How managed network services are evolving to simplify the global WAN

The managed network services market has traditionally been dominated by telcos that provide a common MPLS network, but that is slowly changing as new approaches are developed. Fundamentally, the way that carriers (i.e. telcos) deliver managed network services hasn’t changed in decades. The core architecture of this network, known as hub and spoke, consists of branches talking to the data center over a managed network with a separate firewall in the middle. However, this type of legacy WAN can’t support today’s business needs, which include a seminal shift to the cloud, as well as mobile users that need network access from anywhere, not just from the branch.