How does MPLS work and what does it offer a business?

If IT isn’t your area of expertise, you might find that looking into improvements for your business network is a confusing experience filled with incoherent jargon and contradictory information. MPLS sounds intimidating to those without any technical knowledge, but don’t worry – that’s why we’re here to break it down for you, and explain exactly what benefits it could provide for your company.

Defining MPLS

Let’s start by bringing some meaning to this jumble of letters: Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a way of managing the data that moves throughout your network to and from each device. You’ll usually hear it discussed alongside connections, but it doesn’t actually have much to do with connecting you to the internet – it’s related much more to improving speeds within your network.

Essentially, the Multi-Protocol part refers to the fact that it’s a management technique that can function no matter the language (also known as protocol) the devices use to communicate with one another. The Label part is talking about a tiny chunk of data appended to the data about to be sent through the network, which is added so that a Label Switch Router (or LSR, basically the Switching part of the acronym) can figure out exactly how to send the data.

An Efficient Way To Send Data

One way that you can conceptualize this rather complicated idea is to view it as like the postal system, with data as thousands upon thousands of packages delivered every day across a broad area. You wouldn’t have the drivers randomly set off for the first location without checking where the next one is – especially if it’s right next to where they began. The labeling system basically functions as a way of determining the priority and destination of each piece of data, with the multi-protocol part removing any language barrier.

This means that the delivery order priority can be changed dynamically, depending on where the data needs to be and how quickly it needs to get there.

The Business Benefits Of MPLS

Now that you have a basic understanding of how MPLS works in an IT context, it’s useful to actually put it into context and see how it can benefit your business more directly. After all, having a high-tech solution is only helpful if you know how best to utilize it!

Improved Efficiency

Because an MPLS system lets you handle the priority of various traffic types dynamically, you can adjust your settings on the go to make sure that a real-time system stays afloat. To do this, the system can intelligently borrow bandwidth from different types of data traffic to give priority applications what they need to continue operating, even at the cost of straining less important applications.

Increased Uptime

A more efficient network also means a network that’s easier for IT professionals to manage, and although keeping on top of a business network won’t be a challenge for most teams, a more convoluted network certainly increases the chance of human error for even the most experienced employees. If you take away the need for them to intervene in the first place, then you improve your chances of your network staying up, reducing the dreaded costs of downtime and potentially saving thousands in the long run.

Faster Speeds

It’s not unusual for a business network to see periods of heavy usage, and this means that some congestion is basically inevitable – particularly if different types of traffic are handled across your network on a regular basis. By utilizing an MPLS system, you can route different types of data through non-standard paths, resulting in quicker delivery and a decreased hold-up effect when traffic is at its most dense.

Better User Experience

Businesses are dependent upon cloud-based and real-time applications more and more these days, which allow end-users to provide an excellent customer experience. Unfortunately, though, these applications tend to be very sensitive to poor network performance – that’s where the switching technique of an MPLS system comes in, ensuring that the user experience never suffers. If you’ve ever had to deal with data loss or network latency, then you know just how valuable this benefit is.

Simpler Network

You can think of an MPLS connection between two locations as essentially the same as a super long ethernet cable connecting two sites – it’s much more complicated in reality, with lots of hops between devices and carriers required, but you can fast track data along with the correct labeling. This can greatly simplify how your network behaves, and as stated before, your IT professionals will no doubt be grateful for this new, less complex approach to networking.

Accelerated Growth

In the past, expanding your network would have required configuring a complex mesh of tunnels that safeguard routes along with wider circuits, allowing for data to be delivered with speed and accuracy. But if you use an MPLS system, this is no longer needed – the network will always be able to find the most efficient route to its destination without all of this extra work.

Should You Implement An MPLS System?

You’re likely still debating whether an MPLS system is the right choice for your business, and unfortunately, there’s no easy way to answer that question – so, to help make this choice, it’s useful to consider a few more questions. For instance:

• Would downtime be a significant problem for your business?
• Do you currently use lots of different types of data within your business network?
• Do you often experience issues relating to congestion?
• Would quickly provisioning new sites assist with business growth?
• Do you ever use your IT network for voice and data?

If you found yourself answering yes to any of these questions, then MPLS might be a good investment for your company. It certainly isn’t cheap, but it can provide a whole host of benefits, especially when maintained in conjunction with a knowledgeable Managed Service Provider. If you’re serious about MPLS, then getting in touch with providers is a good place to start to make sure that you’re getting the most out of this technology.

Author Bio – Hi, I am Mohd Zaid Mansoori, a teenage Content Marketer, Designer, Digital Marketer, and Tech Enthusiast from Uttar Pradesh, India. I am a student who is also a freelancer and is working on some Awesome Websites.