MPLS, long a mainstay of enterprise networking, has been supplanted by direct internet access as more managers deploy the less expensive and more versatile alternative. Indeed, as much as 75% of network traffic now flows via DIA. But before managers consider jettisoning MPLS completely, they must first consider their objectives.
Why Choose DIA?
For many organizations, the DIA value proposition is simple: 80% of companies use multiple public and private clouds, according to a 2025 CloudZero study. MPLS, first deployed in the 1990s, wasn’t designed for today’s cloud-connected operating environment.
What MPLS does provide, however, is privacy, control and QoS. MPLS offers companies a dedicated network, restricted to authorized users who are located at headquarters or remote sites. MPLS remains the network communications methodology of choice for companies in highly regulated industries, such as healthcare and finance.
Yet, DIA is an increasingly attractive alternative for two main reasons. First, DIA supports high-performance internet access that business users need to do their jobs. Second, and most appealing, DIA is cheaper than MPLS.
Market statistics reflect that shift. According to a Global Growth Insights survey, the DIA market is expected to record a compound annual growth rate of 12.2% through 2032, with MPLS notching a much smaller 6.3% CAGR through 2034. In short, as smaller companies hop on the DIA bandwagon, larger enterprises with sensitive internal systems will continue to rely on the maturity, security and privacy MPLS offers.
Choosing Between MPLS and DIA
MPLS is primarily used by larger enterprises with highly confidential information that want direct control over their private networks. These companies want to configure and manage network traffic as they choose, and they have the budget and in-house networking skills required to oversee the technology.
Typical MPLS users range from large financial institutions and healthcare providers to government agencies and large companies in sensitive industries like pharmaceuticals, technology and life sciences. MPLS traffic is not natively encrypted, but privacy and security are ensured by the fact that the company is leasing MPLS services from only a single telecommunications provider — and the network itself is fully under the aegis of corporate IT.
In addition, companies can add encryption and other security features to their MPLS networks if they need to. A variety of other protections — among them zero trust, identity access management, and identity governance and administration — can be layered on as required. Collectively, these technologies can enforce user access restrictions to network resources, monitor network traffic and track users and network assets.
DIA’s Proposition
In contrast, DIA isn’t built on an internal, proprietary network model. Instead, it’s specifically designed for companies that need continuous internet and cloud access — a fundamental requirement for most companies. With DIA, companies still get the dedicated bandwidth they need. Rather than having to contract with a single provider — as is the case for a dedicated MPLS connection — companies can use multiple ISPs.
Service-level agreements from each provider govern uptime, performance and how quickly issues are resolved, among other factors. IT has no direct control of the network. Extra security measures and platforms, such as cloud infrastructure entitlement management, are required to monitor and track user access across clouds.
DIA is well-suited to organizations that are heavy internet and cloud users, with limited IT resources and budgets.
MPLS Combined with DIA?
Companies, of course, can use MPLS in combination with DIA. MPLS carriers offer a “hop off” path that lets users connect to the internet. Or companies can keep MPLS for an internal, private network and implement a separate DIA service for internet access.
Software-defined WAN, meantime, lets users incorporate and manage any combination of MPLS, DIA and 5G satellite access. In this scenario, the organization’s networking group architects this multi-faceted approach and is responsible for integrating, monitoring and maintaining it — with some collaboration with cloud and MPLS network service providers.
For smaller organizations that don’t have the budgets or staff to support a dedicated MPLS service, DIA gives them an affordable way to provide cloud- and internet-based services to their users, with an additional option that lets the DIA vendors monitor and maintain all or portions of these networks.
Speak Your Mind