Challenges with WAN Optimization Software
Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges.
Network integration: Although many WAN optimization vendors will mention that their software will be compatible with major brand software and hardware, there is no guarantee that it will run smoothly in the client’s environments. Modern network structure can be very complicated especially in hybrid environments with legacy systems, which is quite common nowadays. Even if it does run smoothly, there is also the potential problem with scalability for critical applications. Can the software perform load balancing on high throughput requirements to achieve WAN acceleration? Companies need to test the software in their own on-premise and virtualization environment before commitment.
Data regulation: Companies need to ensure that the WAN performance policies won’t transfer sensitive data into unsecured or unauthorized channels. Selecting a less congested path or protocols may be more efficient and save money, but that doesn’t mean that it is safe. Some WAN optimization software can automatically avoid this situation, but IT teams still need to establish network security rules to make sure that won’t happen or adopt SD-WAN for further customization.
IT team alignment: Companies should not automatically expect that their current IT team already has the necessary talent to manage WAN. The modern-day network is complicated and many IT personnel are specialized in specific layers of IT stacks. WAN optimization needs both lower layer (network and physical) and higher layer (application and transport) talents. Either different talents from different layers work together or companies need to hire new IT professionals who specialize in multiple layers (TCP acceleration). Otherwise, there will be a conflict of management as to who manages which part of the network from separate teams. This will slow down the time to solve important network issues.
How to Buy WAN Optimization Software
Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for WAN Optimization Software
The company’s needs when searching for WAN optimization solutions often relate to specific network performance issues. For example, the user may be most interested in improving performance for latency. Buyers should make a ranked list of the WAN optimization features that most directly address the problems they’re trying to solve, then reference G2 reviews to find the right fit.
Prioritizing the desired feature set can help narrow down the potential pool of WAN optimizers, allowing teams to then apply further considerations for budget, ease of integration with other systems, security requirements, and more. This holistic approach empowers buyers to move forward with a focused checklist, which can be used in conjunction with G2 scoring to select the best WAN optimization product for the business.
Compare WAN Optimization Software Products
Create a long list
Buyers should start with a large pool of WAN optimization software vendors. Keeping the desired must-have features in mind, buyers must perform consistent inquiries during demos so they can effectively compare the pros and cons of each software.
Create a short list
It helps to cross-reference the results of initial vendor evaluations with G2 reviews from other buyers, the combination of which will help narrow it down to three to five products. From there, buyers can compare pricing and features to determine the best fit.
Conduct demos
Companies should make sure to demo all of the products that end up on their short list. The basic step of the demo is to start with a basic optimization setup. It’s important to know if the product identifies network latency, specific congested areas, and performance metrics like packet and bandwidth data. It’s also helpful to test the policy configuration and reporting function. It is important that the selected product fully reflects the entire enterprise network ecosystem and topology.
Selection of WAN Optimization Software
Choose a selection team
Regardless of a company’s size, it’s important to involve the most relevant personnel when beginning the WAN optimization software selection process. Larger companies may include individual team members to fill roles such as system owners, IT professionals, and developers who will be working with the software closely. Smaller companies with fewer employees might overlap roles.
Negotiation
Many companies offer full network-related platforms that go beyond WAN optimization to include application performance monitoring, cloud infrastructure monitoring, and more. While some companies will not budge on the configurations of their packages, buyers looking to trim costs should try to negotiate down to the specific functions that matter to them to get the best price. For example, a vendor’s pricing page where WAN optimization functionality is only included with a robust all-in-one monitoring package, whereas a sales conversation may prove otherwise.
Final decision
After this stage, it is important to perform a trial run with a small selection of IT professionals or developers. This will help ensure that the software of choice integrates well with the company’s data centers, an IT administrator’s systems setup, or a developer’s day-to-day work. If the tool is well liked and well utilized, the buyer can take that as a sign that their selection is the right one. If not, reevaluation of the options may be necessary.
