WAN Optimization

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Construction companies used to centralize information systems in one office and had limited connectivity and access from remote sites. But technology has changed how and where contractors work, and where and when they need information. Today’s contractors are challenged to deploy and support core business applications across a wide area network, to regional offices, field offices and job-site trailers.

Ensuring availability and performance across the WAN is a common challenge for today’s construction IT Manager. Access to large files across the network, reliance on email to transfer files between different groups, and the addition of video conferencing across the WAN all add to the complexities.

Traditionally, IT has increased bandwidth to improve performance. But the real culprit may not be solved by additional “pipe.” Often email is misused as a means of sharing files; but it might be the only tool that users have, either because there is no easily accessible central file storage or document management system or because file security prevents a user from accessing a file. In these situations, people are using email to get around the inefficiency of other tools. But bandwidth use increases due to increased traffic, particularly when files are several megabytes and are sent to multiple recipients.

Another factor is network latency, the time data packets take to pass from one device to another. This affects performance and accessibility of applications and data, and adding bandwidth is unlikely to solve the issue. One alternative being explored by the AEC market is WAN optimization-- essentially, a specially-tuned appliance at each end of the WAN link that minimizes the flow of unnecessary traffic and decreases the effect of network latency.

WAN optimization appliances—costs for which range from $3,000 to more than $15,000—can reduce network traffic by 80%. Installing them can simply mean placing one between each of the WAN links you wish to optimize, plugging in a network cable, and switching them on. Deploying this technology on a limited basis, this author experienced significantly reduced traffic and increased access to and availability of files and applications.

Typically, WAN optimization devices vary in size and cost depending on the number of users they are intended to support. Small appliances handle four to six users (perfect for a jobsite trailer); large ones handle thousands. They are pre-tuned to support a variety of functions, i.e. general WAN traffic, core business applications, or data replication (perfect for a disaster recovery site or co-location). Vendors include Juniper, Riverbed Technology, Packeteer, Expand Networks, and Cisco.

Among the advantages of WAN optimization is that email and file servers no longer need be deployed at individual locations. They can be consolidated in a corporate office or hosted data center. This reduces the equipment an IT department must purchase and support; it also simplifies backups, which in turn simplifies disaster recovery. In addition, data mirroring to a disaster recovery site (be it internal to the organization or a hosted co-location) becomes feasible across the existing network infrastructure.

Before increasing bandwidth, think about what problems you are trying to solve and know where your bottlenecks are. Then consider the potential benefits of WAN optimization.