SD-WAN Managed Services are a specific use case for a MEF Third Network service using overlay networking technologies to deliver agile, assured and orchestrated application-driven connectivity services. Also, SD-WANs can operate over Internet access connections, enabling off-net sites to be quickly added to the SD-WAN without establishing interconnect agreements with off-net access providers. As described in MEF White Paper: MEF 3.0 SD-WAN Services, SD-WANs have the following key characteristics: - Provide a secure, IP-based virtual overlay networks that typically uses IPSec tunnels over Internet or MPLS underlay networks.
- Are transport-independent of the underlying network, operating over any type of wireline or wireless access network.
- Provide service assurance of each SD-WAN tunnel.
- Provide application-driven packet forwarding, performing application-level classification (up to OSI Layer 7) at the customer premises.
- Provide high availability through multiple WANs, supporting packet forwarding over one or more WANs at each site.
- Use policies to make application forwarding (or blocking) decisions for SD-WANs tunnels over each WAN.
- Achieve service automation via centralized management, control, and orchestration of SD-WAN tunnels with automatic configuration of SD-WAN customer premises equipment.
- Often deliver WAN optimization as a value-added service.
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