MPLS: an advanced and affordable private network solution

A Star Technology White Paper

April 2008 www.star.net.uk

Summary Designing, implementing, supporting and managing a wide area network is a huge task even for the largest organisations. A technology exists today that helps small and medium sized businesses resolve all the issues surrounding network management. It is called Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and is easy to deploy, reduces network management time and reduces costs.

Overview
MPLS - Multi-Protocol Label Switching [def] - a way of securely connecting multiple offices that promotes collaboration improves business resilience
Imagine being able to interconnect all of your offices to each other seamlessly, while housing business critical resources in a central class 1 datacentre enabling access to all users across a secure and resilient infrastructure. Trying to manage business critical tools in several, disparate locations means that you create multiple points of failure, multiple environments to manage and a potentially complex network infrastructure to maintain and support. Imagine your business could enjoy true private networking but without costly security firewalls at each site that each require resource and know-how to manage, and have the ability to filter Internet access at one easily controlled point. Imagine implementing new applications, such as Microsoft Exchange, combined voice/data networking and videoconferencing, with ease. A technology exists today that helps small and medium-sized businesses resolve all of these issues. It is quick to deploy, reduces network management time compared with individual sites and is cost-effective. It is called MPLS.

Star | MPLS | Private netwoking solution

Sounds too good to be true? Simply put, MPLS offers the flexibility of a public routed network with the speed and security of a private network.
Not any more!
Connecting multiple, disparately located, offices, depots, temporary sites and mobile workers into one corporate network is one of the biggest technology challenges for any growing business. Traditionally it has required significant levels of investment to provide the dedicated security, access control and dedicated line at each site. Connecting and maintaining multiple offices also required a level of technological knowledge that extended beyond basic IT literacy. In essence, MPLS gives you the ability to build a private network over a public infrastructure, so you dont need expensive leased lines at each site. An MPLS network also provides significantly higher levels of security than an IPSec VPN; an intruder can try to connect to a computer using a VPN because they are all publicly addressable. This may give multiple points of entry into your corporate network that need to be managed and secured. An MPLS network is a true private network and has no public addresses, any potential intruders are not given a window on to your corporate infrastructure. Simply put, MPLS offers the flexibility of a public routed network with the speed and security of a private network. Traffic can find its way quickly to an end point while also allowing the underlying infrastructure network to be shared securely.

Prove it!
If you are still thinking that MPLS sounds too good to be true, offering increased data security levels, protection against unwanted, often malicious intruders, while costing less than traditional IPSec VPN solutions and needing less management time, here is a little more detail on why MPLS technology really can add value to your business.

Security:
Despite the ability to set up secure tunnels of encrypted traffic between two branch offices using an IPSec VPN, a network is still potentially o pen to attack. MPLS removes that particular vulnerability in one fell swoop because it has no publicly addressable terminals. It also gives IT managers a single network to manage, rather than one at each site, enables virus protection, malware detection and Internet monitoring.

Manageability
Reducing the amount of time needed to administer a multi-site network is critical for small and medium-sized businesses. A large part of the day-to-day management is ensuring the network is secure and protected from malicious attacks. Conventional private networks that are connected to the public Internet need firewalls and lots of them if there are multiple locations on the network. Administering firewalls, with all the rules and updates, can be a complex task that needs well-trained operators, and so is a significant overhead for growing businesses. While firewalls are an obvious choice for outsourcing to providers such as Star to manage, they can be eliminated altogether at branch level with MPLS.

Star | MPLS | Private netwoking solution

...its much more than just a replacement for a wide area network.

Manageability is not just about direct security, but also about monitoring employee access to the Internet to ensure they are not visiting inappropriate (as defined by an Acceptable Usage Policy) or non-work related websites. With a traditional IPSec VPN this would require filters set up at each location. Access to the Internet on an MPLS network however, can be through a single point on the providers network; so all incoming and outgoing traffic can be easily subject to a consistent set of rules and filters, and also to email spam and content management.

