If your organization is dealing with poor network connectivity, your employees will likely have a difficult time connecting to the internet.
As a result of this, they will be unable to perform their jobs productively and efficiently, potentially leading to lost customers.
If you are looking for an SD-WAN solution to improve your network connectivity, you may know that there are many versions of SD-WAN on the market offered by a variety of providers.
If you do not thoroughly research the different types of SD-WAN solutions offered by various providers prior to purchase, you may end up selecting the wrong solution for your organization.
Coeo knows how important reliable network connectivity is to an organization and has delivered thousands of SD-WAN solutions to its customers.
We want you to understand the difference between managed and self-operated SD-WAN solutions so you can determine which solution is the best fit for your organization.
By the end of this article, you will know what SD-WAN is, the differences between a self-operated and managed SD-WAN solution, and which one is best for your organization.
What is SD-WAN?
Software Defined Wide-Area-Network (SD-WAN), is an overlay network that is built on top of any number of network connections such as fiber, LTE, or broadband.
The solution is carrier agnostic meaning your solution can be leveraged using any underlying internet provider.
SD-WAN is applied as a software network of SD-WAN appliances, connected by encrypted tunnels.
Because these tunnels are encrypted, it ensures that data being sent and received over these tunnels is always secure.
SD-WAN appliances continuously monitor the availability and performance of each network service and choose the most efficient and secure network to send data.
This allows your data to be received or sent as quickly and as securely as possible.
Click the link below to use this free tool to learn how you stack up against your peers and learn how to stop poor network performance, reduce outages, and learn best practices for maintaining a resilient network. 
The differences between managed and self-operated SD-WAN solutions
An SD-WAN solution can improve the network connectivity and performance of any organization. However, it is important to choose the solution that is the best fit for the needs of your organization.
To choose the solution that is the best fit for your organization you should understand the differences between a managed and self-operated SD-WAN solution. The main differences between the two solutions include:
Management
Managed SD-WAN solutions are managed via the cloud by a third-party provider. Your provider will handle the updates and security of your solution so you do not have to.
If you have a managed solution, your organization, depending on the provider, typically has less control over the solution and less ability to personalize it to meet your organization’s needs.
However, some providers, like Coeo allow you to co-manage the solution to ensure more personalization without the burden of managing the solution entirely on your own.
A self-operated solution, on the other hand, is when your organization manages the solution internally instead of having a provider manage it for you.
This allows your organization to have more control over the solution with the ability to personalize it to the needs of your organization.
However, this model requires IT expertise in-house to be able to monitor and manage the solution effectively as well as more upfront investments to manage and maintain the solution properly.
Scalability
Managed SD-WAN solutions allow your solution to scale up or down with your organization. Since managed SD-WAN solutions are more scalable, your solution can adjust to a growing or downsizing organization.
Self-operated SD-WAN solutions, on the other hand, are less scalable depending on the hardware and network infrastructure being utilized.
Cost
Another difference between the two solutions is the cost. The cost of a managed solution involves less of an upfront investment with a recurring subscription fee for the management of the solution.
Conversely, the cost of a self-operated SD-WAN solution involves more of an upfront investment with little to no recurring charges since the management is handled by your organization internally instead of by the provider.
If you would like to learn more about SD-WAN, check out our SD-WAN Buyer's Guide:
Which SD-WAN solution is best for your organization?
Now you know what SD-WAN is and the differences between managed and self-operated SD-WAN solutions. However, you may still be wondering which SD-WAN solution is the best fit for your organization.
If your organization has limited IT expertise or your IT resources are focused on other important tasks, a managed SD-WAN solution may be best for your organization.
Without proper management, you may fail to receive the full benefits of your SD-WAN solution. Allowing a third-party provider to manage the solution for you will maximize the performance of your solution.
Additionally, if your organization is looking to scale or your organization cannot afford a significant upfront cost, a managed SD-WAN solution may be the best fit for your organization.
However, if your organization has in-house IT expertise with expected capacity, a self-operated SD-WAN solution may be the right solution for your organization.
Additionally, if your organization needs a more personalized solution, is not planning on growing or downsizing, and can afford the larger upfront cost, a self-operated SD-WAN solution may be a better fit for your organization.
Next steps to purchasing an SD-WAN solution
Now you know what SD-WAN is, the differences between managed and self-operated SD-WAN solutions, and which solution is best for your organization.
This will help you determine if SD-WAN is a good fit and which solution is best for your organization.
No one wants to deal with a poor-performing network that can lead to a lack of productivity among employees.
An SD-WAN solution can improve your network, communication within your organization, and employee productivity.
Coeo has delivered thousands of SD-WAN solutions to its customers and knows how important a reliable network connection is to an organization.
We want you to know what SD-WAN is and the differences between a managed and self-operated solution so you can determine which SD-WAN solution is best for your organization.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about SD-WAN or other network solutions or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
Now you know the differences between managed and self-operated SD-WAN solutions. Read this article to learn how you can test SD-WAN solutions before committing to purchasing one:
