Migrating from Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) to a more modern network network infrastructure solution is essential for many businesses today. MPLS has long been a staple in enterprise networks, offering reliable, private connectivity and traffic prioritization for mission-critical applications. However, the advent of cloud services, increasing reliance on internet-based applications, and the demand for flexibility have made MPLS networks less appealing. As a result, many businesses are now transitioning to alternatives such as SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) to meet their evolving telecom infrastructure needs better.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the steps involved in a seamless MPLS migration. We’ll also demonstrate how telecom management expertise can simplify the process, minimize downtime, and ensure operational continuity.
Why Migrate from MPLS?
Before diving into the steps for MPLS migration, it’s essential to understand why businesses are moving away from MPLS. Some of the key drivers behind MPLS migration include:
Cost Savings
MPLS networks are known for being expensive, especially for businesses that require extensive coverage across multiple locations. SD-WAN, for instance, provides cost-effective options by leveraging the public internet for certain types of traffic, which can be particularly beneficial for Voice over IP (VoIP) and business phone systems.
Cloud and SaaS Adoption
Many businesses are moving their applications to the cloud, making traditional MPLS architecture less relevant. MPLS typically requires backhauling traffic to a central telecom data center, which increases latency and reduces performance for cloud-based services such as UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service).
Scalability and Flexibility
MPLS lacks the flexibility businesses need to scale their Wide Area Network (WAN) quickly. Solutions like SD-WAN allow for easier management, scalability, and better support for cloud-based applications and telecommunications services.
Improved Performance
SD-WAN and other modern networking solutions can dynamically route traffic based on real-time performance metrics, which results in lower latency, higher throughput, and better user experiences for unified communications and other critical business applications.
Given these drivers, businesses that want to remain competitive and agile increasingly should migrate from MPLS to more modern, flexible network infrastructure solutions. However, to avoid operational disruptions, careful planning and execution are necessary. Let’s explore the critical steps involved in an MPLS migration.
Conduct a Comprehensive Network Assessment
The first step in any MPLS migration is thoroughly assessing your current network. This assessment should include:
Current MPLS Setup
Identify the locations connected via MPLS, the bandwidth allocated to each site, and the types of applications that rely on MPLS traffic prioritization, including any legacy plain old telephone service (POTS) lines.
Bandwidth Requirements
Analyze the bandwidth usage across your locations to determine what upgrades or adjustments are needed post-migration, including evaluating whether your current connections will support new solutions like SD-WAN.
Application Performance
Examine how your critical applications perform over MPLS, paying attention to latency, jitter, and packet loss. Identify which applications need high-priority routing in the new network environment, particularly for unified communications and VoIP services.
Security Considerations
Ensure that the new network solution will meet your security requirements. For instance, if you’re moving to SD-WAN, evaluate the solution’s security features, such as encryption, firewall capabilities, and secure tunnels, for protecting sensitive data center networking traffic.
Working with a telecom management expert like zLinq can simplify this process. We can provide a detailed audit of your current network, helping you identify areas that need improvement and ensuring you have the correct information to make decisions about your MPLS migration.
Define Migration Objectives and Requirements
Once you’ve conducted a network assessment, the next step is defining the objectives and requirements for your MPLS migration. These objectives should align with your business goals and IT strategy. Common migration objectives include:
Reducing Operational Costs
Many businesses migrate to SD-WAN to use its lower-cost options compared to MPLS.
Enhancing Network Performance
A key objective may be improving application performance by reducing latency and jitter, especially for cloud-based and SaaS applications.
Increasing Flexibility and Scalability
If your business is growing or has plans to expand, scalability should be a primary objective in the migration process.
Strengthening Security
As more business processes move online, improving security is often essential when migrating to a new network solution. Be sure to define your migration goals clearly. Outline a roadmap to prioritize your unique objectives, which ensures a seamless transition and that your new solution meets your business needs.
