SD-WAN for companies with branches: internet that does not stop
Forte Security deploys and manages SD-WAN for companies with branches across Brazil using Eskaller, a proprietary solution developed by Forte. Low-cost hardware, high performance and 99.9% availability: two or more links per site, automatic failover and VPN between headquarters and branches. More than 40 Rede JP gas stations in RS operate this way.
- Proprietary solution (Eskaller)
- Low-cost hardware
- 99.9% availability
The problem it solves
Multi-site companies depend on the internet to sell, issue invoices, access the ERP and talk to headquarters. When a branch loses connection, its operation practically stops.
Branch stopped when the internet goes down
With a single link, any carrier failure leaves the site without systems, without contact with headquarters and without service. Losses grow by the minute.
Card sales depend on connectivity
Card terminals, POS and payment systems need internet to approve transactions. When most sales are by card, an outage means queues and lost sales.
Sites on highways and areas with poor signal
Stores and operations outside big cities usually have few carrier options and unstable links. Combining different links and switching automatically keeps them running.
Why Eskaller costs less
Eskaller is a proprietary Forte solution that runs on low-cost market hardware compatible with MikroTik RouterOS. Instead of expensive appliances from foreign vendors with per-device licenses, your company uses affordable equipment and gets SD-WAN and security intelligence from Eskaller.
Management is done in the cloud by the Forte team, which monitors links, applies settings to every site at once and acts when something is off. Opening a new branch becomes simpler and cost per site stays predictable.
- Market hardware, no proprietary appliance
- No per-device license from foreign vendors
- Compatible with MikroTik RouterOS
- Cloud management by Forte
How it works
Each site receives a device running Eskaller, connected to two or more links. Forte then manages the whole network centrally.
Multi-site cloud management
All sites in a single dashboard, with link status, alerts and standardized settings.
Multiple links and VPN tunnels
Each branch can use links from different carriers at the same time, with VPN tunnels joining headquarters and branches into one network.
Failover and load balancing
If a link fails or degrades, traffic moves automatically to another. With healthy links, load is distributed across available bandwidth.
WireGuard, IPsec and SSL VPN
Modern VPN protocols to connect sites and give employees secure remote access.
Edge firewall and content filtering
Protection at each site entrance, with access rules and blocking of unwanted site categories.
Reports
Usage, availability and event reports per site to track link quality and support decisions.
Case: Rede de Postos JP
Rede de Postos JP Santa Lúcia has 40 gas stations in Rio Grande do Sul, and more than 50% of sales are by card. Many sites are on highways and in regions with poor internet signal, and connecting headquarters and branches reliably was a constant problem.
With Eskaller, more than 50 stations and access points were connected in a homogeneous SD-WAN network. The result was a stable environment without connectivity problems, with lower cost and higher availability.
"More than 50% of our sales are by card. Without internet, today we basically cannot operate."
What to require from an SD-WAN project
Before hiring, check that the project covers these points.
Links from different carriers
Two links from the same carrier often fail together. Real redundancy comes from different carriers and media.
Failover on degradation, not only on outage
A link can be up and still slow or losing packets. SD-WAN should reroute when quality drops.
4G or 5G backup
Where cable or fiber options are limited, a mobile link keeps minimum operation during failures.
ERP and POS prioritization
Management and payment systems must take priority over other traffic, especially on backup links.
Central dashboard
The company should see every site in one place, with history and alerts.
SLA
The contract should clearly define availability, response times and responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
What is SD-WAN?+
SD-WAN is a software-defined wide area network. It combines several internet links at each site, automatically picks the best path for each type of traffic and securely connects headquarters and branches, all managed centrally.
What availability is guaranteed?+
Forte SD-WAN with Eskaller offers 99.9% availability, with automatic failover between each site's links.
Do you serve branches outside RS?+
Yes. Forte serves companies across Brazil, headquartered in Santa Maria/RS, with cloud management of every site.
Does SD-WAN solve internet outages at the branch?+
Yes, as long as the site has at least two links. When one fails or degrades, traffic moves automatically to the other and the branch keeps operating.
Do I need to change carriers?+
No. SD-WAN combines the local carriers already serving each site, ideally different ones, to increase redundancy.
Does it work with MikroTik?+
Yes. Eskaller runs on MikroTik RouterOS, which allows low-cost market hardware.
How many branches are needed?+
SD-WAN makes sense from 2 sites, for example headquarters and one branch, and grows as new sites open.