SD-WAN is one of the most well-known telecommunications terms in enterprise networks, and it has remained essentially unchanged for two decades. However, in 2024, innovative marketing has created a captivating narrative called “AI supercharged SD-WAN” or “AI Driven SD-WAN.” While these may sound appealing, an intelligent network does not need artificial intelligence. 

AI Hype vs. Reality

Trend articles for the technology year 2024 and numerous marketing materials create the impression that a network can become more reliable, secure, and faster with artificial intelligence. Claims are made that AI improves WAN network IP routing, accelerates fault recovery, optimizes latency, and enhances performance. Unfortunately, these marketing claims are entirely misleading. Product documentation or release notes offer no support for these claims. Instead, a new network technology developed by a startup achieves the stated goals, albeit without artificial intelligence.

Modern SD-WAN solutions and Internet architecture bring significantly better features to enhance the performance and security of enterprise networks. Solutions are implemented with new advanced routing and new security architecture and do not require artificial intelligence to achieve the mentioned goals. Even vendors with advanced foundational technology in their products are now blending AI into their SD-WAN marketing. The sexy term “artificial intelligence” is now desired to be associated everywhere.

Critical Differences in Modern SD-WAN and Internet Architecture (without artificial intelligence)

If your corporate network or Internet core incorporates the following features, you can conclude that you have the infrastructure in line with the definition of a modern network

  • Traffic is automatically routed through multiple paths without tunnels.
  • Failures in core, edge devices or links do not impact the customer’s application.
  • The router understands the sender, receiver, application, and authorization to forward traffic.
  • Critical data can be delivered through multiple routes simultaneously to ensure delivery.
  • Data is encrypted only when necessary to avoid wasting resources.
  • The architecture is not susceptible to DDoS attacks.
  • Functions do not require an agent (Zero-Trust Network vs. Zero Trust Network Access).

Outdated Internet and SD-WAN architecture should be replaced with modern solutions considering the key challenges of enterprise and Internet networks from the planning stage. The goal is to address decades-old problems such as complex maintenance, weak security, poor scalability, and performance. Artificial intelligence does not play a significant role in this network technology, but it can be utilized for log analysis, as demonstrated by AI-driven SD-WAN. An intelligent network, therefore, does not need artificial intelligence to address root causes.

 

Hannu Rokka, Senior Advisor

5Feet Networks Oy