Here are Top 30 SD-WAN Interview Questions

1. What is SD-WAN?
2. What are the key benefits of SD-WAN?
3. What are the primary components of SD-WAN?
4. What is the difference between SD-WAN and traditional WAN?
5. How does SD-WAN improve network performance?
6. What is the role of the controller in SD-WAN?
7. How do you ensure the security of an SD-WAN network?
8. What is the importance of application visibility in SD-WAN?
9. How does SD-WAN simplify network management?
10. How does SD-WAN optimize the use of multiple WAN connections?
11. What are the different deployment models for SD-WAN?
12. What are the different types of SD-WAN technology?
13. How does SD-WAN enable intelligent routing?
14. What are the challenges associated with SD-WAN deployment?
15. What is the importance of QoS in SD-WAN?
16. What are the benefits of using SD-WAN for cloud applications?
17. What is the role of virtualization in SD-WAN?
18. How does SD-WAN help reduce costs?
19. What are the different types of SD-WAN architectures?
20. How does SD-WAN enable zero-touch provisioning?
21. What is the importance of segmentation in SD-WAN?
22. What is the importance of analytics in SD-WAN?
23. How does SD-WAN enable dynamic path selection?
24. What is the importance of policy-based routing in SD-WAN?
25. What are the different types of SD-WAN vendors?
26. How does SD-WAN enable secure access to remote networks?
27. What are the different types of SD-WAN topologies?
28. How does SD-WAN enable the integration of multiple WANs?
29. What are the different types of SD-WAN security features?
30. How does SD-WAN enable the integration of cloud services?
31. What is the importance of automation in SD-WAN?

Questions 1: What is SD-WAN? 

Answer: SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a type of networking technology that enables organizations to optimize the performance of their wide area network (WAN) by allowing them to dynamically route traffic over multiple links, such as internet, MPLS, and LTE. This technology provides businesses with greater flexibility, cost savings, and improved performance when compared to traditional WAN solutions.

Questions 2: What are the key benefits of SD-WAN? 

Answer: 

1. Improved network performance: SD-WAN can improve network performance by dynamically routing traffic over the most efficient path available. This ensures that the most critical applications are given priority and that traffic is routed over the most reliable connection. 

2. Cost savings: SD-WAN can reduce the cost of WAN connections by using less expensive Internet connections instead of traditional leased lines. 

3. Increased security: SD-WAN can provide enhanced security features such as encryption, authentication, and access control. 

4. Improved scalability: SD-WAN can quickly and easily scale up to meet changing business needs. 5. Simplified management: SD-WAN can be managed centrally, making it easy to deploy

Questions 3: What are the primary components of SD-WAN?

Answer: The primary components of SD-WAN are:

Questions 4:

What is the difference between SD-WAN and traditional WAN?

Answer: The main difference between SD-WAN and traditional WAN is that SD-WAN is a software-defined networking architecture that simplifies the management and operation of a wide-area network (WAN) by separating the networking hardware from its control mechanism. It uses software to create and manage a virtual WAN overlay across multiple physical WAN links, such as broadband internet, cellular, and MPLS. Traditional WANs are typically hardware-based, meaning that they rely on physical network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls to connect and manage the network. SD-WANs are more flexible and cost-effective than traditional WANs, as they allow for more efficient use of bandwidth, better application performance,

Questions 5:

How does SD-WAN improve network performance?

Answer: SD-WAN improves network performance by providing an optimized and secure connection to the cloud. This connection is more reliable and efficient than traditional Wide Area Network (WAN) connections. SD-WAN also enables businesses to dynamically route traffic, prioritize applications, and apply security policies to ensure optimal performance across the entire network. Additionally, SD-WAN can reduce costs by leveraging low-cost internet connections and reducing the need for expensive MPLS connections.

Questions 6: 

What is the role of the controller in SD-WAN?

Answer: The controller is a centralised entity responsible for orchestrating the SD-WAN network. It is responsible for setting up and managing the SD-WAN overlay network, configuring the underlying physical network, monitoring the performance of the SD-WAN links, and providing analytics and reporting. The controller also provides secure access for users, devices, and applications to the SD-WAN network.

Questions 7: 

How do you ensure the security of an SD-WAN network?

Answer: 

1. Implement a secure firewall: Firewalls are essential for protecting SD-WAN networks from external threats. Firewalls should be configured to block unwanted traffic, detect and prevent malicious activity, and monitor traffic for suspicious activity. 

2. Use secure encryption: Encryption is important for protecting data from unauthorized access. Encryption should be used to encrypt traffic between SD-WAN network components, as well as to encrypt data stored on the network. 

3. Implement strong authentication: Authentication is essential for ensuring that only authorized users can access the SD-WAN network. Authentication should be implemented using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, or other authentication methods. 

