SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) enables multi-site North Carolina businesses to replace or augment expensive MPLS circuits with intelligent, application-aware networking that uses multiple connection types, including broadband, fiber, and cellular. For businesses with two or more locations, SD-WAN typically reduces WAN costs by 50% or more while improving application performance and security.
Key takeaway: According to Fortinet's network analysis, businesses switching to SD-WAN typically reduce costs by 50% or more because SD-WAN uses multiple types of connections to route traffic intelligently. Fortinet was recognized as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN, confirming the technology's enterprise maturity.
North Carolina's manufacturing sector, with 11,496 firms across the state, frequently operates from multiple locations including manufacturing plants, warehouses, offices, and remote sites. For these multi-site operations in the Piedmont Triad, Charlotte, Raleigh, and beyond, SD-WAN provides the connectivity reliability that production demands at a fraction of traditional MPLS costs.
Ready to simplify your multi-site network? Preferred Data Corporation designs and manages SD-WAN solutions for North Carolina businesses. Call (336) 886-3282 or schedule your network assessment.
Understanding SD-WAN vs. MPLS
How MPLS Works (Traditional Approach)
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) provides dedicated, carrier-managed circuits between business locations. Traffic travels over the carrier's private network with guaranteed performance.
MPLS Strengths:
- Guaranteed bandwidth and low latency
- Minimal packet loss and jitter
- Carrier-managed with SLA guarantees
- Established technology with decades of deployment
MPLS Limitations:
- Expensive and inflexible compared to internet alternatives
- Long lead times for circuit deployment (30-90 days)
- Bandwidth upgrades require carrier involvement
- Poor cloud application performance (traffic backhauled to hub)
- Limited security features (no encryption by default)
- Geographic limitations in rural North Carolina
How SD-WAN Works (Modern Approach)
SD-WAN creates an intelligent overlay network across multiple connection types, routing traffic based on application requirements and real-time link quality.
SD-WAN Advantages:
- Uses cost-effective broadband and fiber connections
- Application-aware routing prioritizes critical traffic
- Built-in encryption and security features
- Direct cloud access without backhauling
- Rapid deployment (days vs. months)
- Centralized management across all sites
- Automatic failover between connections
When SD-WAN Makes Sense
The Two-Location Threshold
SD-WAN provides value for any business with two or more locations that need to communicate. Benefits increase with:
- More locations (complexity reduction)
- Cloud application usage (direct cloud access)
- Multiple connection types (cost optimization)
- OT/IT convergence (traffic segmentation)
- Remote worker support (secure access)
Ideal Candidates in North Carolina
Multi-plant manufacturers: Piedmont Triad manufacturers with production facilities, warehouses, and offices across High Point, Greensboro, and surrounding cities benefit from unified connectivity with OT-aware traffic policies.
Regional professional services: Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham firms with multiple offices benefit from centralized IT management and direct cloud application access.
Construction companies: Firms with a main office plus multiple job trailers benefit from simplified deployment and cellular connectivity integration.
Distribution operations: Companies with warehouses across North Carolina benefit from reliable WAN connectivity for inventory and logistics systems.
SD-WAN Benefits for Manufacturers with OT Networks
Challenge: IT and OT Traffic Coexistence
Manufacturing facilities generate both IT traffic (email, ERP, cloud apps) and OT traffic (SCADA, PLC communications, production data). These traffic types have fundamentally different requirements:
| Requirement | IT Traffic | OT Traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Latency tolerance | Moderate (50-200ms) | Very low (<10ms) |
| Reliability | High (99.9%) | Critical (99.99%+) |
| Bandwidth | Variable, bursty | Steady, predictable |
| Security model | Cloud-optimized | Air-gap oriented |
| Change frequency | Frequent updates | Rarely changes |
How SD-WAN Addresses Manufacturing Needs
Traffic segmentation: SD-WAN creates virtual network segments that separate OT traffic from IT traffic at the WAN level. Production control data stays isolated while business applications use cloud-optimized paths.
Application-aware policies: Define routing rules that prioritize production-critical traffic over general business traffic. ERP transactions get guaranteed bandwidth while software updates use best-effort paths.
Local breakout for cloud: IT traffic destined for cloud services (Microsoft 365, cloud ERP) exits directly to the internet at each site rather than backhauling to a central location. OT traffic continues using private paths.
Redundancy without complexity: Multiple connections at each manufacturing site provide automatic failover. If the primary fiber connection fails, traffic seamlessly shifts to secondary cable or cellular connections.
Preferred Data Insight: For Piedmont Triad manufacturers with both office and production environments, we typically implement SD-WAN with separate security zones for IT and OT traffic. This provides cloud optimization for business applications while maintaining strict isolation for production control systems.
