If you run a business that requires a managed WAN (wide area network) service for your operations, you may want to find out more about the different examples of WAN available at the moment. WAN technologies can have a major benefit on your organisation, providing a secure private internet connection that usually extends across large geographical areas.
WAN networks are extremely important for modern businesses, but it can be hard to know which form of network infrastructure to go for if you’re not computer science literate. This is where M247 comes in – our expert team has the knowledge needed to help you choose the right service provider and WAN technology for your brand.
Here, we’ll explore a range of wide area network examples, showcasing how different sectors and industries can use this technology to maintain connectivity and streamline their business operations.
In the meantime, if you’d like to sign up for our managed WAN services, please get in touch now.
What Exactly Is a WAN?
A WAN is a telecommunications network that can cover several locations across the country (or even globally), usually connecting several smaller networks such as local area networks (known as LANs). WANs enable modern organisations to communicate, share data, and collaborate across vast distances, which makes them crucial for businesses with multiple locations around the world.
Several different connection types can be used for a WAN, including:
- Leased lines
- The public cloud and other public forms of internet connection
WAN networks are specifically designed to be scalable as an organisation grows, with both small businesses and enterprises using wide area networks for their business internet. WAN technologies also ensure a high-performance, reliable service with increased security services, making them perfect for modern businesses seeking the ideal network management solution.
What WAN Services Do M247 Offer?
If you’re searching for a managed WAN service, we offer two main options here at M247:
- SD-WAN
- MPLS IPVPN
Both options have their differences, which we’ll elaborate for you further in the next section. We understand that every business is different, so it’s important to find the right solution for your needs.
If you’d like to get started with one of our managed WAN packages, you can get in touch with our helpful team here.
SD-WAN – A Powerful Solution for Modern Businesses
One of the most prominent examples of WAN is SD-WAN (software-defined WAN) – a form of WAN technology that has revolutionised how businesses and organisations approach WAN deployment in the modern day.
Unlike traditional WANs (which rely on fixed hardware sources), SD-WAN instead uses software to manage traffic across a virtual network, optimising your performance and reducing costs along the way. SD-WAN allows organisations to use multiple types of connections (such as MPLS, broadband, and LTE), creating a flexible and resilient private network in the process.
When using SD-WAN, network traffic can be effortlessly routed across several network paths. This means it can choose the most efficient data route, as well as optimising your network performance and reducing latency. It’s often used to connect different branches together on your computer network, supporting remote learning and facilitating seamless access to the cloud.
MPLS: An Alternative WAN Solution
Another prominent wide area network example is MPLS IPVPN (multi-protocol label switching internet protocol virtual private network). Essentially, our MPLS IPVPN option connects at least two geographically diverse LANs (local area network). Multiple sites can be linked together over your service provider’s network, connecting offices and data centres securely and efficiently.
MPLS routers work by adding a label to each packet that flows through the network, forwarding packets based on these assigned labels. This is done to ensure faster packet forwarding, which makes the entire routing process more effective.
Just like SD-WAN, MPLS IPVPN can also use a variety of connectivity options to link devices and files, including managed wi-fi services and ethernet connections.
Common Examples of WAN in the Business World
Now that we’ve been through the main WAN examples you might encounter when searching for a new service provider, it’s time to take a look at some of the industries and areas in which these virtual networks can be used.
However, even if your sector or business type isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean we can’t help you with your network management. Other prominent areas that you can expect to find wide area network examples include governments and financial services, making these private networks perfect for most modern industries.
Education, Education, Education
WANs are commonly used within educational institutions to connect multiple campuses or support remote working initiatives. For example, a university with a number of campuses in different cities (or even spread out across the same city) might use a WAN to link its networks. Not only does this enable workers and students to have seamless access to academic resources, centralised data storage, and unified communication systems, but it can also be extremely useful for remote learning.
With the rise of online education, WANs can play a critical role in delivering course materials to students, enabling lecturers to stream lectures and facilitate virtual classrooms, so their students can access their studies from anywhere. One example of this is the Open University, in which all the students study online and from home.
Smaller universities or schools may also use LANs for their network traffic, if a larger WAN or SD-WAN is not required.
Connect Global Offices with a Corporate WAN
Many multinational companies now rely on WANs to connect their offices – both within the country and around the world. For instance, a global corporation that has its headquarters in New York might have other regional offices in London, Tokyo, and Sydney. An enterprise of this size might use a WAN to ensure that all its employees have access to the same resources, applications, and communications tools in the field.
This example of WAN will usually involve the use of business leased lines, MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), or SD-WAN, providing secure, high-performance connectivity across continents and countries with ease.
Enhancing Patient Care in the Healthcare Industry
WANs are vital tools in the healthcare industry, connecting hospitals, clinics, surgeries and research facilities together. This approach allows for the secure sharing of patient data, medical records and other network traffic, without resorting to using a physical infrastructure.
A healthcare provider with multiple locations (such as the NHS or BUPA) might use a WAN to integrate its electronic health record (EHR) systems, ensuring that doctors, nurses and other clinical healthcare professionals can access up-to-date patient information – regardless of their location or which type of facility they’ve attended.
Managed cyber security services can be used to ensure patient confidentiality guidelines are met, using a secure private network. Additionally, WANs can also be used to support telephone services, enabling remote doctor consultations and real-time communication between medical professionals, making these processes much easier.
The World of Retail
Despite the rise of online shopping, the physical retail sphere is still extremely popular for today’s savvy shoppers. If you’re a retailer with multiple store locations across the country (or even in different countries), you can use a wide area network to manage your retail operations, track inventory and stock, and process financial transactions more efficiently.
A large, national retail chain may want to implement a WAN to connect its store locations with central warehouses and headquarters buildings. If you also have an online store, you can connect it up with your physical locations to provide a more comprehensive data transfer connection.
Data can be synchronised in real-time across your entire private network, giving you the power to centralise the management of your pricing systems, promotions and offers, as well as your customer loyalty schemes. That’s not all though – robust support can be provided for POS (point-of-sale) devices, digital payment processors and even your customer help teams, creating an all-encompassing solution for most of your retail dilemmas.
The Future of WAN is Here
We hope that you’ve enjoyed exploring through the various examples of WAN listed above, aiming to give you all the information you need to make the right decision for your business needs.
It’s clear that wide area networks play a crucial role in connecting different institutions, organisations, and individuals across large distances – regardless of your current location. These WAN examples all have their own advantages, enabling seamless communication between global sites, highlighting the real power of WAN in the modern era.
At M247, we have our own managed WAN package, coming with a flexible approach to connectivity that can be scaled to the size of just about any business.
Regardless of the type of WAN you’re searching for for your organisation, we’re sure we’ll be able to help you – please make an enquiry to find out more.
