Wide Area Network Optimization

What Does Wide Area Network Optimization Mean?

Wide area network optimization (WAN optimization) refers to the process, methodologies, tools and technologies for improving data transfer and management processes over a wide area network (WAN). WAN optimization is used to increase the data transfer and access rate over enterprise networks. It is generally performed between the WAN interconnection of data centers or branch offices.

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WAN optimization is also known as WAN acceleration.

Techopedia Explains Wide Area Network Optimization

WAN optimization incorporates a suite of services such as traffic shaping, data deduplication, data compression, VPN tunneling, data caching, network latency, network monitoring and more. It also allows organizations to allocate network resources to mission-critical applications with much less latency. Moreover, WAN optimization enables the segregation of network bandwidth between prioritized and non-prioritized sourcing hosts. WAN optimization is typically achieved through a specialized WAN optimizer or WAN accelerator product, which is a combination of hardware and software technologies.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…