4. Monitor the network: Regularly monitoring the SD-WAN network can help to identify potential security issues and take action to address them. 

5. Use secure protocols: Secure protocols, such as SSL/TLS, should be used to encrypt traffic between SD-WAN network components. 

6. Enable logging: Logging should be enabled to track user activity and detect suspicious activity. Logs should be regularly reviewed to detect any security issues.

Questions 8: 

What is the importance of application visibility in SD-WAN?

Answer: Application visibility in SD-WAN is important because it allows organizations to monitor and manage their network traffic more effectively. It also allows them to identify and prioritize business-critical applications, ensuring that they get the most out of their SD-WAN investment. By providing visibility into application performance, organizations can make sure that their applications are running optimally and that their users are getting the best experience possible. Application visibility also helps organizations identify and address any potential security threats and ensure that their networks are running as efficiently as possible.

Questions 9: 

How does SD-WAN simplify network management?

Answer: SD-WAN simplifies network management by providing a centralized platform for managing and configuring the network. It enables network administrators to quickly and easily configure, deploy, and manage network connections across multiple sites. It also provides real-time monitoring and reporting of network performance and health, allowing administrators to quickly identify and address any issues. Additionally, SD-WAN can be used to automate certain tasks, such as provisioning new sites or troubleshooting network issues, which further simplifies network management.

Questions 10: 

How does SD-WAN optimize the use of multiple WAN connections?

Answer: SD-WAN optimizes the use of multiple WAN connections by automatically routing traffic across the most efficient WAN links based on latency, availability, and packet loss. It also provides a single, unified view of the entire WAN, allowing IT teams to view the performance of each individual WAN connection and make adjustments as needed. Additionally, SD-WAN can provide improved security, as it can be configured to encrypt all traffic across the WAN links.

Questions 11: 

What are the different deployment models for SD-WAN?

Answer: 

1. On-premise SD-WAN: On-premise SD-WAN is a traditional model of deploying SD-WAN, where the customer purchases the hardware and software required to run the SD-WAN solution and deploys it in their own data centers or on-premise locations.

2. Cloud-based SD-WAN: Cloud-based SD-WAN solutions are hosted in the cloud and are managed and supported by the cloud provider. This model is becoming increasingly popular as it eliminates the need for customers to purchase and manage their own hardware and software.

3. Hybrid SD-WAN: Hybrid SD-WAN combines the on-premise and cloud-based models, allowing customers to deploy their SD-WAN solution across both on-premise and cloud locations. This model provides the best of both worlds, allowing customers to take advantage of the flexibility and scalability of the cloud while also maintaining control over their on-premise infrastructure.

Questions 12: 

What are the different types of SD-WAN technology?

Answer: 

1. Hybrid WAN: A hybrid WAN combines multiple types of networks, such as MPLS, internet, and wireless, to provide an optimal connection.

2. Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN): SD-WAN is a software-defined networking solution that uses a centralized management platform to control the routing of traffic across multiple links.

3. Internet-Based WAN: Internet-based WANs are networks that are built and managed completely over the public internet.

4. Cloud-Based WAN: Cloud-based WANs are networks that are built and managed on cloud-based infrastructure.

5. Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPNs are networks that are built and managed over the public internet but are secured by encryption.

Questions 13: 

How does SD-WAN enable intelligent routing?

Answer: SD-WAN enables intelligent routing by leveraging its software-defined network capabilities to optimize and prioritize network traffic. This allows it to route traffic based on real-time application performance metrics and business requirements. It can also use dynamic routing protocols to identify the best path for traffic, as well as leverage cloud-based services such as service chaining and virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) to further customize the routing of traffic.

Questions 14: 

What are the challenges associated with SD-WAN deployment?

Answer: 

1. Complex Network Design: SD-WAN requires a complex network design to ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of the network. This can be difficult for businesses to manage, especially if they do not have an experienced network engineer on staff.

2. Security Concerns: SD-WAN introduces a new layer of complexity to network security. As SD-WAN networks are distributed, there is an increased risk of security breaches.

3. Cost: SD-WAN can be expensive to deploy, as businesses need to purchase additional hardware, software, and services to support the network.

4. Integration: Integrating SD-WAN with existing networks can be challenging, as the two networks need to be compatible.

5. Lack of Expertise: Many businesses lack the expertise needed to properly deploy and manage an SD-WAN network.

Questions 15: 

What is the importance of QoS in SD-WAN?

Answer: Quality of Service (QoS) is an important aspect of SD-WAN technology. It is used to prioritize network traffic and ensure that critical applications and services receive the network resources they need. QoS also helps to reduce latency and jitter, ensuring that applications and services are delivered with the highest possible quality. By utilizing QoS, organizations can ensure that their applications and services are delivered with the highest possible quality, enabling them to provide a better user experience and increase productivity.

