The 2025 SD-WAN Blueprint: 3 Trends Shaping SD-WAN and recommendations to act on them now

As we enter 2025, SD-WAN has become the backbone of modern networks, enabling businesses to tackle the demands of hybrid work, cloud-first strategies, and growing cybersecurity threats. 
In Australia, the adoption of SD-WAN continues to accelerate, driven by the need for secure, agile, and efficient networks in increasingly complex IT environments. With the global market projected to exceed $8.4 billion in 2025 (Gartner), SD-WAN is critical to staying competitive.
Here are three pivotal trends shaping SD-WAN strategies in 2025 and actionable recommendations to leverage them effectively:

1. AI and Machine Learning in Network Management

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are redefining SD-WAN capabilities, transforming networks into self-optimising, predictive systems. AI enables enhanced traffic routing, predictive maintenance, and automated troubleshooting, reducing downtime and boosting network performance.

• 2025 Insight: In 2025, over 50% of enterprises with SD-WAN deployments will utilise AI-powered automation for network operations (Gartner).

2. The SD-WAN and Security Convergence

• Security is no longer a separate layer but an integral component of SD-WAN. The emergence of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) exemplifies this, blending networking and security into a unified, cloud-native solution. SASE ensures seamless connectivity while providing scalable, real-time threat protection.

2025 Insight: In 2025, 80% of enterprises implementing SD-WAN will integrate it with SASE frameworks, up from 50% in 2022 (Cisco).

Truis Recommendations:

• Evaluate your framework: Start the year by assessing your current security architecture to identify gaps. Determine whether a SASE implementation can streamline your security while improving network efficiency.
• Leverage expertise: If your team has limited experience with SASE, consider consulting with external experts to avoid delays.

Implement policies: Align SASE with your business objectives using clear protocols. For instance, implement policy-based segmentation to prioritise secure routing for sensitive applications like financial systems, while minimising unnecessary traffic. Use geo-restriction policies to block unauthorised access from high-risk regions or IP ranges.

3. Zero Trust Security Models

With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, Zero Trust is becoming essential to SD-WAN architectures. This approach verifies every connection request and enforces strict access controls, reducing the risk of breaches in distributed networks.

• 2025 Insight: By 2025, 60% of enterprises will adopt Zero Trust frameworks to secure their distributed network environments, particularly in hybrid work setups (Forrester).

Truis Recommendations:

• Focus on priorities: Begin with Zero Trust for critical systems or sensitive data. For example, enforce strong authentication measures and segment high-value resources to minimise exposure.
• Integrate AI tools: Use AI for continuous monitoring of user behaviour and dynamic management of access rights. AI can detect anomalies and flag potential threats in real time, enhancing Zero Trust effectiveness.

Refine policies: Schedule regular audits and update your Zero Trust protocols. Simulate breaches and test the resilience of your policies to ensure they keep up with evolving cyber threats.

Are you SD-WAN Ready 2025?

If you’re considering how to develop a future-ready SD-WAN strategy, please book your 1-hour free consult with our Truis Networking Technical specialists. 

Within your SD-WAN consult, we will confirm your primary 2025 objectives, your biggest current challenge and provide you with 2-3 practical recommendations to take to kick-start the next step on your SD-WAN journey. 

Note: SD-WAN free of charge consult is only available until 28^th February 2025 and subject to availability.

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“Our key consideration when choosing an IT managed service provider was a service provider that could grow with us. We were also looking for a provider that could give us cybersecurity measures, and Truis has been wonderful in this. They've provided monthly training sessions as well as regular phishing testing.”

On a day-to-day basis, this means Truis takes care of the everyday IT issues and allows GIVIT to focus on its important work.

Joanne Renton, Financial Controller at GIVIT