Enterprises are busy implementing SD-WAN to provide cost-effective, secure, and application-aware connectivity to multiple cloud platforms for branches and remote offices. The results are clear: a distributed workforce obtains superior Quality of Experience (QoE) for multi-cloud and SaaS applications with a full security stack built-in to the edge routers to protect data and privacy. Choosing direct internet or direct cloud connectivity options reduces latency to provide appropriate levels of QoE for SaaS applications while eliminating the expense of backhauling all branch traffic to distant enterprise data centers. For many organizations with a network of remote sites, implementing Cisco SD-WAN at each branch is a perfect union of control, cost effectiveness, and security.

However, aggregating access to multi-cloud applications from multiple branches to regional CoLocation facilities may be a better solution for:

• Multi-national organizations that prohibit using direct internet connections to cloud and SaaS platforms at the branch level due to data security restrictions and international privacy regulations for cross-border sharing of personal information.
• Global organizations, such as financial institutions, that often have thousands of branch offices spread over multiple geographic regions, each one requiring high application QoE with granular security over traffic segmentation and application access; providing each site with an edge router may not be the most cost-effective implementation.
• Partners and vendors, who are not using SD-WAN, still need connectivity to their customers