Questions 16: 

What are the benefits of using SD-WAN for cloud applications?

Answer: 

1. Increased Network Performance: SD-WAN solutions can help to optimize the performance of cloud applications by dynamically routing traffic over the best available connection. This can help to reduce latency and improve the overall user experience.

2. Improved Security: SD-WAN solutions can help to improve the security of cloud applications by providing an additional layer of security. This can include features such as encryption, authentication, and access control.

3. Cost Savings: SD-WAN solutions can help to reduce costs associated with cloud applications by reducing the need for additional hardware and software. This can help to reduce operational costs and free up resources for other areas of the business.

4. Flexibility: SD-WAN solutions can help to provide more flexibility when it comes to cloud applications. This can help to ensure that applications are always available and can be quickly scaled up or down as needed.

Questions 17: 

What is the role of virtualization in SD-WAN?

Answer: Virtualization plays a key role in SD-WAN, as it allows for the deployment of multiple virtual networks on a single physical infrastructure. This allows for the creation of multiple virtual networks that are each optimized for different applications and services, while still allowing for centralized management and control. Additionally, virtualization can be used to create virtualized instances of WAN optimization technologies such as compression and caching, which can help to improve the performance of applications over the WAN.

Questions 18: 

How does SD-WAN help reduce costs?

Answer: SD-WAN can help reduce costs in a variety of ways. It can reduce costs associated with hardware and maintenance, as it typically uses less expensive hardware than traditional WAN solutions. It can also reduce operational costs by providing a more efficient network that requires less manual intervention. Additionally, SD-WAN can reduce costs associated with bandwidth by optimizing traffic flows and providing the ability to scale up or down as needed. Finally, SD-WAN can reduce the costs associated with managing multiple disparate WAN solutions by providing a unified platform for managing all of the WAN connections.

Questions 19: 

What are the different types of SD-WAN architectures?

Answer: 

1. Hub and Spoke: This is the most common type of SD-WAN architecture, where all remote sites are connected to a central hub, which is typically a data center or corporate headquarters.

2. Full-Mesh: This type of SD-WAN architecture allows all sites to communicate directly with each other without having to pass through a central hub.

3. Hybrid: This type of SD-WAN architecture is a combination of the hub and spoke and full-mesh architectures. It allows for a combination of direct communication between sites and communication through a central hub.

4. Star: This type of SD-WAN architecture is similar to the hub and spoke architecture, but instead of a central hub, each site is connected to a single “star” node.

5. Point-to-Point: This type of SD-WAN architecture is used when two sites need to communicate directly without going through a central hub or star node.

Questions 20: 

How does SD-WAN enable zero-touch provisioning?

Answer: Zero-touch provisioning is enabled by SD-WAN through the use of automated software-defined configuration. This allows for the automatic deployment of new devices and the automatic configuration of settings, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This allows for faster deployment times, lower costs, and improved reliability. Additionally, SD-WAN can be used to monitor network performance and make adjustments on the fly, ensuring that the network is always running optimally.

Questions 21: 

What is the importance of segmentation in SD-WAN?

Answer: Segmentation is an important part of SD-WAN because it enables organizations to securely divide the network into multiple virtual networks, each with its own set of rules and policies. This allows organizations to prioritize and control traffic flows, while also providing enhanced security and performance. By segmenting the network, organizations can easily manage different types of traffic, such as voice and video, and ensure that the most important traffic is given priority. Additionally, segmentation can help reduce the risk of malicious attacks, as malicious traffic can be isolated and blocked from the rest of the network.

Questions 22: 

What is the importance of analytics in SD-WAN?

Answer: Analytics is an important component of SD-WAN because it enables network administrators to monitor and analyze network performance, identify any potential issues, and take corrective action in order to ensure that the network is running smoothly and efficiently. Analytics can be used to track network usage and traffic patterns, detect anomalies, and identify any potential bottlenecks. Additionally, analytics can be used to optimize network performance and ensure that applications are running optimally. Finally, analytics can be used to ensure that the SD-WAN is secure and compliant with industry standards.

Questions 23: 

What is the importance of analytics in SD-WAN?

Answer: SD-WAN enables dynamic path selection by continuously monitoring the performance of each available path and selecting the best one based on preset criteria. This criteria can include latency, jitter, packet loss, and throughput. SD-WAN can also be configured to prioritize certain types of traffic, such as VoIP or streaming video, so that they traverse the best available path. The dynamic path selection capabilities of SD-WAN provide businesses with more reliable, secure, and efficient network performance.

