MPLS | What Is Multiprotocol Label Switching

5 min. read

Table of Contents

What Is MPLS?
What Is MPLS Used For
How MPLS Networks Work for Cloud Adoption
MPLS vs. SD-WAN
Consider a SASE Approach
MPLS FAQs

What Is MPLS?

Before we dive into MPLS, let’s explain how data travels through the internet. When you send an email, connect to VoIP or video conferencing, that data packet or IP packet is sent from one internet router to its destination. The internet router must decide for each IP packet/data packet how it’s sent to the destination IP. Each packet requires a decision, which the router uses complex routing tables to determine. Every path the packet arrives at requires another forwarding decision until it arrives at its destination. This process can result in poor performance for users, the applications they are using and impact the network across an organization. MPLS provides an alternative for organizations to increase network performance and improve user experience.

MPLS Meaning

Multiprotocol Label Switching, or MPLS, is a networking technology that routes traffic using the shortest path based on “labels,” rather than network addresses, to handle forwarding over private wide area networks. As a scalable and protocol-independent solution, MPLS assigns labels to each data packet, controlling the path the packet follows. MPLS greatly improves the speed of traffic, so users don’t experience downtime when connected to the network.

MPLS Network

An MPLS network is Layer 2.5, meaning it falls between Layer 2 (Data Link) and Layer 3 (Network) of the OSI seven-layer hierarchy. Layer 2, or the Data Link Layer, carries IP packets over simple LANs or point-to-point WANs. Layer 3, or the Network Layer, uses internet-wide addressing and routing using IP protocols. MPLS sits in between these two layers, with additional features for data transport across the network

What Is MPLS Used For

Organizations often use this technology when they have multiple remote branch offices across the country or around the world that need access to a data center or applications at the organization’s headquarters or another branch location. MPLS is scalable, provides better performance and bandwidth, and improves user experience compared to traditional IP routing. But it is costly, difficult to deliver globally and lacks the flexibility to be carrier independent.

As organizations move their applications to the cloud, the traditional MPLS hub-and-spoke model has become inefficient and costly because:

It requires backhauling traffic through the organization’s headquarters and out to the cloud instead of connecting to the cloud directly, which impacts performance significantly.
As companies add more applications, services and mobile devices to their networks, the demand for bandwidth and cloud expertise increases costs and operational complexity.

How MPLS Networks Work for Cloud Adoption

MPLS networks were designed as an overlay tactic to simplify and improve performance. However, routing cloud traffic is not easy with MPLS. To make cloud traffic more efficient, many organizations are exploring how to supplement MPLS with other types of connections, such as:

MPLS offloading: By using a direct-to-internet connection, an organization can offload the traffic that was bound for the web in the first place. This way, the MPLS circuit only carries the traffic intended for headquarters. The question is how to address security for branch internet connections. An organization might have to add a full stack of security products at the branch, which introduces complexity, or it might forward internet traffic through a proxy, which doesn’t provide the same level of security or inspect non-web traffic.
MPLS replacement with direct-to-internet: An organization might completely replace an MPLS circuit with an internet connection at a branch office. Although a direct connection is more efficient for access to the cloud, it creates challenges regarding how to set up networking with the same connectivity and reliability as the MPLS environment and questions about how to implement security.
Internet-augmented MPLS with SD-WAN: A software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) allows an organization to increase its flexibility by augmenting its MPLS with affordable broadband internet links or replacing it with internet to optimize branch networking decisions based on the application, networking and bandwidth requirements.

MPLS vs. SD-WAN

SD-WAN is a solution that enables end-to-end enterprise connectivity over large geographical distances. It provides the flexibility and economics of multiple WAN links such as MPLS, wireless, broadband, virtual private networks (VPNs), and the internet to give users in remote offices access to corporate applications, cloud services and workloads, allowing them to work regardless of location. SD-WAN monitors the performance of WAN connections and manages traffic intelligently based on these measurements in an effort to maintain high speeds and optimize connectivity. SD-WANs offer organizations agility and cost savings compared to an MPLS infrastructure which is costly and not easy to make changes to. With centralized management that is often cloud-managed, it simplifies configuring and provisioning networks at scale and speed, greatly reducing operational complexity. The argument for SD-WAN vs. MPLS is never-ending, and organizations may end up choosing a hybrid of both to fit their needs.

Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN is the first next-generation SD-WAN that is application-defined, autonomous and cloud-delivered. With an application-defined approach to complete, end-to-end visibility, it provides deep SD-WAN analytics to application performance, automating application remediation and ensuring application resiliency. Prisma® SD-WAN enables branch security and networking with a cloud-delivered model while automating third-party integrations for branch services seamlessly to simplify operations. With its autonomous infrastructure, organizations can achieve quick troubleshooting and resolution using machine learning and data science capabilities.

