performing multiple functions. Imagine effortlessly managing your WAN, elevating its performance, fortifying the security, and seamlessly integrating new heterogeneous connections of different technologies – all in one powerful suite of solutions. FatPipe Networks, the inventor and multiple patents holder of SDWAN technology has been at the forefront of making the “Edge” more powerful and intelligent to exponentially enhance the network performance. It provides unique patented technology MPSEC TM to the networking industry which has given a new dimension to Edge Intelligence. It also provides solutions for improving network performance in an existing WAN, simplifying WAN management, or adding and managing additional connections with zero-touch provisioning.

WAN Redundancy with MPSEC TM

FatPipe Multi path security patented technology allows multiple heterogeneous connections to the WAN for seamless aggregation of MPLS, Internet, 4G, leased networks, and satellite networks in one single virtual link with seamless sub-second failover to enhance network SLAs.

Dynamic load balancing on multiple lines 

FatPipe’s dynamic load balancing allows the load to be distributed on a WAN connection according to several algorithms ranging from simple round-robin load balancing to complex load balancing that determines the least number of hops from start to destination.

Multiple Quality of Service

FatPipe technology supports QoS mechanisms that let organizations prioritize specific traffic over others. This will ensure that VoIP calls have priority and the availability needed to be completed.

Data traffic Optimization

The Edge is enabled with multiple WAN Optimization techniques making it more intelligent. FatPipe data compression technology can compress data by up to 8x. FatPipe’s de-duplication technology looks for data duplicates in data sets and eliminates them. By caching local copies of transmitted data, FatPipe technology reduces the strain on network resources.

Hybrid WAN

The Hybrid WAN has the public and private networks working in parallel. We can also have internet-only branches to connect to their HQ or other data centers using an on-site or cloud gateway.

Centralized control and Policy-based management 

FatPipe SD-WAN ensures data security and decision-driven traffic routing through a centralized control function with additional benefits such as application performance, user satisfaction, business efficiency, and reduced operational expenditure. Based on policies, FatPipe manages the configurations and flow of traffic.

Dynamic path selection

FatPipe SD-WAN intelligently prioritizes data and diagnoses existing network conditions to effectively map application traffic to the best-suited route.

Last-mile connectivity

FatPipe SD-WAN devices deployed at each location elevate last-mile connectivity between sites without excessively relying on service partners, as with cloud-based solutions.

Fabric and Flat Networks

While fabric networks facilitate the seamless integration of many components, improve scalability, and enhance overall network performance, flat networks can reduce complexity in WAN environments with a simplified structure. Flat networks can improve data transfer efficiency, lower latency, and simplify management by minimizing the number of network layers.

Intelligent WAN Edge Consolidation 

FatPipe Intelligent WAN Edge consolidation typically involves simplifying management processes, improving network performance, and adding or managing additional connections into a unified and intelligent solution. The objective is to provide a more cohesive and effective approach to managing and optimizing the WAN edge infrastructure.

08 Nov

Managed SD-WAN Continues to Gain Traction

Fully managed SD‐WAN service is the choice of customers as the complete deployment and management of the end-to-end SD‐WAN solution with proactive issue resolution is taken care of by the Managed SD-WAN provider. Managed SD-WAN provides a centralized control center that actively oversees the network’s edge devices, enabling real-time detection of anomalies or performance issues. By swiftly identifying and addressing these concerns, Managed SD-WAN ensures continuous network stability, security, and optimal performance, serving as the backbone for the reliability and seamless operation of corporate infrastructures.

Managed SD-WAN services offer several key benefits across the U.S. in terms of providing proactive network monitoring and network health and performance alerting:

1.Continuous Monitoring

Ensures proactive monitoring of the network. This continuous surveillance allows for early detection of potential issues, enabling prompt resolution before they escalate and affect network performance. By actively overseeing the network, these services can identify patterns, anomalies, or deviations from the norm, helping to maintain network health.

2. Proactive Issue Resolution

Helps detect and address potential issues before they impact the network. This approach minimizes downtime and optimizes network performance, as issues can be dealt with swiftly, often before end-users notice them.

3. Enhanced Security Measures

Ensures network performance and assists in the early detection of security threats or breaches. Alerting systems signal security issues promptly, enabling immediate action to mitigate potential risks and strengthen the network’s defenses.

4. Deep Analytical Reports 

Provides deep analytical reports such as link-wise applications, data segregation, Quality of Service reports, etc. These reports are presented in easy- easy-to-understand charts and tables with associated dashboards and flexibility to summarize the report in the desired format. It also provides timely notifications and alerts and ensures that the responsible team is immediately informed of any irregularities or potential problems, enabling rapid responses to rectify issues before they affect the network’s health or performance.

5. Focus on Core Business Functions

Allows us to focus more on core business operations. With experts managing network health and performance, internal IT teams can direct their efforts toward strategic initiatives and essential business tasks rather than day-to-day network monitoring.

FatPipe Managed SD-WAN services perform proactive network monitoring and network health and performance alerting to identify and address issues in real-time promptly using cutting-edge tools like Symphony Orchestration and Enterprise View 2.0 TM. This is helpful in the detection of performance bottlenecks, security threats, or connectivity problems, enabling organizations to take immediate action, maintain network reliability, and provide a seamless user experience. Clear communication and expectation setting, equipped with robust, proactive monitoring, help in transparent engagement and manage customer expectations. Redundancy strategies and swift, responsive support mechanisms ensure reliability, a user-focused approach provides enhanced customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement underscores the commitment to overcoming external challenges.

26 Sep

Secure SD-WAN: Essential Element of Modern Network Security

SD-WAN is one of the most widely adopted technologies in the last decade due to its efficiency in optimizing application delivery and cost-efficiency. Network security has become an indispensable element of modern networks. Organizations must thoroughly evaluate their cybersecurity needs. They must assess the efficiency of SD-WAN’s security features to protect sensitive data, proactively identify vulnerabilities, and maintain the resilience of their SD-WAN infrastructure.

