4 Benefits of a Mesh Network

Here's how a meshed WAN can make your business more efficient.

Articles published March 7, 2017 by Bob Bally

In a fully digital work environment, with many employees working from afar, secure, reliable access to information is of the utmost importance. And that requires a safe, strong network.

There are three common types of networks — Local Area Network (LAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN) — and it helps to know the differences between each.

A LAN is a small computer network that can be used to share certain organizational resources, like files, printers, and databases, and can connect to other LANs through a telephone line.
A WLAN provides wireless access within a covered area. This is the type of network used in many homes.
A WAN is useful for organizations operating out of more than one location. This type of network connects multiple LANs through a router and uses MPLS to speed up and prioritize certain types of traffic, like voice or video.

Depending on the size and type of your business, a LAN might be sufficient, but many different types of businesses are logical candidates for a Meshed WAN solution. Organizations that have two or more locations and a need to prioritize segments of their data traffic due to latency and/or performance concerns can benefit most from a Meshed WAN.

How Meshed WAN Works

In a fully meshed network topology, all network devices are connected to one another, establishing multiple routes for information to travel between users and increasing network resiliency.

Meshed WAN is the modern implementation of a packet switching network, capable of carrying converged traffic, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video, and data. As business networks increasingly carry this mix of traffic, Meshed WAN has emerged as the most efficient way to meet the special delivery needs of each class of data.

A Meshed WAN creates a totally private and customized network that is independent of transport medium. Meshed WAN is used as the underlying technology, allowing your Wide Area Network (WAN) to be built on any combination of traditional time division multiplexing (TDM) circuits, Ethernet, or Internet connections.

The top four business benefits of a Meshed WAN solution include:

1. Increased efficiency

A mesh network operates as the single source for acquisition of necessary connectivity. When you partner with a managed IT provider for a Meshed WAN, you can count on support oversight that covers the entire network solution. That means there’s no need to call the DSL provider in one town and the T1 provider in the other.

Meshed WAN manages everything from start to finish and for all providers. This means you have only one call to make for services and support, and you’ll only receive one bill.

2. Reduced leased line costs

Internet access can be provisioned directly from the Meshed WAN network, resulting in substantial leased line savings and unlimited scalability.

3. Quality of Service (QoS) management

The Meshed WAN solution gives you the option to tailor services to your needs through the addition of QoS management. By employing QoS, you can control the Meshed WAN service. This prioritizes your mission critical traffic, allowing for your key applications to operate quickly and efficiently. Network applications, such as voice and video, are time sensitive and benefit immensely from the QoS that Meshed WAN functionality provides.

4. Increased mobility and connectivity.

One of the biggest benefits of a mesh network is that offsite workers and satellite branches can seamlessly join your Meshed WAN through a Web-based Virtual Private Network (VPN). This helps keep communication flowing among team members and data secure, so your business can continue to run smoothly regardless of user location.

Stay Connected with a Mesh Network

Today, a company can run its entire communications infrastructure on one network. Meshed WAN bridges remote locations, helps you manage traffic to realize the most value from your network, and makes new ways of doing business possible. Because your network effectively runs “in the cloud,” you benefit from professional management, advanced security, and unparalleled flexibility.

More than ever, distance barriers are shattered when your employees and customers communicate on one network.