Case Study: Monitoring Managed SD-WAN for MSSPs with Obkio NPM

This case study sheds light on the transformative partnership between SATLX IT Services, a leading MSSP specializing in network solutions, and Obkio’s Network Performance Monitoring (NPM) software. By focusing on how Obkio empowered SATLX to optimize their managed SD-WAN services, this narrative unveils the pivotal role of modern monitoring solutions in driving operational excellence and client satisfaction for MSSPs.

SATLX IT Services offers an extensive array of IT solutions to businesses, ​​specializing in systems, network and telecom services (SD-WAN, firewall, Cluster, VSat, and more). Established in 2009 in Mali and now with a presence in Senegal and France, SATLX boasts a seasoned team of professionals dedicated to delivering cutting-edge network solutions to their clients.

Amidst their commitment to excellence, SATLX encountered the challenge of effectively managing and monitoring SD-WAN networks, a critical aspect of their service offerings. The complexity of SD-WAN environments posed significant hurdles in ensuring optimal network performance for their clients.

One of the tricky parts is keeping an eye on how well everything is working. For example, are the Internet links running smoothly? Are they balanced properly across different Internet providers? This is important because SD-WAN doesn't just manage Internet traffic – it also helps businesses with other services, like managing their network performance or handling specific Internet tasks.

The problem is, that SD-WAN vendors don't always know how well the telecom providers are doing. They do not have the needed visibility into what's happening with those providers, which makes avoiding network congestion a nearly impossible task. So, SATLX needed a way to check if any Internet problems were because of the SD-WAN service itself, the company's network, or their customers’ Internet providers.

In simpler terms, SATLX needed to keep an eye on how well the SD-WAN was working as a whole, but also monitor the load balancing on the ISP links. It's like making sure all the lanes on the highway are clear and moving smoothly, not just some of them.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive monitoring solution, SATLX forged a strategic alliance with Obkio, a pioneer in Network Performance Monitoring. Obkio's advanced toolset offered SATLX the capability to automate speed tests, providing invaluable insights into network performance. Unlike conventional monitoring solutions, Obkio's platform offered much-needed depth and visibility, empowering SATLX to monitor SD-WAN networks with precision.

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During the implementation phase, Obkio's team provided guidance and technical assistance to SATLX. Thorough training sessions equipped SATLX personnel with the necessary skills to maximize the utilization of the monitoring solution. Obkio's team remained responsive to any challenges or technical issues encountered during deployment, swiftly resolving them to ensure a smooth and successful implementation process.

Using Obkio's solution, the SATLX team initiated their monitoring processes by strategically deploying agents across their clients' distributed network sites. These agents are tasked with monitoring network performance, tracking key metrics, and gathering valuable data about the SD-WAN infrastructure.

Live Traceroutes for Real-Time Insights: As a component of their SD-WAN monitoring approach utilizing Obkio's solution, SATLX implemented live traceroutes to assess network performance in real-time. Traceroutes offered valuable insights into the journey of network packets, pinpointing potential bottlenecks or latency problems along the path. By executing live traceroutes, SATLX maintained continuous surveillance over the client's SD-WAN network performance, enabling them to identify anomalies and potential issues as they arose promptly.

Scheduled Speed Tests for Proactive Monitoring: In addition to live traceroutes, SATLX incorporated scheduled Speed Tests into their monitoring routine. These tests were conducted daily, giving them insights into the bandwidth availability at different locations within the customer's SD-WAN network. With approximately 4,000 speed tests performed per day, SATLX acquired a thorough comprehension of the network's capacity and performance, enabling them to proactively detect any bottlenecks or deviations from anticipated bandwidth levels.

Collaborative Troubleshooting for Swift Resolutions: In addition to monitoring, SATLX leveraged traceroute and speed test findings to collaborate with the telecom providers, expediting troubleshooting efforts. By exchanging the outcomes of routine traceroutes and speed tests, they could examine the network path, pinpoint congested or problematic segments, and collaborate with customers or ISPs to swiftly resolve issues. This collaborative approach streamlined troubleshooting, minimized downtime, and guaranteed optimized network performance for end users and customers.

With the deployment of Obkio's SD-WAN monitoring solution, SATLX saw significant advancements in their network management capabilities, benefiting both their clients and their own operations.

The implementation of Obkio's solution enabled SATLX to establish a comprehensive monitoring infrastructure, empowering their clients to effectively oversee the performance of their extensive and distributed SD-WAN networks. This robust monitoring setup not only facilitated the identification of network issues but also empowered SATLX to troubleshoot both internally and with telecom providers.

Most importantly, it allowed SATLX to monitor the SD-WAN promise given to their customers, ensuring the fulfillment of expected performance levels as per service level agreements (SLAs).

Expanding their monitoring capabilities, SATLX deployed Obkio across 66 client network locations, with impressive statistics reflecting their commitment to excellence:

• 70 Agents Deployed
• 96 Subsidiary Internet links being monitored
• 321 24/7 Monitoring Sessions
• 576 Speed tests per day on 96 links

These remarkable figures underscored SATLX's dedication to delivering proactive network management services and laid the foundation for further expansion.

Successful Managed SD-WAN Monitoring

By harnessing Obkio's capabilities, SATLX could swiftly identify and address network issues in real-time. The integration of live traceroutes and scheduled speed tests provided continuous insights into network performance, enabling SATLX to detect potential bottlenecks, latency issues, or deviations from expected bandwidth levels. This proactive approach empowered SATLX to troubleshoot and resolve problems promptly, minimizing disruptions to client networks and enhancing user experience.

Additionally, the monitoring setup facilitated the monitoring of SD-WAN promises, allowing SATLX to closely monitor performance metrics and compare them against SLAs. This ensured that end users received the performance guaranteed by their SD-WAN provider, fostering trust and reliability in the service.

Bandwidth Monitoring & Speed Tests

Furthermore, SATLX leveraged the monitoring setup to evaluate network performance and monitor bandwidth provided by telecom providers. Through continuous monitoring of bandwidth levels via scheduled Speed Tests, SATLX could ascertain if the delivered bandwidth aligned with contracted services. Armed with concrete data, SATLX could engage with ISPs to address any discrepancies, ensuring optimal utilization of resources and cost-effectiveness in network operations.

With Obkio's SD-WAN monitoring solution in place, SATLX experienced a transformative shift in their managed security services. By leveraging Obkio's advanced features, SATLX optimized their network monitoring processes, delivering superior services to their clients. The successful deployment of Obkio's solution led to enhanced operational efficiency, renewed client confidence, and strengthened market positioning for SATLX.

In conclusion, the partnership between SATLX and Obkio shows the power of innovative monitoring solutions in elevating managed service offerings for MSSPs.

The implemented monitoring setup empowered SATLX and their clients to attain profound insights into the performance of their co-managed distributed SD-WAN network. It enabled them to verify optimal network functionality, troubleshoot effectively, confirm adherence to promised performance levels, and assess the delivery of contracted bandwidth.

This monitoring level offered SATLX and their clients transparency, control, and the capability to uphold a high-quality network experience for their users. It also facilitated cost optimization and ensured accountability from their telecom provider.

Follow the path of MSSP just like yours! Take control of your network performance today by choosing Obkio for distributed SD-WAN monitoring:

• 14-day free trial of all premium features
• Deploy in just 10 minutes
• Monitor performance in all key network locations
• Measure real-time network metrics
• Identify and troubleshoot live network problems

P.S. Contact sales to receive personalized onboarding and support from Obkio’s team of network experts.