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Modern businesses rely heavily on seamless connectivity to drive operations, enhance productivity, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. However, traditional networks often fail to meet the demands of today’s dynamic environments. Common network performance issues, such as latency, poor connectivity, and inconsistent performance, disrupt workflows, hinder cloud-based applications, and increase operational costs. Network outages and performance bottlenecks further aggravate these challenges, impacting both business continuity and user satisfaction.
Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) has emerged as a revolutionary solution to address these persistent challenges. By leveraging intelligent traffic management, enhanced visibility, and built-in security, SD-WAN empowers businesses to overcome common network connectivity issues and optimise performance across multiple locations. It simplifies network management while ensuring resilience, cost-efficiency, and adaptability for modern enterprise needs.
This blog explores the top 10 common network issues businesses face and demonstrates how SD-WAN provides effective solutions to these challenges, enabling organisations to transform their networks for enhanced reliability and performance.
Top 10 Common Network Issues Modern Businesses Face
Reliable networks are critical for supporting modern business operations, but many organisations struggle with recurring issues that disrupt workflows and affect productivity. Below, we detail the most common network issues businesses face, explaining their causes, impacts, and examples.
#1: Network Latency Issues
Network latency, a key factor in network quality problems, refers to the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination and back. This delay, often measured in milliseconds, can significantly impact real-time applications like video conferencing, financial trading platforms, and online gaming. Latency is not a single issue, but a collection of common network performance issues influenced by various factors.
Causes:
- Inefficient routing where data travels unnecessarily long paths.
- Bandwidth constraints lead to traffic congestion.
- The physical distance between users and data centres.
Impact: High latency can frustrate users, especially when using collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom. For example, a global enterprise could face severe delays during client presentations due to latency issues in accessing cloud-hosted files, affecting client satisfaction.
#2: Network Connectivity Issues
Connectivity issues occur when devices or users cannot access network resources due to disruptions.
Causes:
- ISP outages affecting internet availability.
- Misconfigured network devices such as routers or switches.
- Hardware failures such as broken cables or malfunctioning network adapters.
Impact: Connectivity disruptions halt communication, delay workflows, and often lead to financial losses. For instance, a retail chain might experience a significant drop in online sales due to connectivity issues that made their e-commerce platform inaccessible for hours.
#3: Bandwidth Limitations and Bottlenecks
Bandwidth bottlenecks occur when network demand exceeds available bandwidth, causing slowdowns and congestion. This results in slower data transfer rates, increased latency, and poor network performance.
Causes:
- Networks designed without scalability for increased traffic demands.
- High bandwidth consumption from applications like video streaming or large file transfers.
- Sudden spikes in network usage, especially during peak hours.
Impact: Bandwidth bottlenecks severely reduce network performance and slow down critical applications. For example, an architecture firm using cloud-based rendering software might face significant delays in delivering projects due to insufficient bandwidth during peak hours.
#4: Network Routing Issues
Routing issues occur when data takes inefficient paths through the network, often caused by suboptimal configurations.
Causes:
- Static routing policies that fail to adapt to real-time network conditions.
- Outdated configurations or routing tables.
Impact: Slow application responses and increased latency are common results. For example, a logistics company may face delays in processing customer orders due to poor routing that increases the time needed to retrieve data from cloud-hosted ERP systems.
#5: Security Vulnerabilities
Cybersecurity attacks occur when unauthorised entities gain access to the network, compromising data integrity and confidentiality. These vulnerabilities expose networks to risks such as data breaches, downtime, and compromised business operations.
Causes:
- DDoS attacks overwhelm network resources, causing outages.
- Malware or phishing campaigns lead to data breaches.
Impact: Security breaches result in downtime, reputational damage, and financial penalties. For instance, a healthcare provider may fall victim to ransomware, paralysing their network for days and delaying critical patient services.
#6: Application Performance Degradation
Application performance issues occur when critical software runs slowly or fails to respond. It occurs when critical software, such as cloud-based applications, collaboration tools, or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, runs slowly or becomes unresponsive, significantly impacting productivity and user satisfaction.
