What technology should a solutions architect use to create efficient and secure connectivity to corporate clouds?

Using SDWAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) for creating efficient and secure connectivity to corporate clouds is a strategic choice for several reasons. SDWAN is designed to enhance WAN connectivity by integrating a range of telecommunications services, simplifying the management of connections, and providing better performance for cloud applications.

One of the primary advantages of SDWAN is its ability to intelligently route traffic over various types of connections, such as MPLS, broadband, and 4G/5G, based on real-time network conditions. This dynamic routing optimizes performance, ensuring that applications critical to business operations receive the necessary bandwidth and latency requirements. Additionally, SDWAN typically includes built-in security features, such as end-to-end encryption and secure tunneling, which safeguard data traveling between the corporate environment and the cloud.

Furthermore, SDWAN allows for centralized management through a single interface, simplifying the deployment and monitoring of network services. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with multiple branches or locations, as it helps maintain consistent security policies and network performance across the entire enterprise.

In contrast, while technologies like VPNs provide secure remote access, they may not offer the same level of flexibility, scalability, and integrated performance management as SDWAN. Point-to-Point Protocol is useful for establishing direct connections