When you think about the term “Hybrid WAN,” what does it bring to mind? MPLS? Broadband? Both? The Hybrid WAN of the past almost always included MPLS, or Multiprotocol Label Switching, as a network connection type. While MPLS served its purpose years ago, it has proven to be costly, inflexible, and an impediment to cloud-first businesses. As business needs have evolved, connectivity needs have evolved along with them and are leaving legacy technology like MPLS behind.
So, what is the new Hybrid WAN and what does it mean in 2025?
Fundamentally a networking strategy that uses multiple connection types to improve performance, reliability, and flexibility, the modern definition of Hybrid WAN combines traditional wired connections like fiber, DSL, or Ethernet with wireless solutions such as LTE, 5G, or satellite to create a flexible network that adapts to various business needs.
By leveraging both wired and wireless technologies, Hybrid WAN ensures businesses have stable networks that can withstand disruptions while meeting the demands of modern work requirements.
The Benefits of Hybrid WAN for Businesses
Flexible Connectivity
Wired connections are historically the gold standard in connectivity, known for their stability and high speeds, making them the preferred option for internet service. However, wireless networks are now rising to the forefront as well, as they provide flexibility and mobility while allowing employees to stay connected when on the move or at remote locations. This can additionally open entirely new markets for businesses where wired connections might be spotty, or extremely limited.
Increased Redundancy and Uptime
No network is immune to downtime, whether caused by hardware failure, natural disasters, or even something like cut cable or other human error. Hybrid WAN provides a safety net by allowing traffic to be routed to other available connections, including wireless, when a wired network goes down.
Consider a retail business during the holiday rush. If a connection fails or suffers from packet loss or latency, another connected circuit can ensure point-of-sale systems remain operational, preventing lost revenue and frustrated customers.
Optimized Performance
Hybrid WAN can support traffic routing to assign specific tasks or traffic to the most appropriate connection type. Latency-sensitive applications like VoIP or video conferencing can be assigned to wired network for consistent quality, while applications that are less sensitive to real-time internet issues, such as email, can be assigned to wireless.
This optimization maximizes network performance and ensures users experience minimal disruptions, even during peak usage.
Why Your Business Needs Hybrid WAN
Adapting to Modern Work Environments
The growing adoption of internet-reliant business-critical tools demands versatile connectivity. Hybrid WAN enables seamless traffic flow across wired and wireless networks, ensuring employees can stay productive, even when their offices or work locations are in areas with limited internet options.
Cost-Effectiveness
Downtime can be costly, with estimates placing the average cost at $5,600 per minute. Hybrid WAN minimizes this risk by providing reliable failover options. It also helps businesses avoid unnecessarily relying on expensive wired connections, instead using wireless strategically to manage costs without sacrificing performance.
Scalability and Flexibility
As businesses grow, so do their connectivity needs. Hybrid WAN makes it easy to add new locations, integrate IoT devices, or support mobile teams. Wireless networks provide the agility to scale quickly, even for temporary, emergency needs.
The Bigleaf Advantage
Hybrid WAN represents the next evolution in business connectivity, offering high-quality performance, reliability, and adaptability.
Bigleaf makes Hybrid WAN seamless and stress-free, while fully optimizing the performance of all connected circuits. Our intelligent SD-WAN technology steers traffic across a unified network of both wired and wireless connections, improving the performance of cloud-based applications and ensuring your business always has reliable and high-performing connectivity. Whether it’s automatic Same-IP failover during outages or out-of-the-box dynamic QoS to prioritize critical applications, Bigleaf keeps your network resilient, agile, and aligned with your business needs. With our proactive support and unmatched expertise, we don’t just connect your locations—we empower your business to thrive in today’s fast-paced, hybrid world.
Is your business ready to embrace the future of connectivity? Explore how Hybrid WAN from Bigleaf can transform your operations.