By Kirk Drake | January 17, 2013

Benefits of MPLS: Advantages Explained for Business

Perhaps you are considering upgrading your telecom infrastructure – maybe you are looking for better performance, more bandwidth or more flexibility. This post provides you the pros and cons of using MPLS Network technology. Multiprotocol Layer Switching (MPLS) is an extremely scalable mechanism for high-performance telecommunication networks used by organizations of all sizes. Why should you choose an MPLS Network? Here is a quick list of all the different types of networks.

MPLS allows for inter-connectivity growth of your network with minimal addition of hardware. An MPLS network uses communications via a cloud-based network with each node connecting to the network providers MPLS cloud. Unlike the point to point connectivity which requires a router interface connection on both ends of the connection, MPLS allows for adding new remote connections without the requirements of adding hardware at your primary site. This allows for growth at a lesser cost since you do not have to add any hardware interface at your primary site once the network is in place.

The benefits of an MPLS network are not restricted to the scalability of the network. It also provides:

• Improved up-time – By providing alternative network paths
• Improved bandwidth utilization – By allowing for multiple traffic types to traverse the network
• Reduced network congestion – By utilizing optional paths for traffic to avoid congestion
• Improved end-user experience – By allowing multiple Classes of Service to different types of traffic such as VOIP

One potential drawback of MPLS is that the carrier has to play a role in the configuration of the overall network.

If you are using static routing on your network, your provider will be responsible for the routing of data within their MPLS cloud. While using dynamic routing will work in most cases, you need to keep in mind that you and your provider will have to work together in routing MPLS traffic. If you want total control of your network, MPLS may not be for you.

 

 

Another potential drawback with MPLS is security. An MPLS network does not offer any inherent data protection, and improper implementation can open up your network to vulnerabilities. You should work with your provider to ensure that all devices and interfaces are sufficiently hardened to ensure your network is secured and vulnerabilities are minimized. The standard hub and spoke network provides a one to one connection between sites which can provide more security than MPLS. However, there are ways to work around this by utilizing encryption between the connecting routers and ensuring the hardening of your network devices.

If you are looking to implement a new network or upgrade your existing network, MPLS is the way to go. Are you looking for information on the top criteria to consider when designing a new network? Are you looking for help in determining whether to use T1 lines or a DS3? If you have these or other questions, please click below to reach out to an expert or fill out the form at the bottom of the page for more information.

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Find out how to evaluate MPLS providers:

Take a look at our MPLS Provider Evaluation Guide.

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