Before You Migrate from MPLS to SD-WAN: Questions to Ask
Many organisations are being told that moving from MPLS to SD-WAN is the obvious next step. Sometimes it is the right one. More often, the case rests on a cost comparison that leaves out what the private network was doing. These are the questions we would answer before migrating.
1. What does the WAN carry between sites?
List what actually travels between sites: voice, central applications, remote desktops, file and backup traffic, building systems, devices. If most traffic goes from each site to cloud services on the internet, an internet-based design may suit. If sites depend on each other and on central systems, performance between them is what the business will notice, and that is what an internet overlay cannot guarantee.
2. Who will be accountable when it is slow?
On MPLS, one provider owns the access, the core and the routing between sites. After a migration, there is usually an SD-WAN vendor or integrator and a different internet provider, sometimes two, at every site. Ask who investigates when a site is slow but every tunnel reports up and every ISP reports no fault, and how long that takes.
3. What replaces the privacy you have now?
An MPLS VPN keeps traffic off the internet by design. After migration, every site is an internet-connected device and the WAN's security depends on the overlay being configured correctly everywhere. Confirm how that is assured, audited and kept current across the estate, and who is responsible for it.
4. What does each site really cost?
Compare like with like over the life of the estate: the internet connections (often two per site for resilience), the SD-WAN appliance and its subscription at every site, renewals, and the management effort. Set that against MPLS on access that may be no more expensive, with no per-site overlay licence.
5. Will the new design actually be more resilient?
SD-WAN's resilience depends on a second link that does not share a duct, cable or exchange with the first. Check the real diversity at each address. A mobile second path can provide that diversity, and on MPLS it can stay on the private network rather than dropping the site onto the internet.
6. What else is on the private network today?
Private WANs often carry more than offices: cloud interconnects such as AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute, remote workers, voice, and fleets of IoT devices on private SIMs. Each needs a new home after a migration. On MPLS they share one private network.
Our view
For estates of many small, internet-only sites, SD-WAN can be a reasonable choice. For organisations whose sites depend on shared systems, voice and each other, our answer to most of these questions favours staying on a private MPLS network, often modernised with faster access, mobile failover and cloud interconnect rather than replaced. The reasoning is in MPLS vs SD-WAN.
If your current MPLS contract is due for renewal, Netavo provides private MPLS networks on its own core, and can review your estate against these questions.
Common questions
Should we migrate from MPLS to SD-WAN?
It depends on what the WAN carries. Estates of small internet-only sites may suit SD-WAN; organisations whose sites depend on shared systems and voice usually keep the privacy, predictability and accountability of MPLS.
Is SD-WAN cheaper than MPLS?
Not always. Compare the full cost per site over the estate's life, including second internet connections, SD-WAN appliances and subscriptions, against MPLS with no per-site overlay licence.
Can an MPLS network be modernised instead of replaced?
Yes. Netavo MPLS networks can use faster fibre and Ethernet access, keep mobile failover on the private network, and add cloud interconnect, remote workers and IoT SIMs to the same VPN.
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Explore IT and MSPs →Review your WAN before you migrate
Tell us about your sites and what runs between them. We will review the estate against these questions and come back with an MPLS design and pricing.
Work with us →