Causes:
- Lack of prioritisation for bandwidth-heavy applications like VoIP or SaaS tools.
- Inadequate network resources allocated to mission-critical applications.
Impact: Degraded performance hampers productivity. For example, an e-learning platform could suffer because the students face disruptions due to frequent interruptions during live online classes or exams caused by application traffic being deprioritised.
#7: Packet Loss and Jitter
Packet loss and jitter are common network performance issues that degrade the quality of data transmission, particularly in real-time applications such as VoIP calls, video conferencing, and online gaming.
Packet loss occurs when data packets travelling across a network fail to reach their intended destination. Jitter refers to the variation in packet delivery times, caused by inconsistent network performance. When packets do not arrive in the correct sequence or experience delays, it results in distorted audio or video quality, especially noticeable in time-sensitive applications.
Causes:
- When too much traffic overloads the network, packets may drop or face delays.
- Low-grade network connections or insufficient bandwidth can cause unstable data transmission.
Impact: These issues often lead to distorted audio during VoIP calls or choppy visuals in video conferencing. In the past, several companies have reported frequent miscommunication during client meetings due to packet loss on their corporate network.
#8: Lack of Network Visibility and Monitoring
A lack of network visibility and monitoring is a significant challenge for IT teams relying on traditional WANs. Without centralised tools to track network performance and identify bottlenecks, organisations often operate reactively, addressing issues only after they disrupt operations. This approach increases downtime and complicates troubleshooting, particularly in large, distributed networks.
Causes:
- Legacy networks lack advanced telemetry features.
- IT teams rely on manual processes to diagnose issues.
Impact: Without visibility, identifying and resolving problems becomes reactive and time-consuming. For example, an IT service company may experience delayed resolutions to frequent outages due to a lack of real-time analytics.
Discover how SD-WAN’s advanced monitoring tools outperform traditional WANs in our blog on SD-WAN vs Traditional WAN.
#9: Integration Challenges with Legacy Infrastructure
Integrating new technologies with existing legacy infrastructure is a common hurdle for organisations undergoing digital transformation. Legacy systems are often outdated and lack the flexibility needed to accommodate modern network solutions, making the integration process both complex and error prone. These challenges can disrupt operations and lead to inefficiencies, especially in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
Complexities:
- Compatibility issues between old and new hardware/software.
- Increased chances of misconfigurations during the integration process.
Impact: Hybrid networks often experience disruptions during the integration phase. For example, a manufacturing firm transitioning to a hybrid cloud environment could suffer and face reduced production efficiency due to conflicts between legacy systems and cloud platforms.
#10: Frequent Network Downtime
Frequent network downtime is one of the most critical issues businesses face, as it directly impacts productivity, revenue, and customer trust. Downtime occurs when the network becomes entirely unavailable, halting all dependent activities and creating a cascade of operational challenges.
Causes:
- Poorly maintained network hardware.
- Overburdened IT teams are unable to address problems proactively.
Impact: The cost of downtime can be staggering, with some industries reporting losses of thousands of dollars per minute. For instance, a financial services firm estimated losing over £50,000 in revenue during a three-hour outage caused by an overloaded network switch.
These common network issues highlight the urgent need for modern solutions that proactively address these challenges. In the next section, we’ll explore how SD-WAN technology provides effective resolutions to these problems, helping businesses achieve reliable and high-performing networks.
How SD-WAN Solution Resolves Common Network Issues
As businesses face mounting challenges with traditional networks, SD-WAN solution offers a robust solution designed to tackle these pain points head-on. By integrating intelligent routing, enhanced security, and advanced visibility, SD-WAN empowers organisations to transform their networks for greater performance and reliability.
Below, we explore how SD-WAN addresses common network issues and enables seamless operations.
Enhancing Network Performance with Intelligent Routing
Traditional routing methods often result in suboptimal data paths, leading to latency and inconsistent performance. SD-WAN overcomes these challenges with intelligent, real-time routing capabilities.
