MPLS has been a trusted way to build secure and reliable networks for decades. But as more businesses turn to cloud platforms and remote work models, MPLS has started to feel more like a limitation than a strength. Its high costs, rigid architecture, and long deployment timelines make it harder for businesses to stay agile.

SD-WAN offers the flexibility and performance modern networks need, often at a lower cost. The key is making the switch without disrupting operations. Read on to learn how SD-WAN compares to MPLS, what makes the transition successful, and the six steps the NHC team recommends for a seamless migration.

Why Are Businesses Moving Away From MPLS?

MPLS still offers dependable performance for certain use cases, but it wasn’t built for fast-growing environments. As network demands evolve, many organizations are finding that MPLS creates issues like:

• High Costs: MPLS circuits are expensive to deploy and maintain, especially compared to broadband and LTE alternatives
• Cloud Limitations: MPLS routes traffic back to centralized data centers, which creates bottlenecks for cloud and SaaS apps.
• Slow Scaling: Adding new branches or sites with MPLS can take weeks or months, slowing down business growth.

SD-WAN helps businesses solve these problems by offering more control over how networks run – even across multiple locations and cloud environments.

What Are the Benefits of SD-WAN?

SD-WAN uses software to manage multiple connection types, such as broadband, fiber, and LTE, while prioritizing performance and security. It’s designed to support how businesses work now. Here’s what it has to offer modern organizations:

• Performance Optimization: SD-WAN adjusts traffic in real time so your critical applications always get the bandwidth they need.
• Stronger Security: Encryption, firewalls, and cloud security integration are built in from the start.
• Cost Savings: Businesses can replace expensive MPLS circuits with more affordable broadband options.
• Easier Scaling: Adding a new site is much faster and doesn’t require waiting on legacy circuit provisioning.

With the right strategy, switching to SD-WAN can unlock better performance while keeping your network secure and easy to manage.

6 Steps for Migrating From MPLS to SD-WAN

At NHC, we’ve helped organizations of all sizes make the move to SD-WAN without disruption. Our six-step process focuses on making sure you maintain continuity while gaining the benefits of a more flexible network.

Step 1: Assess Your Current Setup

Start by reviewing your existing MPLS environment. Look at circuit usage, bandwidth needs, and app performance to identify which sites or workloads would benefit most from SD-WAN early on.

Step 2: Design a Hybrid Model

Instead of cutting MPLS off immediately, try a hybrid model where MPLS and SD-WAN run in parallel during the migration. This allows for gradual testing and tuning without any disruptions to your core operations.

Step 3: Start With High-Impact Areas

We recommend migrating the most cloud-dependent or high-cost sites first. These sites often show immediate improvements, which helps build trust in the new solution across your organization.

Step 4: Add Security and Monitoring

As you deploy SD-WAN, make sure to implement security controls like access policies and real-time monitoring to help maintain compliance and protect sensitive business traffic.

Step 5: Optimize and Scale

Once the pilot phase is complete, continue the rollout based on your business priorities. Ongoing monitoring makes it easy to fine-tune performance and ensure your network keeps up with your needs.

Step 6: Refine Post-Migration

After completing your migration, take time to review the results. Gathering user feedback and monitoring performance can help you get long-term value from SD-WAN and ensure it continues to align with your business goals.

Partner With NHC for a Smooth Migration

Moving away from MPLS doesn’t need to be complicated. With a clear migration plan and the right partner, it’s easy to keep business operations running smoothly while taking advantage of everything SD-WAN has to offer.

If you’re ready to modernize your clients’ networks with SD-WAN, contact NHC today. We’ll walk you through each step of the transition to ensure your business or your customers’ businesses experience the benefits of SD-WAN without the headaches.