As businesses grow and expand their networks, finding the right solution for secure, reliable connectivity becomes crucial. Two popular technologies often considered are MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) and VPN (Virtual Private Network). Both offer secure communication between sites, but they differ significantly in terms of performance, scalability, cost, and use case.
Here’s a detailed comparison of MPLS vs. VPN, to help you determine which is the best fit for your business.
What Is MPLS?
MPLS is a dedicated networking technology that directs data from one node to another based on short path labels rather than long network addresses. It is widely used for high-performance, secure WAN connectivity, especially for businesses with multiple branch locations.
MPLS operates over a private network managed by service providers, ensuring a higher level of control, reliability, and performance than traditional internet-based solutions.
What Is VPN?
A VPN uses encryption to create a secure “tunnel” over the internet, allowing businesses to securely connect remote users or branch offices to the central network. VPNs offer cost-effective connectivity by leveraging the public internet while providing security through encryption protocols.
VPNs are particularly useful for businesses with remote workers or those needing to connect to multiple locations without investing in a dedicated private network.
Key Differences Between MPLS and VPN
1. Cost
- MPLS: MPLS connections are more expensive than VPNs due to the private infrastructure provided by telecom carriers. Costs can also increase as your business adds more locations or requires more bandwidth.
- VPN: VPNs are more affordable since they use the public internet for connectivity. There are no significant infrastructure costs aside from the VPN software or hardware, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses with smaller budgets.
- Which is better for cost: VPN is the more cost-effective option, especially for businesses looking to save on connectivity expenses.
2. Performance
- MPLS: One of MPLS’s key strengths is its ability to prioritize Quality of Service (QoS). This allows businesses to allocate bandwidth for mission-critical applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, and ERP systems, ensuring consistent performance.
- VPN: VPNs rely on the public internet, which can result in latency, jitter, or packet loss, especially during periods of high traffic. VPNs are less ideal for latency-sensitive applications like VoIP or video conferencing.
- Which is better for performance: MPLS is the superior option for businesses that need high performance and reliability, especially for real-time applications.
3. Security
- MPLS: MPLS operates over a private network, which inherently provides a higher level of security since traffic does not travel over the public internet.
- VPN: VPNs use encryption to secure data over the public internet. While this provides a high level of security, the traffic is still traveling over the internet, which can be susceptible to DDoS attacks or other threats.
- Which is better for security: MPLS offers stronger security since it uses a private network, but VPNs still provide robust protection with encryption.
4. Scalability
- MPLS: Scaling MPLS networks can be expensive and time-consuming, as it often requires new circuits and infrastructure to be deployed by the service provider. Adding new locations can take time and incur additional costs.
- VPN: VPNs offer better scalability as they leverage the public internet. Adding new locations or remote users is as simple as configuring the necessary VPN connections, making it a more flexible solution for businesses that are expanding rapidly.
- Which is better for scalability: VPN is more scalable, especially for businesses with changing or expanding network needs.
5. Reliability
- MPLS: MPLS networks are highly reliable, offering guaranteed uptime through Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with telecom providers. This makes MPLS an ideal choice for businesses that require always-on connectivity for critical applications.
- VPN: Since VPNs depend on the public internet, reliability can be an issue, particularly in areas where internet service is inconsistent or during high traffic periods.
- Which is better for reliability: MPLS is the more reliable option, offering guaranteed uptime and better performance for critical business applications.
6. Application Prioritization
- MPLS: MPLS excels at QoS and allows businesses to prioritize bandwidth for specific applications such as VoIP or video conferencing. This ensures that essential applications maintain high performance, even when the network is congested.
- VPN: VPNs typically don’t offer QoS over the public internet, which can lead to bandwidth competition between applications. This lack of prioritization can impact the performance of critical applications.
- Which is better for application prioritization: MPLS offers better control over traffic prioritization, making it ideal for businesses with high-priority applications.
7. Use Cases
- MPLS: MPLS is best suited for medium to large businesses that need high performance, reliability, and security across multiple locations. Industries such as finance, healthcare, and retail often choose MPLS for mission-critical applications that require guaranteed uptime and low latency.
- VPN: VPN is ideal for smaller businesses, startups, or organizations with remote workers. It’s a great choice for businesses that need secure connectivity but don’t require the high performance or guaranteed uptime of MPLS.
- Which is better for use cases: MPLS is better suited for large enterprises or businesses with complex, real-time application needs, while VPN is a cost-effective choice for smaller businesses and remote teams.
MPLS vs. VPN: Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice between MPLS and VPN depends on your business’s specific needs, including performance, budget, scalability, and security requirements.
- Choose MPLS if:
- Your business relies on real-time applications (VoIP, video conferencing) that require low latency and guaranteed performance.
- You need high reliability and uptime guarantees for mission-critical applications.
- Security is a top priority, and you prefer the benefits of a private network.
- You have multiple branch locations that require consistent performance across a wide area.
- Choose VPN if:
- You’re a small to medium-sized business looking for cost-effective connectivity.
- You have remote workers or need secure access to the corporate network over the internet.
- Your business can tolerate slightly lower performance in exchange for lower costs.
- You need a scalable solution that can easily grow with your business.
Why Not Both?
In some cases, businesses opt for a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both MPLS and VPN. For example, you can use MPLS for your most critical applications while deploying VPN for less sensitive, day-to-day operations. This hybrid solution provides a balance of cost-effectiveness and high performance, allowing businesses to optimize their network based on specific needs.
Why Choose SolveForce for MPLS and VPN Solutions?
SolveForce offers customized MPLS and VPN solutions to meet the unique requirements of your business. With access to top-tier service providers and a deep understanding of networking technologies, SolveForce ensures that you get the right solution—whether MPLS, VPN, or a hybrid approach—to support your business’s growth and operational goals.
Contact SolveForce today at 888-765-8301 to learn more about MPLS, VPN, and how we can help you make the best choice for your business’s connectivity needs.