Performance
MPLS networks perform significantly better than IPSec VPNs because there is no need to encrypt data as a result of its higher levels of security. Encrypting/decrypting data can be a costly venture, and has an impact on the performance of a corporate network. Should your business require belt and braces peace of mind, MPLS traffic can be encrypted. Another performance benefit of MPLS over IPSec VPNs is a quality of service. While MPLS doesnt quite go as far as guaranteeing end-to-end performance, youd need to implement a very costly solution to do that, it does allow traffic prioritization. The true benefits of this will only be realized when a link reaches its capacity, but it does provide a degree of scalability for fast-growing businesses who need to improve network performance until they can invest in additional bandwidth.

Flexibility
MPLS true value is all about the services you can implement in the MPLS cloud, the data centre, firewalls, email management, application hosting etc., its much more than just a replacement for a wide area network. MPLS allows up to 64 different types of service. It enables the set up of multiple virtual networks; while it is straightforward to bring a community of home users into the network, you may prefer to have a different acceptable use regime for accessing the internet, while still allowing the same access to corporate applications, for example. Star recommends defining three levels of traffic on an MPLS network - one for voice, one for priority traffic such as console applications, and one for everything else. Email, for example, doesnt suffer if it takes a few extra milliseconds to send but for other enterprise applications where there are regular, repetitive processes to access data performance degradation will be obvious.

Star | MPLS | Private netwoking solution

MPLS and your business

MPLS is a mature technology, celebrating its 10th birthday this year. Star has implemented more than 150 systems for its customers.

...a compelling solution for growing small and medium-sized businesses.

Star can help you find the right solution for your business and work with you to help migrate from your existing network to an MPLS system. However you interpret MPLS for your business, its benefits will be experienced across the organisation. From greater efficiency and enhanced Inter-working, to security and resilience and the capability of handling new, demanding applications such as those that use converged voice/data, real time video, and peer-to-peer applications, MPLS delivers a compelling solution for growing small and medium-sized businesses. It also comes at a price that fits, wont break the bank and reduces capital and operational costs, while reducing the resource needed to mange your multi-site network at the same time. Analysts are planning for this year to be the coming age of MPLS. The functionality and stability of its implementations using equipment from established providers such as Cisco now mean that small and medium-sized businesses can benefit from a virtual cloud that can encompass almost all IT and telecoms applications and services.

Cisco-powered Networks
More than 300 of the most successful service providers around the world offering one or more services, have earned the Cisco-powered designation. These providers offer a wide range of services for small and medium-sized businesses. From the basics of Internet connectivity and web hosting to managed services, they should be your first choice when you need to manage your critical business functions. Star is one of thirty-five Cisco-powered Network providers in the UK. A sole focus on small and medium-sized businesses makes Star unique among Ciscos UK partners.

MPLS summary
MPLS provides:
private addressing and traffic segregation for security scalability for thousands of connections quality of service mechanism and fewer overheads than IPSec VPNs a platform for voice/data convergence central management of connectivity remote worker access

However you interpret it for your business, the benefits of MPLS will be experienced across the organisation. From greater efficiency and enhanced Inter-working, to security and resilience and the capability of handling new, demanding applications such as those that use converged voice/data, real time video, and peer-to-peer applications, MPLS delivers a compelling solution for growing small and medium-sized businesses.

Star | MPLS | Private netwoking solution

About Star
Star is the largest independent business to business Internet Services Provider in the UK, serving over 500,000 business users. Star has over 13 years experience in providing practical Internet-driven services for UK small to medium sized businesses (SMBs). By listening, understanding and responding to the needs of SMBs we develop solutions to tackle IT issues. Security, hosting, connectivity and email have been brought together to provide the broadest range of integrated business ready technology services. Star focuses on developing and delivering products that fulfil the needs of SMBs whilst providing outstanding and dedicated customer support.

For further information call: 0800 138 4443 email: info@star.net.uk visit: www.star.net.uk

Ref: WP 2008 | MPLS Copyright 2007 Star Technology Services. All rights reserved. Star: Registered In England No: 3077786. Vat Number: 810943641. Registered Office: Brighouse Court, Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RT1

The information contained in this document is intended as general information. While we make every effort to ensure that the information is correct, complete and up-to-date as of the date of publication, and that all statements of opinion are reasonable, Star makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.