SD-WAN Vendor Options
Enterprise/Manufacturing Focused
| Vendor | Key Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Fortinet (FortiGate SD-WAN) | Integrated security + SD-WAN | Manufacturers needing combined firewall/SD-WAN |
| Cisco (Viptela/Meraki) | Enterprise ecosystem integration | Organizations with existing Cisco infrastructure |
| Palo Alto (Prisma SD-WAN) | Advanced security and SASE | Security-focused organizations |
| VMware (VeloCloud) | Multi-cloud connectivity | Cloud-first organizations |
Mid-Market/SMB Focused
| Vendor | Key Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Meraki (Cisco) | Simple management interface | SMBs wanting minimal complexity |
| Fortinet | Value with security included | Cost-conscious manufacturers |
| Cradlepoint | Cellular/5G integration | Sites with limited wired options |
| SilverPeak (Aruba) | WAN optimization | Organizations with bandwidth constraints |
Implementation for Multi-Site NC Businesses
Phase 1: Assessment and Design (Weeks 1-4)
- Inventory all site connections and current costs
- Map application traffic patterns and requirements
- Identify OT/IT separation requirements
- Design target SD-WAN architecture
- Select vendor and connectivity options per site
- Develop migration plan maintaining continuous operations
Phase 2: Pilot Site (Weeks 4-8)
- Deploy SD-WAN appliance at primary site
- Configure application policies and routing rules
- Establish monitoring and management dashboards
- Validate performance meets requirements
- Test failover and redundancy scenarios
- Train IT staff on management platform
Phase 3: Site Rollout (Weeks 8-16)
- Deploy remaining sites in priority order
- Configure inter-site connectivity and policies
- Implement centralized security policies
- Validate end-to-end application performance
- Decommission legacy circuits as SD-WAN proves stable
Phase 4: Optimization (Ongoing)
- Monitor and tune application policies
- Adjust bandwidth allocations based on usage data
- Add new sites or connections as business needs change
- Evaluate emerging capabilities (SASE integration, AI-ops)
Cost Comparison: SD-WAN vs. MPLS in North Carolina
Example: 5-Site Manufacturing Company (Piedmont Triad)
| Cost Category | MPLS (Current) | SD-WAN (Proposed) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary circuits (5 sites) | $5,000-$15,000/mo | $1,500-$4,000/mo | 60-75% |
| Secondary connections | Not included | $500-$1,500/mo | (added redundancy) |
| Management/monitoring | Carrier-managed | $500-$1,500/mo | Included |
| Equipment (amortized) | Included | $200-$500/mo | Marginal |
| Total Monthly | $5,000-$15,000 | $2,700-$7,500 | 40-60% |
According to TechTarget analysis, whether an organization saves money depends on per-site costs, labor, current circuit rates, and the number of sites converted. The analysis consistently shows savings for businesses with three or more locations.
Security Considerations
Built-In SD-WAN Security Features
Modern SD-WAN platforms include:
- End-to-end encryption: All WAN traffic encrypted between sites
- Segmentation: Separate security zones for different traffic types
- Next-gen firewall: Application-level inspection at each site
- Threat prevention: IPS/IDS, malware detection, URL filtering
- Zero-trust integration: Identity-based access policies
SASE Integration (Secure Access Service Edge)
According to Gartner predictions, 65% of SD-WAN purchases between now and 2027 will be bundled with a SASE offering (compared with 20% in 2024). SASE combines SD-WAN with cloud-delivered security services for comprehensive protection.
How Preferred Data Manages SD-WAN for NC Businesses
With 37 years serving North Carolina businesses and a BBB A+ rating, Preferred Data Corporation designs, deploys, and manages SD-WAN solutions for multi-site businesses throughout High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, and the Piedmont Triad.
Our SD-WAN services include:
- Multi-site network assessment and design
- Vendor selection based on your specific requirements
- SD-WAN deployment with zero downtime migration
- OT/IT traffic separation for manufacturing environments
- Cybersecurity integration with SD-WAN policies
- Cloud connectivity optimization for SaaS applications
- 24/7 managed monitoring and troubleshooting
- Ongoing policy optimization and capacity planning
Simplify your multi-site network. Call (336) 886-3282 or contact us online to discuss SD-WAN for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many locations do I need before SD-WAN makes financial sense?
SD-WAN typically provides clear cost savings for businesses with two or more locations, especially if those sites currently use MPLS circuits. The savings increase with each additional site due to centralized management and the ability to use lower-cost internet connections. Even two-site businesses benefit from improved redundancy and cloud performance.
Can SD-WAN completely replace MPLS for manufacturing?
For most North Carolina manufacturers, SD-WAN can fully replace MPLS by using multiple broadband or fiber connections at each site. The application-aware routing and automatic failover capabilities provide reliability comparable to MPLS. Some manufacturers with extremely latency-sensitive OT applications may maintain a hybrid approach with MPLS for production traffic and SD-WAN for everything else.
How does SD-WAN improve cloud application performance?
MPLS typically routes all traffic through a central hub, adding latency to cloud applications. SD-WAN enables local internet breakout, sending cloud-bound traffic directly to the internet at each site. This can reduce Microsoft 365, cloud ERP, and SaaS application latency by 50-80% for branch locations.
Is SD-WAN secure enough for manufacturing environments?
Enterprise SD-WAN platforms include built-in encryption, firewalling, and segmentation capabilities that often exceed basic MPLS security (which has no built-in encryption). For manufacturers with OT networks, SD-WAN can create isolated security zones that separate production traffic from business traffic while maintaining centralized security policy management.
How long does SD-WAN deployment take for a 5-site business?
A typical 5-site deployment in North Carolina takes 8-16 weeks from assessment through full operation. The pilot site typically takes 2-4 weeks, with subsequent sites deployable in 1-2 weeks each. SD-WAN deployment can run parallel to existing MPLS circuits, ensuring zero downtime during transition. MPLS circuits are decommissioned only after SD-WAN proves stable.