Choose the Right Solution for Your Business
Once you set your objectives, it’s time to choose the right network solution to replace MPLS. The most common alternative is SD-WAN, which offers several advantages:
Cost-effective
SD-WAN can route less critical traffic over public internet connections, reducing the need for expensive MPLS circuits and optimizing telecom expense management.
Application-Aware Routing
SD-WAN allows you to prioritize traffic based on application needs, ensuring mission-critical applications like UCaaS and business phone systems always receive the highest performance.
Better Security
Many SD-WAN solutions have integrated security features, such as end-to-end encryption and firewall capabilities, to protect your telecom infrastructure.
In addition to SD-WAN, you may also consider other hybrid solutions, such as combining MPLS with internet-based connectivity, depending on your business needs. At zLinq, we help businesses navigate this decision-making process by offering a tailored approach to selecting the right solution. We have expertise in both MPLS and SD-WAN and can recommend the best option based on your unique needs and the latest telecom industry trends.
Develop a Detailed Migration Plan
A successful MPLS migration requires careful planning. Develop a detailed migration plan that includes the following components:
Phased Migration
Rather than migrating all locations simultaneously, take a phased approach to minimize disruptions. Prioritize locations with less critical workloads, then gradually move to more mission-critical sites.
Back-Up and Redundancy
Ensure that backup solutions are in place during migration, which can involve keeping MPLS in place for specific critical locations while transitioning other parts of the network.
Clear Communication
Keep stakeholders informed throughout the migration process. Clearly communicate the timeline, expected disruptions, and the steps to mitigate risks.
Testing and Validation
Plan for extensive testing before the full migration is complete. Validate network performance, application behavior, and security configurations to ensure the new network solution meets your objectives.
zLinq excels at this stage, providing detailed project management and planning to ensure a seamless migration. We work closely with you to create a customized plan that minimizes downtime and guarantees a smooth transition.
Execute the Migration
With your plan in place, it’s time to begin executing the migration. During this phase:
Monitor Performance
Continuously monitor network performance throughout the migration process. Pay close attention to latency, packet loss, and throughput at each migration phase.
Resolve Issues Quickly
Have a dedicated team ready to address any issues during migration to prevent disruptions to your operations.
Maintain Security
Ensure enforcement of security protocols throughout the migration, including maintaining encryption, secure tunnels, and firewalls to protect sensitive data during the transition.
zLinq’s hands-on support ensures that your MPLS migration goes off without a hitch. Our telecom management expertise allows us to handle all aspects of the migration process, from managing vendors to ensuring consistent network performance.
Optimize Post-Migration
The work doesn’t stop after the migration; you’ll need to continuously optimize your new network to meet your evolving business needs. Some key post-migration activities include:
Performance Monitoring
Continuously monitor network performance and application behavior to identify areas for improvement using advanced telecom management software.
Vendor Management
Managing multiple vendors may be necessary if you’ve moved to SD-WAN or a hybrid solution. zLinq can handle vendor relationships, ensuring you get the best possible performance and cost-efficiency from your service providers, including Cloud PBX providers.
Cost Optimization
Review your network costs regularly to identify areas to reduce expenses further. With our telecom invoice management and telecom invoice processing services, zLinq helps you optimize your telecom spending without sacrificing performance.
How zLinq Ensures a Seamless MPLS Migration
Migrating from MPLS to a modern network solution like SD-WAN is critical for businesses looking to improve performance, reduce costs, and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. However, it requires careful planning, execution, and ongoing optimization.
At zLinq, we specialize in helping businesses navigate the complexities of MPLS migration. From conducting network assessments to managing the entire migration process, our team ensures that your transition is seamless, minimizes disruptions, and delivers long-term benefits. With our expertise in communications lifecycle management and telecom inventory management, you can confidently shift to a more modern, flexible, and cost-effective network solution.
Contact us today to learn how we can help your business optimize its network infrastructure and achieve a seamless MPLS migration.