Many organizations utilize hybrid network architectures that combine private MPLS-based WAN networks with public networks, such as the internet and cloud provider networks. Quality of service (QoS) and path selection enable you to maximize your network resources across those environments through traffic prioritization, resource reservation, and traffic matching onto specific uplinks.

Quality of service is a network reservation system. It enables you to prioritize specific data flows while minimizing network usage by noncritical applications.

Path selection enables you to ensure the right traffic travels the right path by choosing a predefined WAN gateway for certain traffic flows. This granular path manipulation enables better use and more accurate control of traffic flow across multiple WAN pathways.

Your network topologies and application properties form reusable building blocks for use in QoS, path selection, and web proxy features. On an SCC, you can protect network traffic by reusing these building blocks with the secure transport feature. In addition, the SCC application statistics collector provides visibility into the throughput for optimized and pass-through traffic flowing in and out of managed appliances across your network.