Consider a SASE Approach

Today, many organizations are redesigning their wide area networks, so their branch offices and mobile users can directly connect to the cloud via cloud-delivered security infrastructure or secure access service edge ( SASE). This enables organizations to provide users with secure access to all applications, gain full visibility and inspection of traffic across all ports and protocols, and increase the available bandwidth regardless of the MPLS or SD-WAN strategy the organization is using.

Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE is the industry’s only complete SASE solution converging network security, SD-WAN and Autonomous Digital Experience Management into a single cloud-delivered service.

Some of the benefits of SASE include:

Simplified networking as organizations can leverage the cloud for security and networking without having to backhaul traffic to headquarters.
Increased speed and agility through rapid branch deployments.
Reduced costs with a cloud-delivered architecture, so IT teams no longer have to physically go to each branch location to install and maintain security appliances or mitigate issues. Organizations can also eliminate expenses such as shipping IT equipment to remote sites.
Consistent security when organizations can consistently apply and enforce their security policies across all branch locations and headquarters.
An improved user experience wherever an organization operates.
Centralized operations to automate change management such as configuring and provisioning networking and security settings at scale.

Learn more about how Prisma SD-WAN and Prisma SASE can help your organizations transition to the cloud to support your hybrid and mobile workforce.

MPLS FAQs

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) improves traffic management by using a labeling system to route data packets more efficiently compared to traditional IP routing. Each data packet is assigned a label, which determines its path through the network. This reduces network congestion by avoiding bottlenecks and optimizing traffic flow, leading to smoother and faster data transmission.

MPLS reduces latency by streamlining the routing process. Instead of making complex routing decisions at each hop based on IP addresses, MPLS routes data packets based on pre-assigned labels. This significantly cuts down on the processing time at each node, thereby minimizing data transmission delays and improving overall network speed.

MPLS enhances bandwidth utilization by allowing network administrators to prioritize different types of traffic. For instance, critical applications like voice and video can be given higher priority over less critical traffic. This ensures that essential services receive adequate bandwidth, reducing the likelihood of congestion and improving the network's efficiency and performance.

MPLS is considered scalable and flexible because it provides a versatile network infrastructure that can easily adapt to changing organizational needs. As businesses grow and their network demands increase, MPLS can scale up to accommodate additional data traffic and new applications without requiring a complete overhaul of the network infrastructure.

MPLS enhances network performance through several mechanisms. Label-based routing reduces the time spent on routing lookups by using simple label-swapping techniques rather than complex IP routing algorithms. Additionally, MPLS's ability to prioritize traffic ensures that time-sensitive data, such as voice and video, receive the necessary bandwidth, resulting in reduced latency, minimal jitter, and faster overall data transfer speeds.

MPLS can be integrated with Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) to create a robust hybrid networking solution. This integration leverages MPLS's high performance and reliability for critical traffic while using SD-WAN's flexibility and cost-effectiveness for other types of traffic. SD-WAN provides centralized management, making it easier to control and optimize MPLS connections, thereby improving network efficiency and simplifying network administration.

MPLS itself does not inherently enhance or diminish network security; it focuses on efficient traffic management and performance. To ensure robust security, additional measures such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) should be implemented. Encryption protects sensitive data in transit, firewalls control access and filter out malicious traffic, and IDS/IPS monitor network activity for suspicious behavior and potential threats.

When using MPLS, it is essential to implement additional security measures to safeguard data and network integrity. Encryption should be employed to protect sensitive data from being intercepted during transit. Firewalls should be deployed at network boundaries to control access and filter out malicious traffic. Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) should be integrated to monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and respond to potential threats effectively.

Integrating Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) into a security infrastructure requires strategic deployment and careful planning. IDS sensors should be placed at key points within the network to effectively monitor traffic and detect any unusual activity. It's important to ensure that IDS works seamlessly with other security tools such as firewalls and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) to provide comprehensive protection. Regular updates and maintenance are crucial to keep the IDS systems effective and up-to-date with the latest threat signatures.

Keeping IDS systems updated is vital for effective threat detection and mitigation. Regular updates ensure that IDS can recognize the latest threat signatures and respond to new and emerging threats. Maintenance is also essential to ensure the system continues to operate efficiently, providing reliable protection against potential security breaches. Regularly updating IDS helps in maintaining a robust security posture and protecting the network from evolving cyber threats.