Questions 24: 

What is the importance of policy-based routing in SD-WAN?

Answer: Policy-based routing is an important feature of SD-WAN because it allows network administrators to define and control how data is routed over the network. This is especially useful for organizations that have multiple sites connected over a wide area network. Policy-based routing allows administrators to prioritize traffic for applications and services that are mission-critical, and to direct traffic away from congested or slow links. This ensures that applications and services are always running optimally, and that the network is being used as efficiently as possible.

Questions 25: 

What are the different types of SD-WAN vendors?

Answer: 

1. Network Equipment Providers (NEPs): These are companies that produce routers, switches, and other hardware used in SD-WAN networks. Examples include Cisco, Juniper, and HP. 

2. Cloud-Based SD-WAN Vendors: These are companies that offer cloud-based SD-WAN solutions that can be used to manage and control an organization’s WAN. Examples include Viptela, VeloCloud, and CloudGenix. 

3. Managed Service Providers (MSPs): These are companies that provide managed services for SD-WAN networks. Examples include Windstream, AT&T, and Comcast. 

4. Software-Defined Network (SDN) Vendors: These are companies that develop software-defined networking solutions that can be used to manage and control an organization’s WAN. Examples include Nuage Networks, Big Switch Networks, and Midokura. 

5. Network Security Vendors: These are companies that provide security solutions for SD-WAN networks. Examples include Palo Alto Networks, Check Point, and Fortinet.

Questions 26: 

How does SD-WAN enable secure access to remote networks?

Answer: SD-WAN enables secure access to remote networks by creating a secure tunnel between the remote user and the corporate network. This tunnel is encrypted and authenticated, which ensures that data is kept secure. Additionally, SD-WAN can be configured to enforce access policies, such as allowing only certain users to access certain resources. This helps to ensure that only authorized users can access the corporate network.

Questions 27: 

What are the different types of SD-WAN topologies?

Answer: 

1. Hub and Spoke: This type of topology is the most common and is used for connecting multiple sites to a central hub.

2. Full Mesh: This topology connects all sites to each other, creating a fully connected network.

3. Hybrid Mesh: This topology combines the hub and spoke and full mesh topologies, providing a more efficient and cost-effective solution.

4. Point-to-Point: This topology connects two sites directly without the need for a central hub.

5. Point-to-Multipoint: This topology connects multiple sites to a single site without the need for a central hub.

Questions 28: 

How does SD-WAN enable the integration of multiple WANs?

Answer: SD-WAN enables the integration of multiple WANs by providing a single, unified platform for managing and connecting multiple WANs. It simplifies the process of connecting multiple WANs by providing a single interface for configuring and monitoring each connection. It also enables dynamic routing based on network conditions, allowing traffic to be routed across the most efficient WAN connection. This helps to reduce latency and ensure that applications run smoothly.

Questions 29: 

What are the different types of SD-WAN security features?

Answer: 

1. Encryption: Encryption is used to protect data in transit over the SD-WAN. It ensures that only authorized users can access the data.

2. Firewall: Firewalls are used to protect the SD-WAN from malicious traffic and unauthorized access.

3. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): IPS is used to detect and prevent intrusions on the SD-WAN network.

4. Application Control: Application control is used to monitor and control the applications that are running on the SD-WAN.

5. Identity and Access Management (IAM): IAM is used to manage user access to the SD-WAN network.

6. Network Segmentation: Network segmentation is used to separate the SD-WAN network into multiple segments, each with its own security policies.

7. Monitoring and Logging: Monitoring and logging are used to monitor the SD-WAN network for suspicious activity and to keep track of user activities.

8. Multi-Factor Authentication: Multi-factor authentication is used to ensure that only authorized users can access the SD-WAN network.

Questions 30: 

How does SD-WAN enable the integration of cloud services?

Answer: SD-WAN enables the integration of cloud services by providing a secure, reliable, and cost-effective connection between an organization’s on-premises networks and cloud resources. SD-WAN simplifies the deployment of cloud services by providing a single, unified platform for the management and control of network traffic. It also helps optimize cloud performance by providing intelligent routing and traffic management capabilities. Additionally, SD-WAN can help reduce costs associated with cloud services by providing a more efficient and cost-effective way of connecting to the cloud.

Questions 31: 

What is the importance of automation in SD-WAN?

Answer: Automation is essential for SD-WAN deployments because it simplifies the process of configuring and managing the network. Automation reduces the amount of manual labor required to set up and maintain the network, allowing IT staff to focus on more strategic tasks. Automation also helps to ensure that the network is configured correctly and consistently across all locations, reducing the risk of errors and downtime. Finally, automation can help to reduce costs by reducing the amount of time and resources required to manage the network.