How it Works:
- Dynamic path selection evaluates performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss to direct traffic along the most efficient route.
- Application-aware routing ensures that critical workflows like VoIP and video conferencing receive priority over less time-sensitive applications.
Learn effective strategies to enhance your network's speed and reliability in our blog on How to Improve Network Performance.
Improving Connectivity Across Multiple Locations
Managing connectivity across distributed networks can be challenging, especially for organisations with branch offices or remote teams. SD-WAN simplifies this by offering centralised control and optimised connectivity options.
How it Works:
- Centralised management enables IT teams to configure and monitor networks across all locations from a single dashboard.
- Reliable last-mile connectivity leverages broadband, LTE, or MPLS to ensure consistent network availability.
Solving Bandwidth Bottlenecks Through Traffic Prioritisation
Bandwidth limitations often cause congestion and performance slowdowns. SD-WAN addresses this by implementing Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms.
How it Works:
- QoS prioritises bandwidth allocation for critical applications like SaaS tools or cloud backups.
- SD-WAN dynamically adjusts traffic flows based on current network conditions.
Addressing Security Concerns with Built-In Protection
Cybersecurity is a top concern for businesses. SD-WAN includes integrated security features to protect against modern threats.
How it Works:
- Enterprise-grade firewalls and malware detection prevent unauthorised access.
- Zero-trust frameworks enforce strict authentication and encryption for all traffic.
Increasing Network Visibility and Simplifying Troubleshooting
Traditional networks often lack the tools required for proactive monitoring and diagnostics, leading to delayed resolutions. SD-WAN resolves this by offering enhanced visibility.
How it Works:
- Real-time analytics give IT teams a comprehensive view of network quality problems, allowing them to detect potential bottlenecks.
- Automated diagnostics and alerts enabled can help teams in troubleshooting network performance issues before they escalate into significant disruptions.
Optimising Application Performance for Cloud and SaaS
As businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based tools, ensuring their performance becomes critical. SD-WAN provides seamless access to SaaS and cloud applications.
How it Works:
- Solutions like Cisco CloudOnRamp optimise traffic flow for apps such as Office 365 and Salesforce by reducing latency and ensuring direct cloud access.
- Automated path selection avoids congested routes, improving user experience.
Reducing Costs Without Compromising Performance
Traditional MPLS networks are expensive to scale and maintain. SD-WAN reduces these costs while delivering better performance.
How it Works:
- SD-WAN utilises cost-effective broadband connections while ensuring performance on par with MPLS.
- Automation simplifies network configuration, reducing IT operational costs.
Enabling Scalability and Hybrid Work Models
Scaling traditional networks to support growth or hybrid work environments often introduces complexity. SD-WAN offers flexibility and seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
How it Works:
- Supports hybrid deployments by integrating with legacy systems without disruptions.
- Rapid onboarding of new locations with zero-touch provisioning simplifies expansion.
By addressing these common network challenges, SD-WAN provides organisations with the tools needed to build agile, secure, and cost-efficient networks. The next section will explore real-world success stories of how businesses have benefited from implementing SD-WAN solutions.
Real-World Success Stories
The effectiveness of SD-WAN in solving complex network challenges can be best understood through real-world implementations. Below are two case studies showcasing how businesses benefited from SD-WAN solutions to enhance connectivity and performance.
Case Study #1: Enhancing Connectivity for Al Ghandi Auto Group
Challenge:
The Al Ghandi Auto Group faced difficulties in managing connectivity across its multiple locations. Their traditional network struggled with frequent latency issues, inconsistent application performance, and limited visibility into network health. These challenges impacted operations like inventory management and communication between regional offices.
Solution:
The Al Ghandi Auto Group deployed Orixcom Managed SD-WAN, powered by Cisco, to centralise network management and optimise application performance. With SD-WAN’s intelligent routing capabilities, the organisation was able to prioritise critical traffic for business applications like ERP systems and VoIP services. The centralised management portal allowed their IT team to monitor and resolve network issues in real time.
