One network. Multiple connections. Zero headaches.

SD-WAN brings all your internet links together - broadband, leased lines, 4G, Starlink - and makes them work as one intelligent network.

Multiple connections, multiple problems

You've got a leased line for reliability, broadband for backup, maybe 4G for failover. But they don't talk to each other. When the primary fails, someone has to notice, then someone has to switch. By then, the damage is done.

Software-defined networking that actually works

SD-WAN sits across all your internet connections and makes intelligent decisions in real-time. It routes traffic based on what each application needs - not just what's available.

How SD-WAN changes the game

  • Automatic failover in seconds, not minutes
  • Traffic steering based on application type
  • VoIP and video get priority automatically
  • Backups run over the cheapest link
  • Full visibility of all connections from one dashboard

Intelligent traffic, not just backup

Traditional failover waits for something to break. SD-WAN continuously monitors every link - latency, jitter, packet loss - and moves traffic before problems affect your users. Microsoft Teams struggling on the primary? It's already switched to the backup before anyone notices.

Intelligent traffic, not just backup

Connect every site, centrally managed

Got multiple locations? SD-WAN creates secure tunnels between them automatically. Add a new site and it joins the network in minutes, not days. All managed from a single pane of glass.

Multi-site capabilities

  • Hub and spoke or full mesh topologies
  • Encrypted tunnels between all sites
  • Centralised policy management
  • Add new sites in minutes
  • Works over any internet connection

What you get

  • FortiGate SD-WAN appliance
  • Professional installation and configuration
  • Traffic steering policies configured
  • Health monitoring on all links
  • 24/7/365 UK support
  • Centralised management portal
  • Monthly reporting

Built for businesses with multiple connections or sites

Whether you're trying to get more from your existing links or connecting offices across the country, SD-WAN makes your network smarter.

Who benefits from SD-WAN

  • Multi-site businesses
  • Offices with backup connectivity
  • Businesses reliant on cloud applications
  • VoIP and video-heavy environments
  • Anyone tired of manual failover

Still on MPLS? Here's why businesses are switching.

MPLS had its day. SD-WAN does everything it did — faster, cheaper, and with security built in.

Cost

MPLS: Expensive dedicated circuits. Long contracts. Costs scale badly.

SD-WAN: Use broadband, 4G/5G, Starlink, whatever's cheapest. Same performance, fraction of the price.

Scalability

MPLS: Adding a site takes weeks. New circuit, new hardware, new contract.

SD-WAN: New site online in days. Zero-touch provisioning. Scales with your business.

Cloud Performance

MPLS: Wasn't built for cloud. Traffic backhauled through your data centre. Sluggish Microsoft 365, laggy Teams calls.

SD-WAN: Direct cloud breakout. Traffic goes straight to Microsoft, AWS, Google. Faster apps, happier users.

Security

MPLS: Private circuit but no built-in encryption, firewall, or threat protection. You bolt that on separately.

SD-WAN: Fortinet SD-WAN includes next-gen firewall, VPN, encryption, and threat detection built in. End-to-end security across every connection.

Remote Work

MPLS: Extending MPLS to home workers? Good luck. Impractical and expensive.

SD-WAN: Secure connectivity from anywhere. Home workers, mobile staff, temporary sites — all managed from one dashboard.

Traffic Management

MPLS: Fixed paths. No awareness of what's running over them.

SD-WAN: Intelligent routing. VoIP gets priority. Video gets priority. Cat videos don't.

Deployment

MPLS: 60–90 days for a new circuit. Sometimes longer.

SD-WAN: Days, not months. Zero-touch config means the box arrives, plugs in, and configures itself.

We manage it all from Equinix Slough

Our SD-WAN solutions are centrally managed from our private cloud infrastructure at Equinix Slough. Every site monitored 24/7/365, every policy managed from a single dashboard, every issue handled by engineers who know your network inside out.

You don't need to rip out MPLS overnight — SD-WAN can run alongside existing circuits and take over gradually. We'll design the migration around your business, not the other way round.

Talk to us about SD-WAN

See what SD-WAN could do for your network

Get in touch
Ian Farquhar

With the rapidly evolving nature of the construction industry, and the heavy lean towards digitisation, relying on 5G routers simply wasn't enough anymore. We needed a robust, reliable, always-on connectivity solution that could keep up with the demands of modern sites. Safe to say Flexible WiFi have absolutely delivered on that. Their service ticked every box and then some.

We initially deployed Flex on our construction sites, but we very quickly brought them into manage our head office connectivity as well, creating a seamless connection between or remote construction sites and HQ. Instead of operating like isolated islands, our sites now function as true extensions of the head office.

Flexible WiFi has now become an essential part of how we build.

Ian Farquhar

Digital Manager, Deeley Construction

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between SD-WAN and traditional failover?
Traditional failover is reactive - it waits for a connection to fail completely before switching. SD-WAN is proactive - it monitors link quality continuously and moves traffic based on performance, often before users notice any degradation.
Do I need special hardware?
Yes, SD-WAN requires compatible hardware at each site. We use FortiGate appliances which handle SD-WAN, firewall, and VPN in one box - no need for multiple devices.
Can SD-WAN work with my existing internet connections?
Absolutely. SD-WAN works with any internet connection - broadband, leased lines, 4G/5G, even Starlink. The whole point is making your existing connections work better together.
How long does deployment take?
Single site: typically 1-2 weeks from survey to go-live. Multi-site rollouts depend on scale, but we can deploy sites in parallel once the hub is configured.
What happens if all my connections fail?
SD-WAN can only work with what's available - if everything fails, you're offline. That's why we recommend diverse connection types (different providers, different technologies) to minimise the chance of simultaneous failure.
Is SD-WAN better than MPLS?
For most businesses, yes. SD-WAN delivers comparable or better performance at a fraction of the cost, with built-in security and cloud optimisation that MPLS simply doesn't offer. The only scenario where MPLS still makes sense is ultra-low-latency requirements with guaranteed jitter — and even then, SD-WAN is closing the gap.
Can SD-WAN replace MPLS completely?
Yes, and it can also work alongside MPLS during a transition period. Many businesses keep one MPLS circuit for critical traffic while SD-WAN handles everything else over cheaper broadband connections. Over time, most drop MPLS entirely.
How much can I save switching from MPLS to SD-WAN?
Every network is different, but businesses typically see 40–60% cost reduction by replacing MPLS circuits with broadband plus SD-WAN. The savings come from using commodity internet connections instead of expensive dedicated circuits.
Is SD-WAN secure enough to replace a private MPLS network?
With Fortinet SD-WAN, absolutely. You get enterprise-grade encryption, next-generation firewall, intrusion prevention, and VPN built into every connection. It's actually more secure than bare MPLS, which has no built-in encryption at all.

Need help with your WiFi?

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