The public internet is one of the most powerful distributed networks in the world. What began as an open and resilient system designed to enable the flexible flow of information has evolved into the backbone of our digital economy. Yet, the internet, when viewed as a transport layer, is often labeled as unpredictable or “not enterprise-grade.” Unfairly so.
With the right technology, we can harness the strengths of the internet and mitigate its weaknesses. That’s precisely where encrypted overlay tunnels come into play.
Internet as underlay: distributed, flexible, available
The internet excels in global availability and flexibility. Unlike traditional MPLS connections or leased lines, the internet is not dependent on a single provider or infrastructure. This decentralized structure allows connectivity at virtually any location, without the burdens of rigid contracts and dependencies tied to classic networks.
Of course, the internet comes with challenges: latency, packet loss, jitter, or even temporary outages can occur. But that’s no reason to dismiss it as an underlay. On the contrary, it’s an invitation to design more intelligently.
Overlay technology
An encrypted overlay tunnel is like a protected highway layered over the existing road network. By building intelligent software layers on top of the internet infrastructure, we can:
- Encrypt traffic end-to-end, without relying on the security of the underlying network.
- Monitor latency, jitter, and packet loss in real time, allowing the optimal route to be chosen at any moment.
- Apply dynamic failover, so traffic is automatically and seamlessly rerouted via alternative paths when disruptions occur.
This turns the “weakness” of the internet, its unpredictability, into a strength: flexibility, adaptability, and resilience.
Real-time decisions for optimal performance
Wanscale uses technology that continuously monitors each tunnel. If a route degrades, traffic switches within milliseconds to a better alternative. By leveraging multiple internet providers per location, redundancy and freedom are achieved: no vendor lock-in, no fixed path, but a dynamic network that adapts to real-world conditions.
Overlay tunnels also enable application-level traffic prioritization. Real-time video or voice, for instance, can automatically be routed over the fastest path, while less critical applications tolerate delays without issue.
Digital sovereignty
By keeping control over routing, encryption, and access in your own hands, a crucial benefit emerges: digital sovereignty. No dependency on black-box infrastructures or closed networks, but an open system where the organization decides how, where, and through whom its data flows.
The right layer in the right place
The internet is not a weak link, it’s a brilliant foundation. By building encrypted overlay tunnels on top of the internet, we leverage the power of decentralization, flexibility, and scalability, without compromising on security or performance. With real-time monitoring and automatic failover, we transform the internet into a high-performance network, ready to meet modern digital demands.
At Wanscale, we believe service makes the difference. Our overlay solutions empower you to build your own secure, dynamic network layer, directly on top of the freedom the internet offers.
Jos Beckers