Outcome:
- Application performance improved significantly, reducing delays in inventory updates and internal communications.
- Centralised visibility enabled proactive troubleshooting, minimising downtime.
- Overall operational efficiency increased, supporting the group’s growth and enhancing employee productivity.
Case Study #2: Securing Network Resilience for CNBC Arabia
Challenge:
As a leading regional broadcaster, CNBC Arabia requires reliable and resilient connectivity to support real-time content delivery between its regional offices and broadcasting facilities. Their existing WAN infrastructure experienced frequent disruptions, high latency, and poor bandwidth allocation, which risked delays in broadcasting and reduced operational reliability.
Solution:
CNBC Arabia implemented Orixcom Managed SD-WAN solution to enhance network resilience. The deployment leveraged SD-WAN’s dynamic path selection and application-aware routing to optimise traffic flows for high-priority applications like live video streaming and remote editing tools. Advanced security features, including firewalls and intrusion detection, ensured the safety of sensitive broadcasting data.
Outcome:
- Network latency was significantly reduced, ensuring smooth and timely content delivery.
- Centralised bandwidth management optimised the performance of critical applications, even during peak usage periods.
- The overall network became more robust, with improved reliability and secure connectivity across locations.
Conclusion
Proactively identifying and resolving network issues is critical for maintaining seamless business operations in today’s digitally interconnected world. Latency, connectivity disruptions, bandwidth constraints, and security vulnerabilities can all hinder productivity, impact user experience, and result in significant operational costs. Addressing these challenges is no longer optional—it is essential for businesses aiming to stay competitive.
SD-WAN offers a robust, comprehensive solution to these challenges. By leveraging intelligent routing, centralised management, and integrated security features, SD-WAN optimises network performance across diverse locations and hybrid work environments. Features such as application-aware routing, real-time analytics, and automated troubleshooting ensure businesses can maintain reliability and scalability while reducing costs and improving operational efficiency. Moreover, SD-WAN’s ability to prioritise critical applications and secure cloud workflows makes it the ideal choice for organisations embracing digital transformation.
Success stories like those of Al Ghandi Auto Group and CNBC Arabia demonstrate the tangible benefits of SD-WAN in action. From enhancing application performance and reducing latency to strengthening network resilience and optimising content delivery, these implementations highlight how SD-WAN empowers businesses to overcome network challenges and achieve measurable results.
For organisations seeking tailored solutions to address their unique network requirements, Orixcom Managed SD-WAN solution is the perfect partner. Backed by Cisco’s cutting-edge technology, this solution delivers the performance, security, and reliability businesses need to scale confidently in today’s demanding environment. By choosing Orixcom, businesses can focus on their core objectives while leaving the complexities of network management in expert hands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How do you troubleshoot network issues with SD-WAN?
- SD-WAN simplifies troubleshooting by providing centralised management and real-time analytics. IT teams can monitor network performance across all locations through a single dashboard, identify bottlenecks, and use automated diagnostics to resolve issues proactively.
Q2. How does SD-WAN optimise application performance?
- SD-WAN employs dynamic path selection to route traffic based on real-time metrics like latency and jitter. It also uses Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritise critical applications such as video conferencing and SaaS tools, ensuring smooth performance even during peak traffic periods.
Q3. How does SD-WAN address security concerns?
- SD-WAN integrates multiple security features, including firewalls, malware detection, and zero-trust frameworks. By encrypting data and enforcing strict authentication protocols, it protects networks from threats such as DDoS attacks, phishing, and data breaches.
Q4. Is SD-WAN suitable for hybrid work environments?
- Yes, SD-WAN is ideal for hybrid work setups. It ensures reliable connectivity for remote users by leveraging broadband or LTE while maintaining secure access to corporate applications through centralised policies and end-to-end encryption.
Q5. How does SD-WAN integrate with cloud services?
- SD-WAN ensures seamless integration with cloud applications through features like direct cloud access and traffic optimisation tools such as Cisco CloudOnRamp. These capabilities enhance the performance of SaaS applications like Office 365 and Salesforce.
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