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The European managed software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) services market is in the growth phase of the product life cycle. Compared to other regions of the global managed SD-WAN services market, Europe ranks second, just behind North America.

SD-WAN deployments have been increasing during the last 2 to 3 years in Europe, showing a preference towards managed SD-WAN services. Businesses across the region want to simplify their network architecture and ensure greater network flexibility. The process can prove daunting when it involves multiple transport and access providers from across the globe. A managed service provider with the expertise and technology needed to integrate disparate operations and management systems from various access providers can help address the complexity. Hence, fully managed SD-WAN services continue to gain traction.

With the widespread emergence of COVID-19 in Europe, network managers need to focus on optimizing networks as businesses adapt to the economic impact of the pandemic. This may also increase the attractiveness of broadband and wireless services with SD-WAN. SD-WAN solutions leverage real-time performance monitoring of transport networks to make application-aware, policy-based network link selections and steer traffic over the best available link. Customers in Europe are increasingly demanding enhanced security with SD-WAN solutions and considering service providers that offer secure access service edge (SASE) solutions. Although demand for SASE continues to increase, customers’ still lack clarity regarding the adoption of an SASE framework in the market.