SD-WAN for Better Return on Investments and Enhanced Security

SD-WAN enables organizations to transform their network with better Return on Investments by optimizing network performance and enhancing overall productivity. While SD-WAN has many power-packed features for better ROI, one of multiple organizations’ extensively used SD-WAN features during this network transformation journey is migrating from MPLS technology to Internet technology for Edge connectivity. This migration requires the technological capability of seamless aggregation of any connectivity and robust security functionalities in SD-WAN technology to prevent the Edge from cyber-attacks.

Securing an SD-WAN deployment from end to end is vital to safeguard sensitive data and ensure the reliability of network operations. To achieve this, organizations can utilize several security measures, including encrypted traffic, Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and blockchain-type data transmission:

  • SD-WAN encrypts traffic to make sure that sensitive data is not compromised.
  • SD-WAN utilizes NGFWs that offer advanced threat security, intrusion detection and prevention, web filtering, content filtering, etc.
  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) enhances security when used alongside SD-WAN by providing secure, monitored, and enforced access to remote resources, safeguarding against unauthorized access and threats. Only authorized users and devices have the permission to access the network.
  • SD-WAN provides unmatched security with innovative concepts like Blockchain type of data transmission thereby offering foolproof mechanisms of data packet transmission.

FatPipe Networks, the inventor and numerous patents holder of SD-WAN, not only provides technically superior load balancing, link reliability, link aggregation techniques but also impregnable native security and SASE-based security for any organization’s SD-WAN requirements. FatPipe has invented a unique way of securely transmitting data over lines with multi-path security also known as MPSEC TM, which provides an additional level of fortification for business-critical traffic throughout a client’s enterprise architecture. FatPipe products, besides providing increased security also obfuscates internet traffic, making it almost impossible to decrypt, through a mechanism similar to Blockchain technology.

31 Mar

Network Connectivity and COVID-19

Network Connectivity and COVID-19

Yes, the COVID -19 virus has absolutely affected the global economy, and not in a good way.  It has also forced businesses, especially essential businesses, to be creative in the way they may not have expected even a few weeks ago.

Working from Home

Employees working from home is not necessarily new, but the number of employees working remotely has dramatically increased, thanks to the stay at home call from officials and business owners globally.   As a result, the demand for secure and most importantly, reliable connectivity, has never been more acute.   So how has the modern-day business adapted?   What are the essential needs for remote workers, and how does the WAN administrator of today deal with these significant changes?

Facts:   More than 25% of businesses have not updated their work from home security policies in the past 5 years.  Driven by the need for secure remote access, companies are scrambling to implement solutions that are robust, secure, and of course reliable. This dramatic increase in the need for remote secure and reliable connectivity has placed extraordinary demands on the carriers as well as network administrators, some of whom are also working from home.

“The spread of coronavirus and social distancing mandates have put many IT pros in a precarious, but necessary, position of having to quickly transition to a largely remote workforce”. (Jackie Crankshaw, Lifeboat Channel Chat, 03/27/2020).  “With more employees working from home, cybercriminals have more access points to exploit networks

Hacking is always a present danger, but in today’s environment, the chances for breach of a network have significantly increased. Network administrators must be wary of the security issues they now face, and have to accommodate the changing business environment, especially as more workers are connecting from home offices.

Secure connections for remote workers

There are plenty of choices out there, and VPN connections are, for the most part, a logical way to go.   But what good is the VPN if the connection itself is less than reliable, or worse still, down.

The key to ensuring remote workers can do what they are asked to do and help keep businesses up and running is to have the data traffic be secure, and of course, reliable.

For example, Video conferencing and VoIP calls are bandwidth hogs, and with more and more remote workers using these methodologies to connect, the demand for reliability and continuity of call is paramount.

So how can businesses of today, with all the challenges of social distancing ensure their “connectivity” is reliable and secure?

Simply deploying a VPN is not the answer.   Without the ability to manage the links, or lines coming into the HQ data center, the VPN tunnels from all the remote workers will suffer from congestion and in some cases, the link may drop all together. This defeats the remote worker purpose.

The best possible way to ensure reliable connectivity is to enable software driven networking solutions to manage the connections.

FatPipe Networks have been developing and deploying software driven network solutions for well over 20 years, and have 13 seminal patents that enable customers to design, customize and manage how their data traffic is managed across the network.   This includes remote worker connectivity.

Road Warrior solutions from FatPipe Networks

In fact, FatPipe has had a remote worker solution for many years, FatPipe Road Warrior solutions, which give customers the ability to load balance the traffic across multiple links, as well as failover in a sub-second should a link degrade or fail completely.

The difference with FatPipe solutions is the seamless nature of how it works.  Just set it and watch how the traffic is automatically directed by the FatPipe software.   FatPipe Road Warrior solutions allow customers to enable as many VPN tunnels (Fatpipe has tested to over 9,000 simultaneous connections) as necessary, and use any link type, including copper, fiber, wireless (3G;4G;5G; LTE) and satellite to load balance and failover when the demand requires.

In today’s disrupted business environment, knowing your connectivity is reliable, secure and manageable is critical. FatPipe Networks has been in the market for over 20 years and has recently received a Gartner Peer Review rating of 4.9 out of 5, taking the top spot in recommendations from customers as a best of breed SD-WAN solution.

If you have employees working from home, students learning “on line”, citizens trying to get information from their local city council, or just want to be able to manage data traffic coming into the network, then FatPipe must be a solution worth exploring.

Call FatPipe Networks today – 801-683-5656 ask for sales.

www.fatpipeinc.com