What is SD-WAN?
SD-WAN intelligently manages connections between multiple office locations using software, mixing different connection types (fibre, 4G, broadband) and optimising traffic automatically.
SD-WAN vs Traditional MPLS
| Feature | MPLS | SD-WAN |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost per site | AED 3,000 to 15,000 | AED 800 to 3,000 |
| Setup time | 4 to 12 weeks | Days |
| Cloud optimisation | Poor | Excellent |
| Failover | Manual | Automatic sub-second |
SD-WAN typically delivers 40 to 60% cost savings over MPLS.
When SD-WAN Makes Sense
Good fit: 3+ locations in UAE or GCC, heavy Microsoft 365 or Zoom usage, MPLS contract expiring, unreliable inter-site connectivity.
Less suitable: Single-site businesses, fewer than 5 users per site.
Fortinet SD-WAN
Built into FortiGate firewalls — if you already run FortiGate, you can enable SD-WAN without additional hardware. Application-aware routing, automatic failover in under 1 second, centralised management.
SAS IT deploys Fortinet SD-WAN for UAE multi-site businesses. Free assessment | +971-526716178
*Related: Networking & Security Dubai | Managed IT Services Dubai*
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SAS IT Services — Dubai
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