What Does 'Private WAN (Wide Area Network)' Mean?
A private WAN (Wide Area Network) is a communications network that is owned and operated by a single organization. It can be used to connect multiple locations, such as branch offices or remote sites, together in a way that allows them to share resources and exchange information securely.
Private WANs are typically used by businesses and other organizations that need to securely connect multiple sites in order to improve communication and collaboration. They can be set up with leased lines, MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), or VPN (Virtual Private Network) connections, among other things.
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A private WAN can be composed of a variety of different networking technologies, depending on the organization’s requirements and budget. Some common technologies used to establish a private WAN include:
Leased lines: These are dedicated, point-to-point connections that are leased from a telecommunications provider. They provide a direct, private connection between two locations but can be expensive and inflexible.
MPLS: This is a category of data-carrying technique for high-performance telecommunications networks. MPLS enables different types of data to be carried over a single connection and can also be used to establish VPN connections between different sites.
VPN connections: These permit different locations to be connected over the internet using a secure, encrypted connection. VPN connections can be established using a variety of technologies, like IPSec or SSL.
SD-WAN: Software-Defined Wide Area Networking is a relatively new approach that allows organizations to optimize the performance of their WAN connections by routing traffic over the best available path using software. It also offers the possibility for better security and optimal traffic routing, making it possible for multiple WAN links (MPLS, internet, cellular, etc.) to be bonded together.
A private WAN can also be used to connect to public cloud infrastructure, providing a bridge between your on-premises infrastructure and cloud infrastructure.
A primary advantage of having a private WAN is the ability for an organization to maintain control over and secure access to their communication and data, separate from the public internet. This can be especially important for organizations that handle sensitive or confidential information.
